Black Walnut Cake

Total Time: 1 hr 55 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr 30 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine, softened
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 2 cups sugar
• 5 eggs, separated
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped black walnut
• 1 (3 ounce) can flaked coconut
• 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
• chopped black walnut
• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 6 3/4 cups sifted powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Recipe

• 1 to make the frosting: in a large mixing bowl, cream butter and cream cheese; gradually add powdered sugar, beating (with an electric mixer) until mixture is light and fluffy.
• 2 stir in vanilla; set aside.
• 3 to make cake: in a large mixing bowl, cream butter and shortening; gradually add sugar, beating well with an electric mixer at medium speed.
• 4 add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• 5 in another bowl, combine buttermilk and soda; stir until soda is dissolved.
• 6 add flour to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk mixture, beginning and ending with flour.
• 7 mix after each addition.
• 8 stir in vanilla.
• 9 add in 1 cup walnuts and coconut; stir well.
• 10 in another bowl, beat egg whites (at room temperature) and cream of tartar until stiff peaks form; fold egg mixture into batter.
• 11 pour batter into 3 greased/floured 9-inch round cake pans.
• 12 bake in a 350° oven for 22-25 minutes or until pick comes out clean.
• 13 cool cakes in pans 10 minutes; remove from pans and let cool completely on wire racks.
• 14 spread cream cheese frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake.
• 15 press additional chopped walnuts onto sides of cake.