Spiced Apple Cake with Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting

By cecelia26_

Ingredients

• BROWN SUGAR CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:
• 4 c. apples, peeled, seeded and chopped into small pieces
• 2 c. sugar
• 2 c. flour
• 1/2 c. vegetable oil
• 1/2 c. milk
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 1 c. roughly chopped pecans, walnuts or dried cranberries (reserve 1/4 c. for the top of the frosted cake)
• 1 - 8 oz. pkg. regular or light cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1/4 c. butter
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 1 c. golden brown sugar

Details

Servings 12
Adapted from foodpyramidonline.com

Preparation

Step 1

1. For cake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and lightly flour one 13x9x2 in. baking pan. Set aside. (If you would like to make a layer cake, use two 8 or 9 in. round pans.)
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine apples and sugar. With a wooden spoon or rubber spatula, stir in oil, eggs, and vanilla. Combine all of the dry ingredients. Add flour mixture to apple mixture. Add milk and stir just until combined. Add nuts or cranberries. Pour batter into prepared baking pan.
3. Bake for 30 to 40 min. or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool down for 15 min. before removing from pan. Let cake completely cool before frosting.
4. For frosting: In a mixing bowl, using and electric mixer, beat cream cheese until smooth. Scrape bowl. Add butter and beat until mixture is very smooth and free from lumps. Add vanilla and brown sugar. Beat for 5 min. until frosting is light and fluffy and the sugar has completely dissolved.
5. Use the frosting to decorate the cake once it has cooled. Sprinkle the top of the cake with reserved nuts or cranberries for garnish. Refrigerate after frosting.

* This cake is moist and delicious. It can keep in the fridge for up to 5 days, which makes it a good choice for serving during the holidays. If you don't like nuts, try substituting dried cranberries which add a lot of flavor and color.