Italian Cream Cake

INGREDIENTS

2 cups

All Purpose Flour, sifted

1 tsp

baking soda

2 cups

sugar

1/2 cup

butter (1 stick)

1/2 cup

shredded coconut

1 cup

finely chopped pecans (note: Italian wedding cake is traditionally made with walnuts but I prefer TX Pecans)

eggs, separated

1/2 cup

olive oil (you can substitute vegetable oil but I feel like the olive oil make it extra authentic!)

1 cup

buttermilk

1 1/2 tsp

vanilla

8 oz

cream cheese

1/4 cup

butter (1/2 stick)

1 tsp

buttermilk

1 tsp

vanilla extract

3 cups

powdered sugar