Italian Cream Cake with Nutty Cream Cheese Frosting

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Italian Cream Cake with Nutty Cream Cheese Frosting, also known as Italian Wedding Cake, is perfect for any special occasion.

Italian Cream Cake with Nutty Cream Cheese Frosting

This post has great timing. I’ve made an Italian Cream Cake to celebrate Italian day, which is a part of my heritage. My maternal grandparents were from Italy and I recently got my DNA results from 23&Me.

Those results confirmed my Italian heritage of which I am very proud of. I often try to weave all things Italian into family gatherings. This cake is the most recent contribution.

When looking for something to make I once again turned to my Mom’s recipes. I already have some Italian recipes on the blog like baked ziti and Grandma’s Italian meatball sub so I wanted something sweet.

In her recipe book here was this cake. I’ve had Italian cream cake before and loved it.

What is Italian Cream Cake?

The history of this cake is a bit muddied. I’ve read where it was made by an Italian baker living in the southern United States. It’s also called Italian wedding cake and it’s made for special occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries.

One thing is for sure coconut and pecans are a part of every recipe I’ve found. As is buttermilk. My Mom’s cake uses part butter and part shortening. The crumb is delicate and delicious.

I’ll be honest, I was skeptical of the shortening butter combo but my husband said it’s the best cake I’ve ever made and I’ve made a lot of cakes! He’s even asked for it for his birthday cake which isn’t until October.

How Can I Decorate Italian Cream Cake?

Feel free to decorate the cake with pecans any way you wish. The pecans I used are called minis because I had purchased them on our last trip through Georgia. Use chopped pieces and press them into the side of the cake.

You could even stir the small pieces into the frosting and decorate with pecan halves around the top. Use your imagination.

talian Cream Cake, also known as Italian Wedding Cake, is perfect for any special occasion.

Italian Cream Cake with Nutty Cream Cheese Frosting

Italian Cream Cake, also known as Italian Wedding Cake, is perfect for any special occasion.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Desserts and Sweets
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 10 – 12 servings

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter softened
  • 1/2 cup shortening I used Crisco
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 5 large eggs separated
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 cup flaked coconut

Nutty Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 1 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup butter softened
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 3 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
  • Pecans for garnish

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 3 9-inch cake pans. Set aside.
  • Beat butter and shortening with an electric mixer at medium speed until fluffy. Gradually add sugar, beating well. Add egg yolks, one at a time beating until blended after each addition. Add vanilla and incorporate.
  • Combine flour and baking soda; add to butter mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed until blended after each addition. Stir in coconut.
  • In separate mixing bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks for and fold into batter.
  • Pour batter into prepared pans and bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
  • Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans and cool completely before frosting with Nutty Cream Cheese Frosting.

To make frosting:

  • Beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Add confectioners' sugar in stages, beating well, on low speed, after each addition, until blended. Beat frosting at high speed until smooth.

Recipe Notes

If desired, stir 1 cup chopped pecans into frosting before icing cake.

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26 Comments

  1. I’m always curious about the origins of recipes, but like you found with this one, often it’s hard to tell! But regardless of its origins, this is one delicious looking cake! Thanks for sharing it with Fiesta Friday!

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