Recipe: Coconut-Pineapple Layer Cake with Pecan Cream Cheese Frosting (not Neiman Marcus)

Hi Carol. I am a Coconut with Pineapple FREAK!!!
Please e-mail me a slice of whatever cake you make. (LOL) I know what I will be dreaming about tonight. It is in the wee hours as I type this. I hope I still have my pillow when I wake up!

COCONUT-PINEAPPLE LAYER CAKE
WITH PECAN CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

FOR THE CAKE:
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup margarine, softened
2 cups white sugar
5 eggs, separated
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup drained crushed pineapple
1/2 cup flaked coconut
2 cups chopped pecans, divided use
FOR THE PECAN CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
4 cups confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon or more milk (as needed)

TO MAKE THE CAKE:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 8 inch layer cake pans.

Combine the buttermilk, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together the shortening, margarine and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg yolks one at a time, then stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla and almond extract. Beat in the buttermilk mixture alternately with the flour, mixing just until incorporated; set aside.

In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until they form stiff peaks. Gently fold the egg whites into the batter. Stir in pineapple, coconut and 1 cup pecans. Pour batter evenly into prepared pans.

Bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow cake layers to cool 10 minutes in pans, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely before frosting.

TO MAKE THE FROSTING:
Cream together the butter, cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until blended. Stir in 2 teaspoons vanilla and the remaining 1 cup pecans. If frosting is too stiff to spread, stir in milk a teaspoon at a time until it reaches desired consistency.