Italian Creme Cake

This cake has always been a loved dessert for numerous occasions! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do serving it to friends and family!

CAKE
1 Box White Cake Mix with Pudding
3 Large Eggs – Room Temperature
1 1/4 Cups Buttermilk
1/4 Cup Vegetable Oil
1 Cup Flaked Coconut
1 2/3 Cup Chopped Pecans – Toasted (2/3 Cup for the Cake; 1 Cup for the Frosting)

After preheating my oven to 350 degrees, I begin with greasing and flouring my three round baking pans – the larger the pan the thinner the cake. This is a matter of preference.

I buy a 4 ounce bag of chopped pecans and it is always enough. I chop them again into smaller pieces – not too small – but smaller than what they are out of the bag.

Over low to medium low heat, add the pecans to a skillet. Do not leave these unattended. They will burn quickly and turn bitter. Stir often. When the pecans are warm but not hot to the touch and you can smell the aroma – pull them from the heat.

Here is a side tip that I use to remove the “dust” of the toasted chopped pecans. Add them to a colander with small holes and tap the side of the colander until most of the “dust” is removed. This makes for a prettier icing!!

Add the cake mix, eggs, buttermilk and vegetable oil to a mixing bowl. Mix on medium speed of an electric mixer for 2 minutes.

Stir in coconut and pecans.

Pour the batter into the three greased and floured pans as even as you can. Bake 15 to 17 minutes (depending on your oven and size of the pans) or until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean. I “shake” the pans to loosen the cake from the pan just a little bit. Place on wire rack and let cool completely.

FROSTING
1 – 8 ounce package of Cream Cheese, softened
1/2 Cup (1 Stick) Unsalted Butter, softened
3 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar
2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
1 Cup Toasted Pecans

Beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the butter and beat again until smooth.
Add Vanilla Extract. Blend.
Gradually add the powdered sugar until light and fluffy.
Stir in toasted pecans.

Spread frosting between layers, top and sides. Chill before serving.

Let me know how it turns out for you!

ENJOY!
~ PGWW