Italian Cream Cake

I made this cake this past weekend to take my friends house.  We get together to either craft
or play Catan.  This weekend we made cards.  I also was thinking of my "son" it's his birthday
and he is now in AZ, so we ate cake and sang Happy Birthday to him even though he was not
here.  Really miss him.  He's doing really well and is happy......so for me that is the most important
part.  Hard to let go.
The next time I make this I will use just two pans, three made the layers very thin.

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup coconut oil
2 cups granulated sugar
5 large eggs, separated
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk (I used 1/2 cup half n half and 1/2 cp water with a 1/2 tsp vinegar)
1 cup flaked coconut

For the frosting: 
1 cup chopped pecans
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
12 ounces confectioners' sugar, sifted

Instructions

To make the cake:

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour 3 (better is you use only 2) 9-inch round cake pans.

Whisk together flour and baking soda. Set aside.

Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter until fluffy. Gradually add sugar and beat well. add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla.

Add flour mixture, alternating with buttermilk, and beat at low speed. Begin and end with flour mixture. Stir in coconut.

Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gently fold into batter.

Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake for 25 minutes, or until a pick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Cool cakes in pans on wire racks for about 10 minutes. Then, remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

To make the frosting:

Toast pecans in a shallow baking pan at 350° for 5-10 minutes, or until toasted. Set aside to cool.

Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until creamy. Add confectioners' sugar and beat at low speed until blended. Then, increase mixer speed to high and beat until smooth. Stir in pecans.

Spread frosting between cake layers and on top and sides of cake.

Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful day and Remember to Find the time to Do ALL the Things YOU Love.
Donna