I looked up the origin of this cake a few years ago. Apparently, it’s not from Italy. It’s from somewhere in the Southern US.
I don’t remember why it was labeled as Italian, but it doesn’t surprise me at all that a southerner came up with this rich, coconut-y deliciousness.
You’ll Need:
Cake:
2 c sugar
5 eggs
1 c buttermilk
1tsp baking soda (mixed in the buttermilk)
1 ⅓ c coconut
½ c Crisco
1 stick butter (½ c), softened
2 c flour
1 tsp vanilla
1 c chopped pecans
Icing:
1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, room temp
1 stick butter (½ c), room temp
3 c powdered sugar, sifted
1 tsp vanilla
Reserved pecans and coconut
To make the cake:
Step 1: Preheat oven to 325°. Cream shortening, butter and sugar well. Add eggs and vanilla and beat well.
Step 2: Alternate adding the flour and milk. Start with a third of the flour. Beat, then add half the milk. Beat again, then add more flour and mix again. Repeat with the other half of the milk and then the last of the flour.
Step 3: Set a little coconut and pecans aside for the top of the cake. Put the rest in the batter and mix well.
Step 4: grease 3 (8”) cake pans. Pour the batter evenly between the pans. Bake for 30 minutes or until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.
To make the icing:
Step 5: To make the icing, cream the cheese and butter. Add the powdered sugar. Beat until creamy, then add the vanilla and mix well.
Step 6: Wait until the cake is almost cool. It should be slightly warm. Too warm and the icing will run off. Ice between the layers and the top. Sprinkle with pecans and coconut.
KellRae’s Kitchen Tips: If you want icing all over, double the recipe and it will be a thick icing layer. Or, use what you want and freeze the rest.
Until next time, take care of the people you love and don’t forget to make a few memories worth telling.
Are you still hungry 🍴…
A few more recipes you may like are coming soon
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Grab a cup of coffee ☕…
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Pull up a chair 🪑…
Around here, recipes are meant to be shared right along with the stories that go with them. Do you have a recipe you make whose origin you’ve always wondered about? I’d love to hear about it!