Italian Cream Bundt Cake

Ingredients

• 2 c all purpose flour
• 2 c sugar
• 1 stick butter
• 1/2 c shredded coconuts
• 1 c finely chopped walnuts
• 5 egg whites [beat for stiff peaks]
• 5 egg yolks
• 1 c buttermilk
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 Tbsp baking powder [optional]

CAKE ICING

• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1/2 c whipping cream
• 1/2 c chopped nuts
• 4 c powdered sugar
• 1/2 c coconut, shredded

Serves: 10-12, Prep: 45 Min, Cook: 55 Min

Directions

• 1 Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
•   1. Cream butter with sugar and add vanilla.
•   2. Separate the eggs. Beat the whites until soft peaks form – and set aside. Cream the egg yolks, butter and sugar. Set them aside.
•   3. In a separate bowl combine dry ingredients: Sifted flour, baking powder and the baking soda. [it doesnt call for baking powder but I like my cakes to stand high]
•   4. Add the dry ingredients to the mixture a little at a time alternating with the buttermilk (about 1/4 cup at a time).
• 2 5. Next mix in walnuts and coconut.
•   6. With a spatula gently fold in your egg whites into the batter by making the figure 8 pattern.
•   7. Spoon the batter into your greased bundt pan making it as even as you can.
•   8. Bake for about 60 minutes until the cake seems firm
• 3 10. Let it cool for 20 minutes.

For the Icing:

•   1. With a hand blender cream the cream cheese with the 1/2 cups of whipping cream. Add powder sugar. Blend. Pour generous amount on cake. Sprinkle Coconuts and top off with chopped walnuts. Again drizzle [I like that word] more icing on top on nuts and cocunuts.
•   Refrigerate the cake until you are going to slice and serve!