Italian Cream Cake is a delicious, moist cake with a rich flavor that combines coconut, nuts, and cream cheese frosting. If you’re looking to make it using a cake mix, here’s a simple recipe that adds those Italian cream cake flavors to a box mix for convenience.
### Ingredients:
– 1 box white or yellow cake mix (about 15.25 oz)
– 1/2 cup sour cream
– 1/2 cup milk
– 1/2 cup vegetable oil
– 4 large eggs
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
– 1 teaspoon almond extract (optional, but adds great flavor)
– 1 cup shredded coconut
– 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
– 8 oz cream cheese, softened
– 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
– 4 cups powdered sugar
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
– 2 tablespoons milk (as needed for consistency)
### Instructions:
#### Cake:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix, sour cream, milk, vegetable oil, eggs, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Beat on low speed until combined, then increase the speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes.
3. Fold in the shredded coconut and chopped nuts (if using).
4. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared cake pans.
5. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean.
6. Let the cakes cool in the pans for about 10 minutes, then remove them from the pans and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
#### Cream Cheese Frosting:
1. Beat the softened cream cheese and butter together in a bowl until smooth and creamy.
2. Gradually add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, and continue beating until the frosting is smooth and fluffy.
3. Add vanilla extract and mix to combine. If the frosting is too thick, add a tablespoon or two of milk to reach your desired consistency.
#### Assembling the Cake:
1. Once the cakes have cooled, place one layer on a serving plate.
2. Spread a generous amount of cream cheese frosting on top.
3. Place the second layer of cake on top, and frost the top and sides of the entire cake.
4. Garnish with extra coconut and chopped nuts if desired.
Let the cake set for about 30 minutes before serving so the frosting firms up a bit. Enjoy!