Easy Italian Cream Cake Recipe

I gotta tell ya—this Easy Italian Cream Cake Recipe takes me straight back to Sunday afternoons in South Philly, sittin’ around Nonna’s chipped old kitchen table with the windows foggy from whatever she had simmering on the stove. But the real star? That cake she’d pull from the fridge like it was gold—light layers filled with sweet cream and coconut, finished off with a good cloud of cream cheese frosting and maybe, just maybe, a few chopped pecans tossed on top if Uncle Lou didn’t eat ’em all.

Ok, so this version’s a little different—it’s got that shortcut magic we all need sometimes. We’re talkin’ cake mix, pudding, and all the good stuff folded in, which makes it a bit easier than the traditional old fashioned Italian cream cake my Nonna used to make from scratch. But trust me, it’s still the kinda thing that stops conversation mid-sentence when folks take that first bite.

The recipe I’m sharing here? Well, I found it during one of those internet rabbit holes—ya know, the kind where you’re just lookin’ for “quick weeknight dinners” and somehow end up screenshotting a dozen different cakes. I actually lost it twice before I wised up and wrote it down. The combo of moist vanilla cake, toasted coconut, and that dreamy frosting is just too good to risk misplacing.

One of the things I really love about this cake is how flexible it is. Wanna toss it in a Bundt pan? Go for it. Prefer walnuts over pecans? Knock yourself out. No coconut in the house? I mean, it’s technically not the same cake, but hey, you do you. That’s what makes this a real Italian cream cake box recipe—it’s simple, adaptable, and it doesn’t need a culinary degree to pull off.

The frosting? Don’t even get me started. Cream cheese, butter, a touch of cream, and powdered sugar. That’s it. It spreads like a dream and sticks to your fingers just long enough to make licking them feel like an acceptable life choice.

Now, if you’re wondering if this is the best Italian cream cake recipe out there—honestly, I think it might be. It’s fast, it’s forgiving, and it hits that sweet nostalgic note that just feels like home.

FAQs

What are the ingredients in Italian Cream Cake?

Most of the time, you’re lookin’ at a rich cake made with eggs, sugar, oil or butter, flour, and buttermilk—plus pecans and coconut for texture. This one uses a cake mix and pudding for ease, but still gives ya that classic flavor punch.

How to make cream for a cake easy?

Start with softened cream cheese and butter. Add powdered sugar, then splash in some cream or milk ’til it’s smooth enough to spread. No fancy tools needed, just a sturdy spoon or hand mixer.

What is Fazoli’s Italian Cream Cake?

It’s their take on this Southern-inspired dessert—usually super moist, pretty rich, and topped with lots of frosting and coconut. Folks seem to love it, but homemade’s always better in my book.

What cake is popular in Italy?

Over there, you’re more likely to find things like Torta della Nonna, ricotta cake, or Panettone around the holidays. Italian Cream Cake is more of an Italian-American twist, especially loved in the South.

Print