This impressive cake is made for coconut and pecan lovers. The vanilla-flavored cake batter is delicious, but made much better by the addition of shredded coconut and chopped pecans. If that wasn’t enough, it is layered and frosted in the creamiest vanilla-flavored cream cheese frosting. Italian Cream Cheese Cake is truly a work of art!
What’s In Italian Cream Cheese Cake?
To make this decadent cake, you need the following ingredients:
- Butter
- Shortening
- Eggs
- buttermilk
- Vanilla extract
- Sugar
- All-purpose flour
- Baking soda
- Shredded coconut
- Chopped pecans
- Cream cheese
- Powdered sugar
How Can I Make an Italian Cream Cheese Cake?
- Grease and flour three 9-inch round baking pans and preheat the oven to 350 F.
- Using a hand held or stand mixer, cream together the butter, shortening, and sugar until light and fluffy.
- One at a time, beat in the egg yolks and vanilla extract. Measure the flour in a separate bowl and mix it with the baking soda.
- Alternately add the flour and buttermilk in various additions to the butter/egg mixture just until combined.
- Whisk the egg whites in a separate bowl until stiff peaks form.
- Fold the whipped egg whites into the batter and divide it evenly between the prepared cake pans and bake for 20-25 mins or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- Let the cakes cool down for 10 mins before removing from the pans. Let them cool completely on a cooling rack.
- Make the frosting: beat the softened cream cheese and butter using a handheld or stand mixer until fluffy. Beat in the powdered sugar and vanilla extract until fluffy.
- Spread frosting over the top of one cake, place another cake on top of this one, spread frosting over the top cake, then top this larger cake with the last of the cakes. Frost the entire cake, top and sides, until fully covered.
- To garnish: toast 2 cups of coconut for 3-4 minutes in a 325 F oven, and sprinkle this plus ½ cup chopped pecans on the sides of the cake.
Do I Need A MIxer To Make This Cake?
I think you do. You would have to be a really experienced pastry chef to be able to whip the frosting as lightly as a mixer does. Creaming the butter, shortening, and sugar also requires a lot of elbow grease!
Can I Use Another Type of Nut?
You can use your favorite nuts. Almonds and walnuts are great choices too.
Other Cake Recipes For You:
- Nova Scotia Blueberry Cream Cake
- Pineapple Upside Down Bundt Cake Recipe
- Million Dollar Cake Recipe
- Pecan Upside Down Bundt Cake Recipe
- Incredibly Moist and Easy Carrot Cake

Italian Cream Cake
This impressive cake is made for coconut and pecan lovers!
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Servings: 16 SLICES
Calories: 708kcal
Ingredients
For the cake:
- ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- ½ cup shortening
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 5 large eggs, separated and room temperature
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
- 1 ½ cups shredded coconut, divided
- 1 cups chopped pecans, divided
For the frosting:
- 12 oz cream cheese, softened and room temperature
- ¾ cups unsalted butter, room temperature
- 6 cups powdered sugar
- 1 ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
For garnishing
- 2 cups shredded coconut, toasted
- ½ cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Grease and flour three 9-inch round baking pans and preheat the oven to 350 F.
- Using a hand held or stand mixer, cream together the butter, shortening, and sugar until light and fluffy.
- One at a time, beat in the egg yolks and vanilla extract. Measure the flour in a separate bowl and mix it with the baking soda.
- Alternately add the flour and buttermilk in various additions to the butter/egg mixture just until combined.
- Whisk the egg whites in a separate bowl until stiff peaks form.
- Fold the whipped egg whites, chopped pecans, and shredded coconut into the batter and divide it evenly between the prepared cake pans and bake for 20-25 mins or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- Let the cakes cool down for 10 mins before removing from the pans. Let them cool completely on a cooling rack.
- Make the frosting: beat the softened cream cheese and butter using a handheld or stand mixer until fluffy. Beat in the powdered sugar and vanilla extract until fluffy.
- Spread frosting over the top of one cake, place another cake on top of this one, spread frosting over the top cake, then top this larger cake with the last of the cakes. Frost the entire cake, top and sides, until fully covered.
- To garnish: toast 2 cups of coconut for 3-4 minutes in a 325 F oven, and sprinkle this plus ½ cup chopped pecans on the sides of the cake. Store the cake or any leftovers in the fridge for up to a week.
Notes
- It is very important that all ingredients be room temperature before you start making your cake.
- Toasting coconut: preheat the oven to 325 F. Spread the shredded coconut in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and toast in the oven for 3-4 minutes.
- Allow the cakes to fully cool down before frosting them.
Nutrition
Calories: 708kcal | Carbohydrates: 87g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 35g