Secret to the BEST Classic Italian Cream Cake
Italian Cream Cake recipes are NOT created equal. I’m sharing a few secrets about how to make the most spectacular version that always gets rave reviews! I’ve never led you astray; this Italian Cream Cake with the yummy frosting is to die for!
Despite the name, there is nothing “Italian” about this cake. You’ll never find this on any menu in Italy. Why? Because Italian Cream Cake is a Southern specialty cake that has no connection to Italian food at all. I’m sure there is a story to tell, so tell us if you know what the scoop is! But no matter where or when it is a cake that commands center stage!
Italian Cream Cake is plain and simply put: delicious!
The three layers are rich and super moist with a delicate crumb. The cake gets its incredible richness and moistness from the coconut and buttermilk mixed in the batter. The light and fluffy texture is because of the whipped egg whites that are folded into the cake batter. Finally, a decadent (and is it ever decadent!) cream cheese frosting is spread between the layers and all over the top and sides of the cake.
If you really love coconut, a great option is to toast some flaked coconut and garnish the top of the cake with it.
This cake is considered in my family to be one of our go-to ‘special occasion’ desserts. Even a friend of mine had dozens of Italian Cream Cakes baked for her wedding cake . . . now that’s pretty special! My husband’s birthday is smack in the middle of the cold dreary month of February and this cake just brings smiles to everyone’s face and tummy no matter how drizzly, snowy, and cold it is outside!
Some people say that it’s a lot of work to make an Italian Cream Cake, but I totally disagree. It’s not hard at all! I give you all the information you need for baking this delicious cake.
So What is an Italian cream cake?
Italian cream cake is an elegant, show-stopping, moist 3-layer cake. The cake’s rich layers are studded with chopped pecans and coconut. The moistness comes from the coconut, and (in this version) cooking oil. The cake is topped with a rich, finger-licking-good whipped cream cheese frosting with more chopped pecans and delicate shredded coconut.
So What Are The Secrets for the BEST ITALIAN CREAM CAKE?
Here they are:
- Always use buttermilk and not regular milk. Buttermilk makes the cake a little more dense and flavorful.
- In addition to the butter, add ¼ cup of regular cooking oil. This really adds to the moistness of the cake.
- Separate your eggs and add them at correct (and different) times according to the recipe. The separated egg whites add a light and airy texture to the cake.
- Add 3 – 6 Tbsps. of light rum to the cake batter. I use 3 Tbsps. and there is a ‘barely there’ hint of rum flavor.
- Add 1 tsp. coconut extract!
- Do not bake for over 20 minutes. Three layers bake very fast!
- Add whipped cream (the real stuff) to the frosting for a less heavy frosting.
- Add more powdered sugar to the frosting — it makes a better, sweeter frosting. Add an amount that is suitable to your preferred taste level.
- For ease in spreading the frosting, don’t add the pecans to the frosting, simply frost the cake with the frosting only and then press the chopped pecans all over the frosting.
Tips For Baking Italian Cream Cakes:
- It makes a great holiday or special occasion cake.
- A big bonus is that Italian Cream Cake is even better on the second day after baking it.
- This makes it perfect for a make-ahead dessert that frees up your time to focus on other things the day of your gathering. That’s always such a big plus for me!
- Bring the butter and cream cheese to room temperature and softened before using it.
- Separate the egg yolks and egg whites into 2 separate bowls.
- When beating the egg whites, use the highest setting on your hand-held blender. It takes almost 8 minutes for the cream to form soft peaks.
- GENTLY FOLD, don’t stir the egg white / tartar into the cake batter. This is what gives the cake such lightness.
- USE PARCHMENT paper on top of the buttered and floured baking pans. Without parchment paper, this cake sticks any way; even with butter and flour. So use parchment paper.
- Italian Cream Cake is so tender and so moist that it has a tendency to crumble. So be very careful removing the baked layers out of the pans.
- Store Italian Cream Cake in the fridge, covered.
- Store for 3 – 4 days in the fridge.
PIN FOR LATER!
More amazing Cake Recipes that You’ll Enjoy!
