Chocolate Italian Cream Cake

1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup shortening
2 cups white sugar
5 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup cream cheese
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
4 cups sifted confectioners sugar
1 cup pecans, chopped
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 325° F. Grease and flour three 8-inch round cake pans. Separate the eggs.

Cream 1/2 cup of the butter, shortening and sugar together. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating after each addition. Stir in 1 teaspoon of the vanilla.

Sift soda, flour and 1/4 cup cocoa together. Add alternately with buttermilk to the creamed mixture, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Stir in the coconut and 1 cup of the chopped pecans.

Beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form and fold into the batter. Pour batter into the prepared cake pans. 5Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 25 to 30 minutes. Let cakes cool completely before frosting between layers and on sides.

To Make Frosting: Cream cream cheese and butter together. Sift confectioner's sugar and 1/4 cup cocoa, beating in a little at a time until well-creamed. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1 cup pecans. Mix well.

Makes 1 -3 layer 8 inch cake