Elaine’s Italian Crème Cake

Ingredients:

2 cups flour
2 cups white sugar
1 stick butter (1/2 cup), softened
½ cup butter flavored shortening
5 eggs, separated
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/3 cups flaked coconut (use up to 2 cups if desired.)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Grease three 8-inch round cake pans. (Line with parchment paper if desired)
Set aside.
3. Separate eggs and beat egg whites to form still peaks.
4. Put sugar, butter and shortening in mixing bowl and blend until fluffy.
5. Add vanilla and yolks to batter and blend well.
6. Add baking soda to buttermilk and let set for a few minutes (needs to be in a container larger than 1cup because it will foam).
7. Add flour and buttermilk alternately into mixture until blended. Do not over beat.
8. Add coconut and mix until incorporated into batter.
9. Fold egg whites into batter.
10. Pour batter into the three 8-inch cake pans, spread batter out evenly.
11. Bake at 325 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until done. Cool in pans for 10 minutes and remove to wire rack to cool completely.

Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:

2- (8 ounce) packages of cream cheese softened to room temperature
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, softened
1 (1pound) box powdered sugar
2 cups chopped pecans
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
1. Put cream cheese, butter and powdered sugar in mixer. Blend until creamy.
2. Add vanilla and chopped nuts. Add frosting in between cake layers and then frost top and sides.

Note: This cake delicious cold so it can be made in advance. It also freezes well.