Ingredients

• Cake:
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup lard
• 2 cups white sugar
• 5 eggs, separated
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 (3.5 ounce) can sweetened flaked coconut
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• Frosting:
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup butter
• 3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, or more to taste
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans, or to taste

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Grease three 9-inch round cake pans and line with waxed paper.
2. Mix flour and baking soda together in a small bowl.
3. Beat 1/2 cup butter and lard together in a bowl with an electric mixer until creamy. Add sugar; beat until smooth. Add egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with buttermilk, beating batter briefly after each addition.
4. Fold 1 cup pecans, coconut, and 1 tablespoon vanilla extract into the batter.
5. Beat egg whites with clean beaters in a glass, metal, or ceramic bowl until stiff peaks form. Fold into batter. Divide batter among prepared pans.
6. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool in pans, about 5 minutes. Invert cakes onto cooling racks; let cool completely, 25 to 30 minutes.
7. Beat cream cheese and 1/4 cup butter in a bowl with an electric mixer until creamy. Add confectioners' sugar and 1 tablespoon vanilla extract; beat frosting until smooth.
8. Spread a thin layer of frosting between cooled cake layers. Frost sides and top of cake. Sprinkle 1/2 cup pecans on top.