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–+ servings
featured Italian cream cake.
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4.45 from 20 votes

Italian Cream Cake with Cream Cheese Pecan Frosting

The sweet and nutty flavor of this coconut pecan cake is irresistible thanks to the super moist texture!
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 18 slices
Author: Becky Hardin

Equipment

  • Kitchen Scale
  • 9x13 Baking Pan OR
  • 3 8-inch Round Cake Pan
  • Hand Mixer
  • Stand Mixer

Ingredients

For the Cake

  • 5 large eggs 250 grams, room temperature and separated
  • ½ cup unsalted butter 113 grams, room temperature (1 stick)
  • ½ cup vegetable shortening 92 grams (½ stick)
  • 2 cups granulated sugar 400 grams
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour 240 grams
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt 3 grams
  • 1¼ teaspoons baking soda 8 grams
  • 1 cup buttermilk 227 grams, room temperature (see note)
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 4 grams
  • 1 teaspoon coconut extract 4 grams, optional
  • 1 cup chopped pecans 114 grams, toasted
  • 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut 85 grams, toasted

For the Cream Cheese Pecan Frosting

  • ¾ cup unsalted butter 170 grams, room temperature (1½ sticks)
  • 2¼ cups powdered sugar 254 grams
  • ¼ cup cream of coconut 45 grams, such as Coco López (see note)
  • ¼ cup sour cream 57 grams, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 4 grams
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 16 ounces cream cheese 454 grams, room temperature (2 bricks)
  • ¾ cup whole pecans 94 grams, toasted

Instructions

For the Cake

  • Adjust oven rack to the middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish or 3 (8-inch) round cake pans with baking spray. Set aside.
  • Separate the eggs (yolks and whites) into separate bowls and use a hand mixer to beat the egg whites just to stiff peaks. Set the beaten whites and yolks aside.
    5 large eggs
    whipped egg whites in a glass bowl with a fork.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and shortening together at medium speed until creamy and smooth, about 2 minutes.
    ½ cup unsalted butter, ½ cup vegetable shortening
    butter and shortening beaten together in a glass mixing bowl.
  • Add the sugar and beat until lighter in color and fluffier, about 3 minutes.
    2 cups granulated sugar
    sugar added to whipped butter and shortening in a glass mixing bowl.
  • Add the egg yolks, beating until incorporated.
    egg yolks added to Italian cream cake batter in a glass mixing bowl.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk the flour and salt together.
    2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • In a separate medium bowl, dissolve the baking soda in the buttermilk.
    1 cup buttermilk, 1¼ teaspoons baking soda
  • Add the flour mixture to butter/sugar/egg, mixture alternately with the buttermilk/baking soda mixture in 3 additions; beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Beat just until incorporated after each addition.
    dry ingredients added to italian cream cake batter in a glass bowl.
  • Stir in the vanilla and coconut extracts, toasted pecans, and coconut.
    1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon coconut extract, 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut, 1 cup chopped pecans
    pecans and coconut folded into Italian cream cake batter in a glass mixing bowl.
  • Fold in the beaten egg whites.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared pan(s). For a 9x13-inch cake, bake 30-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. For 8-inch round cakes, bake 25-30 minutes.
    Italian cream cake batter in a rectangular baking pan.
  • Cool the 9x13 cake in the pan set on a wire rack. If baking round cakes, remove them from the pans after 10 minutes. Cool completely on the wire racks, about 2 hours.
    baked Italian cream cake on a cutting board.

For the Cream Cheese Pecan Frosting

  • While the cakes cool, make the frosting. Fit a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Beat the butter and sugar together on low speed until mixed, about 1 minute.
    ¾ cup unsalted butter, 2¼ cups powdered sugar
    butter and sugar beaten together in a clear mixing bowl.
  • Increase the speed to medium-high and beat an additional 2 minutes, or until paler in color and fluffy.
    whipped butter and sugar in a glass bowl.
  • Add the cream of coconut, sour cream, vanilla extract, and salt. Beat until smooth, about 1 minute.
    ¼ cup cream of coconut, ¼ cup sour cream, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
    Italian cream cake frosting in a glass mixing bowl.
  • Add the cream cheese, about 1 tablespoon at a time, and beat until incorporated, about 2 minutes. Fold in the toasted pecans and refrigerate until ready to use.
    16 ounces cream cheese, ¾ cup whole pecans
    Italian cream cake frosting with pecans in a glass mixing bowl.

For Assembly

  • If frosting an 8-inch, 3-layer cake, use about 1½ cups frosting between layers and spread the remaining frosting over the top and sides.
  • If frosting a 9x13-inch cake, spread desired amount of frosting on the top of the cake and smooth it out. Keep covered.
    frosted Italian cream cake on a cutting board.

Video

Notes

  • Cream of Coconut: If cream of coconut isn’t available, use coconut milk or just leave it out and add ⅓ cup sour cream instead of ¼ cup.
  • When you add in the beaten egg whites, gently fold them in rather than stir so that you don't lose the air.
  • Let the cake cool completely before frosting. If easier, you can make the cake the day before and frost it on the day of serving.
Storage: Store Italian cream cake with cream cheese pecan frosting in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 593kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 108mg | Sodium: 367mg | Potassium: 151mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 44g | Vitamin A: 846IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 1mg