Italian Creme Cake

In honor of my Dad's birthday today, I will post this absolutely scrumptious Italian Creme Cake, which is his favorite!!

2 cups sugar
1 STICK butter
1/2 cup shortening
5 eggs, separated
1 cup buttermilk
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup/can coconut OR pineapple if you don't like coconut, drained (or half of both if you like both)
1 cup pecans or walnuts, chopped

Grease and flour 3 9-inch pie pans. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream sugar, butter and shortening. Add egg YOLKS, one at a time.

Mix dry ingredients together, then add alternately with the buttermilk to the creamed butter mixture.

In separate bowl, beat egg WHITES until stiff peaks form. Fold into batter with coconut or pineapple.

Pour into 3 prepared 9-inch pie pans.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes.

Cream Cheese Frosting


8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 stick butter, softened
3 1/2-3 3/4 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup pecans or walnuts, chopped (you can either add the nuts to the frosting or use them as garnish on the sides or top of the frosted cake.)

Mix well and frost cake.