Pecan Pie Cake

Photo: flickr user falsedan

Ingredients

3 cups finely chopped pecans, toasted

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

1/2 cup shortening

2 cups sugar

5 egg yolks

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 cup buttermilk

5 egg whites

3/4 cup dark corn syrup

Pecan Pie Filling Frosting:

1 can canned evaporated skim milk

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/2 tsps vanilla

5 tbs cornstarch mized with 1/4 cup water to form a smooth paste

2 cups flaked pecans

Preparation

Sprinkle 2 cups of the chopped pecans evenly over the bottoms of 3 buttered 9 inch round cake pans, shaking to coat the bottoms and sides of the pans.

Combine the flour and baking soda in a bowl and mix well. Beat the butter and shortening in a mixer bowl at medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in the sugar gradually. Add the egg yolks 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition.

Stir in the vanilla. Add the flour mixture and buttermilk alternately, mixing well after each addition and beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Stir in the remaining 1 cup pecans. Beat the egg whites in a mixer bowl at medium speed until stiff peaks form. Fold 1/3 of the beaten egg whites into the batter.

Fold in the remaining egg whites. Pour the batter into the prepared pans. Bake at 350 F. for 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Invert onto waxed paper-lined wire racks. Brush the tops and sides of the layers with corn syrup, Cool completely.

Place 1 layer pecan side up on a serving plate. Spread with half the Pecan Pie Filling. Place the second layer pecan side up on the filling. Spread with the remaining Pecan Pie Filling. Place the third layer pecan side up on the filling.

Pecan Pie Filling Frosting: In saucepan, mix together evaporated milk or almond milk, sugar and vanilla. Cook over medium heat stirring constantly until sugar dissolves and mixture is hot. Add cornstarch paste in thin stream, stirring constantly until mixture thickens. Remove from heat. Stir in coconut and pecans; stir to cool.