Photorealistic image of an Italian wedding cake assembly in a sunlit professional kitchen, featuring a three-tiered cake with cream cheese frosting on a silver stand, surrounded by fresh ingredients like softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, pecans, and coconut shavings, with a KitchenAid mixer blurred in the background.

Classic Italian Wedding Cake: A Decadent Celebration Dessert

Quick Facts

Prep Time: 30-45 minutes
Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
Total Time: 2-3 hours
Servings: 12-16
Difficulty: Moderate
Dietary: Vegetarian, Contains Allergens

Essential Equipment

Must-Have Tools
  • Stand mixer or hand mixer
  • Large mixing bowls
  • Rubber spatula
  • Measuring cups
  • 8-9 inch round cake pans
  • Parchment paper
  • Wire cooling rack

A modern kitchen with marble countertops bathed in sunlight, showcasing a stand mixer surrounded by neatly arranged baking ingredients, including fresh eggs, softened butter, and sifted flour in glass bowls.

Ingredients

Cake Layers
  • 2½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 5 large eggs, separated
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • 1 cup shredded coconut
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • 1 tsp almond extract
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
Cream Cheese Frosting
  • 16 oz cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Baking Method

Preparation
  1. Prep Work: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line cake pans.
  2. Dry Ingredients: Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  3. Cream Butter: Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
  4. Add Wet Ingredients: Incorporate egg yolks, extracts, and buttermilk.
  5. Combine Mixtures: Alternately add dry ingredients and buttermilk mixture.
  6. Fold Additions: Gently fold in coconut, pecans, and whipped egg whites.
  7. Bake: Divide batter into pans. Bake 30-35 minutes until golden.
  8. Cool: Rest in pans 15 minutes, then cool completely on wire rack.
Frosting
  1. Make Frosting: Cream butter and cream cheese. Gradually add sugar.
  2. Assemble: Layer cake, frost between layers, apply final coat.

Close-up of a three-tiered wedding cake being assembled with cream cheese frosting, coconut shavings, and chopped pecans, on a rotating stand, with gold-rimmed plates and vintage tools in the background.

Pro Tips

Critical Techniques
  • Avoid Overmixing: Gentle folding preserves cake’s lightness
  • Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensures smooth batter
  • Toothpick Test: Check cake doneness
Storage
  • Refrigerate up to 5 days
  • Bring to room temperature before serving
  • Flavors improve overnight

Variations

  • Gluten-free flour option
  • Nut-free alternative
  • Add fresh berries for decoration
  • Try authentic Italian millefoglie style

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don’t overbake
  • Measure ingredients precisely
  • Allow proper cooling time
  • Use fresh ingredients

Cultural Note

Despite its name, this “Italian” wedding cake is actually a Southern American creation, inspired by Italian flavors but not traditional to Italian weddings.

Nutritional Heads Up
  • High in calories (approx. 1000 kcal per slice)
  • Rich in protein and calcium
  • Contains significant sugar and saturated fat

Enjoy this showstopping dessert that’s perfect for celebrations!

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