Instructions: Preheat the oven to 350. Lightly grease and flour 3 8 inch round cake pans.

In a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer, cream the granulated sugar with 1/4
pound (1 stick) of the butter. With the mixer running, add the oil (or applesauce) in a steady stream. Add the egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Sift the flour and baking soda together into a medium size bowl. Add the ground pecans and mix. Alternately add the flour mixture and the buttermilk to the batter, mixing well. Fold in 1 cup of the coconut.

With the electric mixer, in another large mixing bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form, then fold them into the cake batter. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pans. Bake until the center springs back when touched, 25-30 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool on wire racks. After the cakes have cooled, invert them onto sheets of parchment paper and set aside.

With an electric mixer, in another large mixing bowl, cream the remaining 1/4 pound (1 stick) of butter with the cream cheese. Add the sifted confectioners sugar, about 1/2 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add the vanilla and milk and mix well. Fold in the pecans. Spread a thin layer of the frosting on top of each cake layer. Place the layers of cake on top of each other and ice the sides of the cake with the remaining frosting. Sprinkle the top of the cake with the remaining 1 cup coconut. Now beware, the frosting is sweet, so I hope some of you have a sweet tooth.

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