Italian Cream Cake Recipe (2024)

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All good bakers, let’s have a moment of silence for the Italian cream cake’s awesomeness. All new bakers, join in too because you’ll be a pro once you get this baby on your table and enjoy the cheers (and empty plates) it brings.

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Italian Cream Cake Recipe (1)This cake is a wow-er. A wow-zer. A “what in the world did you do there?” kind of thing.And you’ll see why it should only be made for special occasions when you get to the ingredients.

It would kill you if you ate it more than that.

All I can do is recommend that you just close your eyes and eat it and don’t think about the calories. Why ruin such a good thing?

I know this isn’t truly the easiest recipe I’ve ever posted. But I hope you’ll stay with me on it. Every once in awhile we have those times when we need something amazing. And this is just the thing.

If you’re new to baking, I believe you can do this. See below for some links to helpful videos for how to work with egg whites if you’ve never done that. And of course, if you have ANY questions at all, I’m only an email or a comment away.

Italian Cream Cake Recipe (2)

Now warning: this cake has coconut and pecans. If you don’t like those, don’t make this because it won’t be the same cake. You could, possibly, sub the pecans for walnuts I guess…

But if you make it according to the instructions, sit back and enjoy. This cake is rich, but not overly sweet. It’s dense, but it’s moist at the same time.

A couple of tips to keep in mind about your Italian cream cake:

Remember to separate the eggs, then whip the egg whites to stiff peaks.(Check this helpful little snippet if you’re not sure how. Or take a look at my ultra helpful post on everything you need to know to bake cakes like an old Southern woman.

FOLD in your egg whites to keep as much air in the batter as possible. If you don’t know how to fold, you can watch this video–nothing like a random YouTube guy to get your lesson from. Maybe one of these days you’ll get a lesson from me.

This recipe takes a few most of the bowls in your kitchen. Sorry about that. And the calories? Well, this just isn’t something you should eat when you’re counting. I just wanted to warn you.

A note on the frosting: If you want a thick frosting, make a double batch. I find a thin skim is plenty on this ultra-rich cake, so plan accordingly if you want more. If your frosting is thick, feel free to thin it slightly with one teaspoon at a time of milk if it’s hard to spread.

Italian Cream Cake Recipe (3)

Italian Cream Cake Recipe (4)

Italian Cream Cake

Rich, sweet and an amazing showstopper for any event, this cake is made totally from scratch.

Prep Time 35 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour

Servings 12 people

Author Rachel Ballard

Print Pin

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1/2 cup vegetable shortening
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 6 egg yolks
  • 2 cups self rising flour
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 cups sweetened shredded coconut, divided
  • 6 egg whites beaten to stiff peaks

For the frosting

  • 1/4 cup butter softened
  • 8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
  • 1 pound powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350.

  • Grease and flour 3 8-inch cake pans. Set aside.

  • In a large bowl, cream the butter and shortening until smooth. Add the sugar and beat well.

  • Add the egg yolks and mix well.

  • Sift the flour and add into the sugar and butter mixture one-third at a time, alternating with the milk.

  • Stir in the vanilla, 1 cup of coconut and the pecans.

  • Fold in the egg whites carefully until no pockets remain.

  • Divide evenly between the three prepared pans.

  • Bake 25 minutes and turn out to a wire rack to cool completely

  • While the cakes bake, sprinkle one cup of coconut on a baking sheet and toast it in the oven alongside your cakes until brown and nutty, about 8 to 10 minutes. Stir it every couple of minutes to make sure it doesn’t burn. Then set aside to cool

For the frosting:

  • Cream the butter and cream cheese until well mixed. Add the vanilla and powdered sugar and mix until well combined.

    Spread between layers of cake and on top and sides.

    Use your hands to press the toasted coconut all around the sides.

    Sprinkle pecans over the top.

Notes

If you like your frosting very thick, it’s fine to make a double batch.

Nutrition

Calories: 917kcal

Tried this recipe?Tag us on Instagram @feastandfarm and hashtag it #feastandfarm

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Italian Cream Cake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is an Italian cream cake made of? ›

Ingredients for Italian Cream Cake

Shortening: Shortening helps tenderize the cake, retain moisture, and give the cake its light, fluffy texture. Granulated sugar: Sweetens the cake. Large eggs: Binds the batter and gives the cake structure. Vanilla extract: Adds depth of flavor to the cake.

