Mimi's Christmas Cake 

Ingredients: 

1.5 cups butter

3/4 cup water 

1 (4 oz) bar white chocolate

1.5 cups buttermilk 

4 large eggs, lightly beaten 

1.5 teaspoons vanilla extract 

3.5 cups all purpose flour, divided

1 cup chopped pecans, toasted 

2.25 cups sugar 

1.5 teaspoons baking soda 

White Chocolate- Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe below) 

Combine water and butter in medium saucepan; bring to boil, remove from heat and add white chocolate, stirring until melted. Stir in buttermilk, eggs and vanilla. Set aside. 

Combine 1/2 cup of all purpose flour with toasted pecans, toss to coat and set aside. 

Combine dry ingredients, whisk to remove clumps. Pour white chocolate mixture with dry ingredients and mix. Add in coated pecans, stir, don't over mix. 

Pour into three 8" round cake pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Check halfway through and rotate pans. 

Let cake cool for 10 minutes in pans, remove from pans and let cool completely before frosting. 

White Chocolate - Cream Cheese Frosting: 

1 (4 oz) bar of white chocolate 

11 oz of softened cream cheese 

1/3 butter softened 

6.5 cups sifted powdered sugar 

1.5 teaspoons vanilla extract 

Melt chocolate in saucepan over medium heat. Beat cream cheese and butter, add in melted white chocolate. Gradually add in powdered sugar until combined. Add in vanilla extract.