Chocolate Italian Cream Cake

                                            
I was out of town this past weekend, when our church funeral meal organizer called, needing a cake. Without hesitation, Joe volunteered to make it.  He did a wonderful job, finding a recipe from Allrecipes.com, adapting it to what he thought he needed, then making this impressive three layered cake!  Maybe he'll go into business :).  No, I don't think so, but he does like to bake and cook occasionally.  He managed the Tipton Home cafeteria for six years, so cooking and baking isn't new to him. He fed 75 - 125 people two meals a day (with other helpers) all of those years!

Chocolate Italian Cream Cake

1 cup butter, softened (not melted)
5 egg yolks
5 egg whites
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups of all-purpose flour
2 cups white sugar
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup cocoa
1 cup chopped pecans, lightly toasted
1 cup flaked coconut, lightly toasted
1 square unsweetened baking chocolate squares, melted (He said it would be better to melt in double boiler or add a little bit of water to it to melt.)

Cream together butter, egg yolks, and sugar. Alternately mix in flour and buttermilk. Add baking soda. Mix in toasted pecans and toasted coconut.

Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Bold into cake batter. Pour batter into three well-greased and floured 9 inch round cake pans. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven.  Cool completely before icing.

Icing for Chocolate Italian Cream Cake

2 - 8 ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup butter, softened (not melted)
5 cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1 square unsweetened baking chocolate squares, melted (see note above)

1/2 cup chopped pecans, lightly toasted

1/4 cup coconut, lightly toasted (if desired)

Extra pecans and/or toasted coconut for garnish, if desired

Combine cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, almond extract, and melted chocolate with mixer until blended.  Stir in toasted pecans and toasted coconut. Garnish with whole and chopped pecans and/or toasted coconut, as desired.