- Layered Carrot Cake with Praline Filling and Cream Cheese Frosting
- Layered Lemon Cake with Limoncello Icing
- Strawberry Layer Cake with Italian Buttercream Frosting
- Layered Blood Orange Cake with Orange Mascarpone Filling
The BEST Classic Italian Cream Cake
- Prep Time: 0 hours
- Additional Time: 0 hours
- Cook Time: 0 hours
- Total Time: 0 hours
- Yield: 10 – 12 Servings 1x
- Category: Cakes
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1/4 cup cooking oil
- 2 cups sugar
- 6 eggs, separated and at room temperature
- 2 – 1/2 cups (all-purpose) flour
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2/3 cup finely chopped pecans
- 1 (3-1/2 oz) can flaked coconut or 1 bag of flaked coconut
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp. coconut extract
- 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
- 3 – 4 Tbsp light rum
For the Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting
- 20 oz cream cheese, softened at room temperature
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream, cold (another cup if preferred), whipped to soft peaks
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 2 – 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp. coconut extract
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Coat three (3) 9″ round cake pans with softened butter and flour.
- Line the bottoms of the pans with parchment paper. Coat the paper with cooking spray and dust with flour. Set aside.
- Cream the butter and cooking oil, add sugar, beating well with a handheld electric mixer at medium speed.
- Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating after each is added.
- Combine the flour and baking soda.
- Add to creamed mixture alternating with buttermilk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture.
- Stir in pecans, coconut, rum, coconut extract, and vanilla.
- Beat the egg whites (need to be at room temperature) on high until foamy.
- Add the cream of tartar; beat until stiff peaks form.
- Gently fold beaten egg whites into batter.
- Pour batter into prepared pans.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let cool in the pans for 10 minutes.
- Remove from pans; peel off the parchment paper, and let cool completely on wire racks.
- Spread the frosting on top of each of the cake layers. If you choose not to add the pecans to the frosting, then sprinkle about ⅓ cup on top of each frosted cake layer. Place the 3 cake layers on top of each other and spread the frosting over the entire cake.
- See #4 below regarding the frosting.
- Combine cream cheese and butter, beating until smooth. Add vanilla and coconut extracts and mix for a minute or so.
- Whip the whipping cream until soft peaks form. Then gently fold the whipping cream into the cream cheese mixture.
- Gradually add powdered sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Add more to your preferred level of sweetness.
- OPTIONAL: Stir in pecans OR keep the pecans out of the frosting in order to 'press' them into the frosted cake.
For the Frosting
The BEST Classic Italian Cream Cake
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 1 cup butter, softened
- ¼ cup cooking oil
- 2 cups sugar
- 6 eggs, separated and at room temperature
- 2 - ½ cups (all-purpose) flour
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2/3 cup finely chopped pecans
- 1 (3-1/2 oz) can flaked coconut or 1 bag of flaked coconut
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- ½ tsp. coconut extract
- ½ tsp cream of tartar
- 3 - 4 Tbsp light rum
For the Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting
- 20 oz cream cheese, softened at room temperature
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream, cold (another cup if preferred), whipped to soft peaks
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 2 - 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- ½ tsp. coconut extract
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Coat three (3) 9" round cake pans with softened butter and flour.
- Line the bottoms of the pans with parchment paper. Coat the paper with cooking spray and dust with flour. Set aside.
- Cream the butter and cooking oil, add sugar, beating well with a handheld electric mixer at medium speed.
- Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating after each is added.
- Combine the flour and baking soda.
- Add to creamed mixture alternating with buttermilk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture.
- Stir in pecans, coconut, rum, coconut extract, and vanilla.
- Beat the egg whites (need to be at room temperature) on high until foamy.
- Add the cream of tartar; beat until stiff peaks form.
- Gently fold beaten egg whites into batter.
- Pour batter into prepared pans.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let cool in the pans for 10 minutes.
- Remove from pans; peel off the parchment paper, and let cool completely on wire racks.
- Spread the frosting on top of each of the cake layers. If you choose not to add the pecans to the frosting, then sprinkle about ⅓ cup on top of each frosted cake layer. Place the 3 cake layers on top of each other and spread the frosting over the entire cake.
- See #4 below regarding the frosting.
- Combine cream cheese and butter, beating until smooth. Add vanilla and coconut extracts and mix for a minute or so.
- Whip the whipping cream until soft peaks form. Then gently fold the whipping cream into the cream cheese mixture.
