Italian Cream Cake

Bakery-style Italian Cream Cake may be a cake mix recipe, but it ends up with layer upon layer of a to-die-for from scratch taste, that will make you feel like a star baker.

Serves: 16

Chilling Time: 2 hr

Cooking Time: 15 min

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25-ounce) package white cake mix with pudding
• 3 large eggs
• 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 (3-1/2-ounce) can flaked coconut
• 1 2/3 cups chopped pecans, toasted, divided
• 3 tablespoons rum (optional)
• 2 (12-ounce) containers cream cheese frosting

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 3 (9-inch) round cake pans.
    
2. In a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat cake mix, eggs, buttermilk, and oil 2 minutes. Stir in coconut and 2/3 cup pecans. Pour into prepared cake pans.
    
3. Bake 15 to 17 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely on wire racks.
    
4. Sprinkle each cake layer with rum, if desired; let stand 10 minutes.
    
5. Stir together frosting and remaining pecans. Spread frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake (See Tips). Chill 2 hours before slicing.

Frosting Tips

Always cool the cake layers completely and brush away excess crumbs before frosting. Stack the first 2 layers on a serving plate, bottom-side up, then place the top layer right-side up. This will make a straight and tall cake. Spread a thin layer of frosting on the sides to set any crumbs then spread frosting generously on the sides and tops. There...you’ve got a perfect layer cake!