That sounds delicious! Italian Cream Cheese Cake is a classic dessert that combines the richness of cream cheese with the lightness of a traditional Italian cake. It’s typically made with ingredients like cream cheese, butter, eggs, sugar, flour, and sometimes chopped nuts and coconut. Here’s a basic recipe to guide you:
Ingredients:
– 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
– 2 cups granulated sugar
– 6 large eggs, separated
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
– 2 cups all-purpose flour
– 1 teaspoon baking soda
– 1 cup buttermilk
– 1 cup shredded coconut
– 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
For the cream cheese frosting:
– 8 oz (225g) cream cheese, softened
– 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
– 4 cups powdered sugar
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour three 9-inch round cake pans.
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and baking soda. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, alternating with the buttermilk. Begin and end with the dry ingredients, mixing just until combined.
4. In another bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the beaten egg whites into the cake batter. Then, fold in the shredded coconut and chopped nuts.
5. Divide the batter equally among the prepared cake pans. Smooth the tops with a spatula to ensure even baking. Bake in the preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
6. Remove the cakes from the oven and let them cool in the pans for a few minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
7. While the cakes are cooling, prepare the cream cheese frosting. In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
8. Once the cakes have cooled, spread a layer of cream cheese frosting on top of one cake layer. Place another cake layer on top and repeat the process. Finally, place the third cake layer on top and frost the entire cake with the remaining cream cheese frosting.
9. Decorate the cake with additional shredded coconut and chopped nuts, if desired. You can also garnish with fresh berries for an extra touch.
10. Refrigerate the cake for at least an hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld together.
Enjoy your homemade Italian Cream Cheese Cake!