- Gradually add powdered sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Add more to your preferred level of sweetness.
- OPTIONAL: Stir in pecans OR keep the pecans out of the frosting in order to 'press' them into the frosted cake.
For the Frosting
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This is a great recipe! I was searching for a recipe and when I saw the ingredients list, I knew this was the one! Made this for Independence Day and I was really pleased. The crumb is perfect, and the coconut/buttermilk combo made for a nice, moist cake. Thank you!
Hi Marlene!
Thank you so much for sharing with all of us how you prepare this classic, delicious cake recipe! I am a humble learner and never claim to give the final say on any recipe, since there are so many wonderful variations of recipes that are cherished by people everywhere. That said, I would love it and be honored if you could look at this recipe and let us all know what you agree on and what you would do differently. I welcome your opinion especially since you have such a high-regarded reputation in your hometown for you awesome Italian Cream Cakes. I hope to hear from you soon because I’m anxious to prepare your special version of this cake.
Grazie and ciao,
Roz
Can you use cake flour for this recipe? If so, will it affect leavening agent?
HI Bren,
What a great question!
I’ve never tried this recipe with cake flour, but I don’t see that it would make much of a difference. Let me know if you do! I’d love to know!
Ciao,
Roz
I have my own personal recipe I have made for 45 years for weddings, birthdays and family dinners and have used both plain flour at times and cake flour at other times. I love the cake flour because it produces a lighter delicate crumb than Gold Medal white flour. However, that said, when making it for larger volumes, I always sift and weigh ingredients for consistency. In my town I am known for this wedding cake. This recipe should definitely be amazing as it has the right look!
I beg to differ with you. There IS A REAL ITALIAN CREME CAKE. My Abruzezze grandmother brought the recipe from Italy when she came to America in 1920. It’s a sponge cake, with a pastry creme filling (with chopped maraschino cherries topping the creme) similar to zabiglione. No nuts, no alcohol. It’s frosted with a cream cheese frosting. The cake alone was a dozen eggs. So yeah Italian Creme Cake REALLY IS an ITALIAN thing!
What size bag if coconut should be used?
Hi Elaine,
Begin with a small 7-oz bag of coconut. I recommend always having more on hand — you’ll use it on top of the frosting if you like. Thank you for pointing this out to me; I’ll make sure to make this correction. You will just LOVE this cake! Please let me know what you think….photos are great to share Elaine!
Ciao,
Roz
I was anticipating a fabulous cake and thought I had nailed it. Looking in the oven window I saw the layers puffed up in the pans. After cooling the cake layers shrunk into half the former size. I followed the recipe to a “T” so not sure what happened. I am very disappointed.
Dear Ann-Marie,
I’m terribly sorry too, that this cake didn’t turn out well for you. I can’t explain what happened to your cake, but I can share with you a reader’s results when she baked this cake this past September.
From Mia Wilkie, Sept. 9, 2023 via email:
The cake turned out beautiful!!! inside and out:) truly a great recipe, i made this for a friend and they couldn’t have loved it more. the only thing i would say is i would maybe make a note explaining that due to the whipped cream this frosting can be a little weak in structure. but it works perfectly if you’re coating the whole thing in pecans and coconut,
Other than that, fantastic recipe.
only other thing i did differently was to replace browned butter for the frosting!
If you haven’t tried it you should.. absolutely amazing.
anyways great cake and thank you for sharing this recipe!!
How do I adjust this recipe for high altitude? Thanks
Dear Sharon,
At higher altitudes, increase your oven temperature by 15 to 25° F. Also set your timer for 6 – 8 minutes LESS for every 30 minutes of baking time in the recipe. Increase any liquid ingredient at 3000 feet by an additional 1 teaspoon and for every additional 1000 feet of elevation as well.
Please let me know how the cake turns out!
Ciao,
Roz
This is a great Italian Cream Cake Recipe!
I’ve tried several but this one is the BEST!!!
Good and moist.
Thank you, Roz!
Thank you so much for your kind comment Kathy. Since I consider this blog to be a community of cooks/bakers, could you please reply to Anne-Marie (above) because she had poor results with this cake. Maybe you can assist her since you’ve made it several times with success.
Thank you Kathy.
