Quick Italian Cream Cake (Printable View)
Moist coconut-pecan cake topped with velvety cream cheese frosting, ready in under an hour.
# Ingredient List:
→ Cake Components
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
03 - 1 tsp baking soda
04 - ½ tsp salt
05 - 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
06 - ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
07 - ½ cup vegetable oil
08 - 3 large eggs
09 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
10 - 1 tsp almond extract
11 - 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
12 - ½ cup chopped pecans
→ Cream Cheese Frosting
13 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
14 - ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
15 - 3-4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
16 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
17 - 2 tbsp milk as needed
→ Topping
18 - ¼ cup chopped pecans, toasted
19 - ¼ cup sweetened shredded coconut, toasted
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9x13-inch pan or two 8-inch round cake pans.
02 - Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl until thoroughly blended.
03 - Whisk buttermilk, melted butter, oil, eggs, vanilla extract, and almond extract in a separate bowl until smooth.
04 - Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Do not overmix.
05 - Gently fold in shredded coconut and chopped pecans until evenly distributed throughout batter.
06 - Pour batter into prepared pan(s). Bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
07 - Let cake cool completely in pan on a wire rack before frosting.
08 - Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla extract, mixing until fluffy. Add milk as needed to achieve spreadable consistency.
09 - Frost cooled cake evenly with cream cheese frosting. Sprinkle toasted pecans and coconut over top.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The buttermilk keeps every bite impossibly tender while the oil ensures it stays moist for days
- This is one of those rare cakes that actually tastes better the next day as the flavors meld together
02 -
- Room temperature ingredients combine more smoothly so set everything out at least an hour before baking
- Overmixing the batter will make your cake tough so stop as soon as the flour disappears
03 -
- Sift your powdered sugar before adding it to the frosting to avoid any lumps in your final result
- Add a tablespoon of corn syrup to your frosting if you want that professional bakery shine