Why You’ll Love This Southern Classic
Despite the name, this delicious cake originated in the South, and it’s a cake everyone should try! It’s a three-layer cake with a delicious cream cheese frosting; you add in coconut and pecans, and it’s a wonderful combination. This is the cake that you can’t control yourself around; it’s really that good! The texture and the flavor is wonderful. Yes, you will see when you read the recipe this cake takes some work, but let me assure you, it is worth the effort.
Swaps You Can Make
Looking over other recipes, some people like to use almond extract in this cake, but we have always been fans of vanilla. I think either would be delicious! We love the combination of pecans and cream cheese but you can always use walnuts if you like. We use the sweetened coconut in this recipe but you can always try it with unsweetened. We use full-fat buttermilk in this recipe and love the moisture it adds, but you can use full-fat milk and make a buttermilk substitute.
8-inch or 9-inch pans?
We use 8-inch pans for this recipe, which gives the right thickness for the three layers. I have seen other recipes that call for 9-inch pans, and people complain that the layers are too thin. We suggest using the 8-inch pans.
Slice of classic Italian Cream Cake with cream cheese frosting
Other Delicious Recipes:
Old Fashioned Banana Pudding – This recipe has over 30,000 saves on our website!
Southern Jam Cake – This is the cake that we make every Christmas.
Watergate Cake – Vintage and delicious and perfect for any occasion.
Three Day Coconut Cake – Perfect for any holiday and absolutely delicious.
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Italian Cream Cake
Leigh Walkup
This classic Italian Cream Cake is a moist, homemade layer cake filled with coconut and pecans, then frosted with rich cream cheese frosting. A Southern favorite that’s perfect for holidays, birthdays, and special occasions.
5 from 6 votes
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Pin Recipe
Prep Time
20minutes mins
Cook Time
30minutes mins
Total Time
50minutes mins
Course
Dessert
Cuisine
American, Italian
Servings
10 servings
Ingredients
1 cup butter or 2 sticks or 16 tablespoons softened
1 3/4 cups white granulated sugar
3 egg yolks
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups coconut I used the sweetened coconut flakes
1 cup pecan pieces
5 egg whites
Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients
1 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
1 stick butter or 8 tablespoons or 1/2 cup softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 3/4 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
Cream butter, sugar and egg yolks. Whisk together the flour and soda and add to creamed mixture along with buttermilk and vanilla extract. Mix well. Stir in coconut and nuts. Beat egg whites until stiff and fold into cake mixture.
Spray three 8 inch cake pans with cooking spray. Divide mixture between the three pans and bake in preheated 350 degree oven 25 to 30 minutes until centers are done. Frost with cream cheese frosting recipe below.
Cream Cheese Frosting Instructions
Beat cream cheese and butter, add vanilla and powdered sugar. Spread between layers and on cake.
