Robert’s Italian Cream Cake — Robert St. John

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 5 large eggs, separated
• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2/3 cup pecans, finely chopped
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 can flaked coconut (3 ½ ounces)
• ½ tsp cream of tartar
• 3 Tbl Grand Marnier
• 1 recipe cream cheese frosting
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• ¾ cup butter, softened
• 1 ½ cups powdered sugar, sifted
• 1 ½ cups pecans, chopped
• 1 Tbl vanilla extract