Roz
hi! i’m making this cake tomorrow, and i just had one question. is the coconut supposed to be sweetened or unsweetened? i would assume sweetened only cause it doesn’t specify but.. would love to know for sure. thanks! excited to make this.
Hi Mia,
I use sweetened coconut.
Thanks for asking, I’ll make note of it on the recipe card.
Ciao,
Roz
From Mia Wilkie:
the cake turned out beautiful!!! inside and out:)
truly a great recipe,
i made this for a friend and they couldn’t have loved it more.
the only thing i would say is i would maybe make a note explaining that due to the whipped cream this frosting can be a little weak in structure. but it works perfectly if you’re coating the whole thing in pecans and coconut, so i ended up using it for the filling and then i made a separate bowl of frosting without the whipped cream just for the outside and the cake border so it had a touch more security. other than that, fantastic recipe. only other thing i did differently was i decided to replace browned butter for the frosting! if you haven’t tried it you should..
absolutely amazing. and thank you
anyways great cake and thank you for sharing this recipe!!
This cake looks fantastic! One question about the recipe……do I add the powdered sugar to the frosting AFTER folding in the whipped cream?
Zoe,
Yes, you add the powdered sugar after folding in the whipping cream.
Thanks,
Roz
I have the same question, why would you gently fold the egg whites in, if you are going to beat it later when adding the powdered sugar.
Cindy – You’re not folding in any egg whites into the frosting. I think you are asking about the frosting. The instructions are correct and results are fabulous when followed. Thanks, Roz
Sorry, not the egg whites, the whipped cream.
you’re thinking about two different things. the egg whites are for the cake. you fold it in so it doesn’t deflate. the powdered sugar is added to the frosting. not the cake. two completely different things. and simply put, baking is not only difficult but weird. certain things are meant to be just that, certain. because done the wrong way or at the wrong time will create a different result.
Thank you Mia! You’re very helpful indeed!
Roz
never mind lol. totally understand what you meant, currently making the frosting now.. i understand why you’re confused lmao.
in this case it really shouldn’t matter. frosting has a LOT more freedom than cake. i would mix together your cream cheese and powdered sugar THEN the whipped cream only for the slight chance of overbeating the cream. but ultimately it really shouldn’t make a difference.
You indicated in the recipe to use 3 -9 inch cake pans, then I noticed that one of the questions was if 2 -9 inch could be used instead. Should the recipe have indicated 3 -8 inch instead? Also…also what size of the bagged flakes coconut should I use? Thanks!
Dear Diane,
Thank you for your question about someone else’s question . . . this interaction among readers is awesome! The answer: 3 (three) 9″ pans are used.
Happy Baking,
Roz
When you list cooking oil, is it canola or some other kind?
Also, can you use 2 – 9 in. rounds instead of 3, and can the rum be omitted without changing the dynamic too much?
I’d stick with 3 – 9-inch pans. Yes, eliminate the rum. I’ve never tried it without the rum, but I don’t think the flavor of this cake will be impacted.
thanks for stopping by with such great questions!
Ciso,
Roz
Emily,
I use canola oil, no particular brand.
Thanks for asking,
Roz
You say flour,but don’t say what kind. Self-rising or waht?
Good morning Annette.
I hope that you’re doing well today!
In answering your question. I use all-purpose flour in every recipe that I make, unless specified otherwise. Thank you for your great question.
Please let me know how the cake turns out. Shoot a photo and I’ll share it in the newsletter!
Thanks and have a good time in the kitchen!
Roz
Your recipe mentions coconut extract and cooking oil but then doesnt add these ingredients to the list, so it’s hard to know when to add the extracts…do they go in the cake batter or frosting…or both…its confusing. I dont want to add an additional 1/4 cup of oil not listed in the recipe, but you mention it earlier in the article.
Hi!
This is Roz from La Bella Vita Cucina about the question you asked. you are right in that I forgot to list cooking oil in both the ingredient list and the procedure portion of the recipe.
Penni,
I have fixed the error and you can now return to this marvelous recipe!
Thank you for your random act of kindness!
Please let me know your results and shoot a photo if you like and I”ll share it on the blog
Kind regards,
Roz
wow Roz,
This one gorgeous cream layered cake.
The cake has a really smooth and tender crumb.
Perfect with cream frosting and crunchy pecan all over!
Thanks so much Angie!
Ciao,
Roz