Ingredients

• 1½ cups cooking oil
• 1½ cups sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 2½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tbsp. cocoa
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 oz. red food coloring
• 1 tsp. vinegar
• 1 cup buttermilk

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Grease and flour three round layer pans.
3. Mix oil, sugar and eggs.
4. Sift dry ingredients together and add to oil mixture along with vanilla, food coloring, vinegar and buttermilk. Beat well with mixer. Pour into pans.
5. Bake 25 minutes or until cake pulls away from sides of the pan. Do not overbake. Allow to cool on a wire rack.

Frosting Ingredients

• 8 oz. cream cheese
• ½ cup soft butter
• 1 box confectioners’ sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• ¾ cups coconut
• 1½ cup pecans, finely chopped

Frosting Preparation

1. Beat first four ingredients until well mixed. Add 1/2 cup of coconut and pecans. Stir until well mixed.
2. Frost layers and sides of cake.
3. Add remaining 1/4 cup of coconut. Mix well and spread over top of cake.

Serves 16