Does Italian cream cake need to be refrigerated? ›

Due to the cream cheese frosting, the cake needs to be refrigerated. Keep any leftovers, loosely covered with plastic wrap, in the fridge for up to 1 week. If you have a cake keeper, you can use that. If not, the dollops of frosting on top might get a little squished from plastic wrap.

What is Italian cream cheese called? ›

Mascarpone, also known as Italian cream cheese, is a rich, spreadable cow's milk cheese with an especially high percentage of butterfat.

What is the name of the classic cake that originated in Italy? ›

Panettone means big loaf. Like pandoro, it's a tall cake that relies on yeast to raise the dough and it's a traditional Christmas-time cake. It isn't easy to make as it takes a long process with multiple risings of the dough. It is a classic for the area around Milan in northern Italy.

What is the most famous dessert in Italy? ›

Perhaps the most iconic Italian dessert, tiramisu appears on menus at restaurants not only throughout Italy but also all over the world.

Can you leave Italian cream cake out overnight? ›

Hi, I've been making scratch italian cream cakes for years and have always left them out for 3 to 4 days with no problem. They were always in a covered cake dome. When making them for clients, I always refrigerate them until delivery or pick up and I've never had any complaints either way.

Can you eat cream cake left out overnight? ›

You can keep in an air tight container for up to 48 hours and in a fridge for up to 72 hours. Cake with fresh cream should be eaten within 3 hours. Alternatively, seal the fresh cream cake in an air tight container and put in the fridge and consume with 24 hours.

What are Italian cakes called? ›

NameDescription
CassataRound sponge cake moistened with fruit juice
CavallucciPastry made with anise, walnuts, candied fruits, coriander, and flour
CiambellaRing-shaped cake made using flour, milk, sugar, and vanilla flavoring
Colomba di Pasqua
8 more rows

How long can cream cake sit out unrefrigerated? ›

How long can cake sit out unrefrigerated? If your cake is frosted with buttercream, it will last covered at room temperature for up to four days. However, it is best to refrigerate cakes with other frostings such as cream cheese or ganache. A fully covered unfrosted cake will last for up to 2 days at room temperature.

Can I use Philadelphia instead of mascarpone? ›

Is Philadelphia cream cheese mascarpone? No marscapone and cream cheese are completely different. There are cases where one may be substituted for the other but as a general rule you should use the ingredient the recipe calls for; otherwise you will end up with a similar but still completely different result.

Is mascarpone the same as ricotta? ›

Mascarpone and ricotta start from the same, heating milk, except Mascarpone is from curd while ricotta's the whey leftover from other cheeses like Mascarpone. Bakers give it another spin with lemon juice, cook it up again, and strain it once more to make ricotta!

Is mascarpone really a cheese? ›

Mascarpone cheese originated in Abbiategrasso and Lodi in northern Italy. It is a fresh cheese that is most commonly made with pasteurized cow's milk. Unlike some cheeses, which have animal-derived rennet added, mascarpone is vegetarian.

What cake do Italians eat for breakfast? ›

Ciambella is one of the most popular Italian breakfast cakes. It's traditionally baked in the shape of a ring and topped with icing or dusted with sugar. It usually includes one of Italy's favorite flavors: lemon.

What is a godfather cake? ›

A two-tier Godfather themed cake featuring all hand-modeled and edible elements from the classic movie. The cake is lemon chiffon with a delicious raspberry butter-cream filling, covered in dark chocolate ganache and LMM fondant.

What do Italians eat for breakfast? ›

The most common classic breakfast food in Italy is the “cornetto”, or croissant. A cornetto is often filled with some kind of cream, custard, jam or chocolate spread, and accompanied by a coffee.

Why is it called cream cake? ›

A "cream cake" can refer to various cakes, but the term generally implies a cake that is notably moist and tender, often with a fine crumb, and includes cream among its ingredients.

Why is Portillo's cake so good? ›

Its not-so-secret-anymore ingredient: mayonnaise. A Portillo's slice. Texture: That dollop of mayonnaise does the trick. Portillo's cake is indeed very moist, with a pleasantly velvety crumb.

What is Italian wedding cake made of? ›

The typical Italian wedding cake is a Millefeuille. This is made of layers of crunchy puff pastry, alternated with Chantilly cream (a mix of cream and whipped cream) and either wild berries or chocolate drops.

What is Italian rum cake made of? ›

There are 3 basic parts to the cake; sponge cake layers, pasticciera cream (filling) and (stabilized) whipped cream. Below are the recipes for all three parts. If you make it with 3 layers, omit the whipped cream layer. The sponge cake and pasticciera creams may be made a day ahead.

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