Applesauce Spice Cake

By norsegal8

Ingredients

• Cake
• 1 large Granny Smith apple (8 oz), peeled, halved, cored and cut in 1/4-in.-thick slices
• 1/2 cup(s) walnuts, chopped
• 1/2 cup(s) raisins
• 2 stick(s) (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup(s) packed dark-brown sugar
• 3/4 cup(s) granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoon(s) baking soda
• 1 teaspoon(s) each ground cinnamon and ginger
• 3/4 teaspoon(s) salt
• 4 large eggs
• 3 cup(s) all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cup(s) chunky applesauce
• Frosting
• 1 (8 oz) brick cream cheese
• 3/4 stick(s) (6 Tbsp) unsalted butter, softened
• 1/4 cup(s) honey
• 1/2 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract
• Garnish: thinly sliced apple

Preparation

Step 1

1.Cake: Heat oven to 350°F. Coat two 9 x 2-in. cake pans with non­stick spray. