Italian Cream Cake
 
Makes 1 (9-inch) cake
Ingredients
  • ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons (198 grams) all-vegetable shortening
  • ½ cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cups (400 grams) granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 6 large eggs, separated
  • 2⅔ cups (334 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon (5 grams) baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon (1.5 grams) kosher salt
  • 1 cup whole buttermilk
  • 1 (7-ounce) package (125 grams) sweetened flaked coconut
  • 2½ cups (283 grams) chopped walnuts, divided
  • Orange Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe follows)
  • Garnish: chopped walnuts, orange curls
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 3 (9-inch) round cake pans with baking spray with flour.
  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat shortening, butter, sugar, zest, and vanilla at medium speed until fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture, beating just until combined after each addition. Add coconut and 1 cup (113 grams) walnuts, stirring gently to combine. Transfer to a large bowl.
  4. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites at high speed until stiff peaks form. Gently fold egg whites into batter. Divide batter among prepared pans.
  5. Bake until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Let cool in pans for 10 minutes. Remove from pans, and let cool completely on wire racks.
  6. Spread Orange Cream Cheese Frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake. Gently press remaining 1½ cups (170 grams) walnuts halfway up sides of cake. Using a wooden pick, lightly scrape frosting in an upward motion on sides of cake to create a bark effect. Garnish with walnuts and orange curls, if desired.
Recipe by Bake from Scratch at https://staging.bakefromscratch.com/italian-cream-cake/