Fresh Orange Italian Cream Cake

By cecelia26_

Ingredients

• Cake:
• 1/2 c. Unsalted Butter, softened
• 1/2 c. Shortening
• 2 c. Sugar
• 5 Large Eggs, separated
• 1 t. Pure Vanilla Extract
• 2 c. All-Purpose Flour
• 1 t. Baking Soda
• 1/8 t. Salt
• 1 c. Whole Milk (or buttermilk)
• 1 c. Sweetened Flaked Coconut
• 2 T. Grated Orange Rind
• Orange Marmalade:
• 1 c. Sugar
• 1/4 c. Cornstarch
• 2 c. Fresh Orange Juice (squeezed 10 large oranges to get two cups of juice)
• 3 large egg yolks, lightly beaten
• 1/4 c. Unsalted Butter
• 2 T. Grated Orange Rind
• Glazed Pecans:
• 1 1/2 c. Pecan Halves
• 1/3 c. Light Corn Syrup
• Pecan Cream Cheese Frosting:
• 1 c. Pecans, toasted and chopped
• 1/2 c. Unsalted Butter, softened
• 8 oz. Cream Cheese, cold
• 1/4 c. Shortening
• Pinch of Salt
• 1 t. Pure Vanilla Extract
• 4 c. Powdered Sugar
• Garnish:
• 1/3 c. Flaked Sweetened Coconut, toasted

Details

Servings 18
Adapted from dessertedplanet.com

Preparation

Step 1

For the Cake:
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 2, 9-inch round pans and line with parchment paper.
2.Beat butter and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy; gradually add sugar, beating until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating until blended after each addition. Add vanilla and beat until blended.
3.Whisk together flour, soda and salt. Add to sugar mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed until blended after each addition. Stir in one cup flaked coconut and grated orange rind.
4.Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold into batter. Divide batter evenly between the two pans.
5.Bake for 25-28 minutes until a tester inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks or remove from pans, wrap in foil and store in the freezer until ready to use.

For the Orange Marmalade:
1.Combine sugar, cornstarch, and egg yolks in a 3-quart saucepan; gradully whisk in fresh orange juice. Bring to a boil (5 to 6 minutes) over medium heat, whisking constantly. Cook, whisking constantly, 1 to 2 minutes or until mixture reaches a pudding-like thickness. Remove from heat and whisk in butter and grated orange rind. Cover, placing plastic wrap directly on curd and chill for at least 8 hours or until ready to use.

For the Glazed Pecans:
1.Combine pecan halves and corn syrup, stirring to coat pecans. Line a large baking sheet with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Arrange pecan halves in an even layer in pan.
2.Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes. Stir using a rubber spatula and bake 3 minutes more. Remove from oven and arrange in an even layer on another piece of foil and let cool completely.

For the Pecan Cream Cheese Frosting:
1.Cream Butter, shortening and cream cheese until smooth. Beat in salt and vanilla. Gradually beat in powdered sugar on low speed until creamy and well blended. Stir in pecans.

To Assemble:
1.Split cake layers in half horizontally. Place a layer on a plate or cake stand and spread with a thin layer of frosting and then marmalade. Top with a cake layer. Spread with another thin layer of frosting and marmalade. Top with third cake layer and spread again with frosting and marmalade. Top with final cake layer and frost sides and top of cake with the remaining pecan cream cheese frosting. Garnish with glazed pecans and toasted coconut. Serve with remaining orange marmalade.