Quick Italian Cream Cake (Print Page)
Tender cake with coconut, pecans, and cream cheese frosting ready in under an hour.
# What You Need:
→ Cake Base
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
→ Mix-Ins
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
→ Garnish
18 - ¼ cup chopped pecans, toasted
19 - ¼ cup sweetened shredded coconut, toasted
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9x13-inch pan or two 8-inch round cake pans.
02 - Whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl until well blended.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk buttermilk, melted butter, vegetable oil, eggs, vanilla extract, and almond extract until smooth.
04 - Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Mix just until combined, being careful not to overmix.
05 - Gently fold shredded coconut and chopped pecans into the batter until evenly distributed.
06 - Pour batter into prepared pan(s). Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
07 - Let cake cool completely in the 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 - Spread frosting evenly over cooled cake. Sprinkle with toasted pecans and coconut.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The buttermilk and oil keep it incredibly moist for days
- Coconut and pecans create the most tender texture imaginable
- Cream cheese frosting transforms it into something truly special
02 -
- Room temperature ingredients prevent lumps in both cake and frosting
- Overmixing creates a tough cake, so stop as soon as flour disappears
- Completely cool cake is non-negotiable for frosting that stays put
03 -
- Toast coconut and pecans together in a 350°F oven for 5-7 minutes, watching closely
- Add a pinch of salt to the frosting to balance all that sweetness perfectly