- 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 2 cups sugar
- 5 eggs, separated
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup flaked coconut
- 1 cup finely chopped pecans, toasted
- APRICOT FILLING:
- 1 cup dried apricots
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon ground mace
- FROSTING:
- 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
- 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- 3 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
- In a mixing bowl, cream butter, shortening and sugar. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each. Beat in extracts. Combine flour and baking soda; add to the creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk. Stir in the coconut and pecans.
- In a mixing bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form; fold into cake batter. Pour into three greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 325 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
- For filling, place apricots and boiling water in a small bowl; let stand until completely cooled. Drain, reserving 1/3 cup liquid. In a small saucepan, combine apricots, brown sugar and reserved liquid. Cook over medium heat for 20 minutes or until thickened, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat; stir in mace. Cool completely. Place in a blender or food processor; cover and process until smooth.
- For frosting, in a mixing bowl, cream the butter, cream cheese and confectioners' sugar. Beat in vanilla.
- To assemble, place bottom cake layer on a serving plate; spread with half of the filling. Repeat layers. Top with the third cake layer; spread frosting over top and sides of cake. Garnish with pecans. Cover and store in the refrigerator.