I am looking for an Italian Cream Cake recipe and some advice for a cake due Friday. The last one I made was pretty dry and not very flavorful. It also called for 2 cups shredded coconut and I had a terrible time cutting it at the wedding. Would running the coconut though the food processor help with that? I don't want to destroy the texture, though.

Also, what type of icing do you prefer? I made cream cheese last time and that was the only part of the cake I liked

Thanks!

Tammy

I have never made this cake, however I have eaten it. A lady that I kow used to sell these throughout the holiday season and it was FABULOUS! this is her recipe.
cake:
1 stick butter, softened 1tsp. baking soda
1/2 c. oil 2c. flour
2 c. sugar 1tsp. vanilla
5 eggs, separated 1 c. coconut, shredded
1 c. buttermilk 1/2 c pecans, chopped

frosting:
1 stick butter, softened 1tsp. vanilla
8 oz. cream cheese softened 1/2 c. pecans, chopped
1lb. powdered sugar, sifted

Cream butter and oil together with sugar. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating after each. Stir baking soda into buttermilk. Add sifted flour alternately with buttermilk. Beat between each addition. Add vanilla, coconut, and pecans. Beat egg whites until stiff and fold into mixture. Pour into 3 9 in greased and floured pans. Bake in preheated oven at 350 for 25 mins. Cool completeely before icing.

Frosting:
Cream butter and cream cheese together. Beat in sifted sugar gradually. Add vanilla and pecans. Frost each layer top and sides.

Mine is similar to woodruffbn except:
1/2 c crisco rather than oil. I don't use nuts in the cake itself but do use the coconut. Fabulous cake.

I made one for a Client and at first it seemed weird, but, the Client called back and had nothing but great raves. I actually scored a wedding cake order for that same recipe. I am not home now, but, I will send you the recipe - if you have not gotten one yet.
I didn't like the cake myself, and gave up all my extras. I just happened to sample a tiny bite, and I was so mad that I had shared it with anyone....
Anyway, it was great.

I will post later

TrinaR

I made this one at Valentine's Day and it was truly FAB! OMG!
Even the icing!!! yum!
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/italian-cream-cake-from-beth-lotts-mom-recipe/index.html

This sounds so yummy. I can't wait to try it. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks so much everybody! I'll report back on what works. Trina - thanks so much I'd love to see yours when you have time

When I make this cake, or any other cake that has nuts or coconut in it, I always give it a very quick whirl in the food processor. I also, cut the amount down to 2/3 of what it calls for because of the less stringier texture of the coconut. I do the same for the nuts, I cut it down to 2/3 as well.

I recently made this cake for one of my graduation hat cakes and the son that does not like nuts(pecans in this case) ate it with no problems.

I think it's a texture thing. Most people do not like a chewy cake. Added plus it's easy to cut and you get all the flavor

Thanks cakeymom! That's exactly what I was thinking!

I toast my coconut and my pecans before I add them to the batter. I think it makes the flavors deeper and the texture easier to cut. Pecans are traditional, but they make for a harder cake to cover in fondant if you are going that route. When it's a fondant covered cake, I fill it with the traditional cream cheese frosting (sans coconut) and frost it with cream cheese buttercream under the fondant. If it bakes even a tad bit over the prescribed time, it will come out dry. My recipe is close enough to the first one posted as well as the FoodNetwork recipe that I won't take up space repeating it. Those are just some of the things I've learned over time... HTH!

Thanks Win! Yes, maybe I did overbake. The wierd thing is that the layers looked picture perfect when they came out of the oven. Later when I went to level the tiers they ALL had a wierd uncooked blob in the dome only. After wincing I thought, well at least I didn't overbake them and I was able to level them and get rid of the underbaked portion. Later when I cut it I couldn't believe how crumbly, dry and messy it was. I've never had this happen with any cake Hmm...Maybe my whites were overbeaten when I added them?

My recipe, too, calls for shortening which you cream with the butter (or margarine) then add the sugar. The egg yolks are next. I always add them one at a time, and beat each one well to incorporate. Then the flour, soda mix is alternately with the buttermilk. Vanilla is next, then coconut and nuts... lastly you fold in the stiffly beaten egg whites (I consider stiffly beaten to "peak" when you lift the mixer.) Bake for 25 - 30 minutes (I split the difference at 28 minutes. 350 degrees. Now, my recipe only calls for a small can of flaked coconut and I'm not sure what that is... I just buy the small can and never really look at the ounces. I think your recipe sounds like too much coconut which, I believe, can cause dryness. If you want, I can PM you with the whole recipe.

I made the same recipe that saycheese gave.....really, it is soooo yummy!!!!

TamanthaV'

My ingredients are
1 1/2 cups butter
2 cups sugar
6 eggs, separated
1 Tbsp vanilla (yes, a tablespoon)
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 cups all purpose flour (sifted then measured)
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup finely chopped pecans (I use Fisher's Pecans Cookie Pieces)
1 small pkg shredded coconut (8 oz)

Instructions are the same. And mine always come out moist. As for bake time, I never bake a cake as long as the instructions say. I start checking my cake for doneness 5 mins or so before the given bake time to prevent overbaking & always produce moist cakes.

I've made the chocolate italian cream cake on the recipes section here on cc, everyone loves this cake and always asks for it. I guess the white one should be just as delicious.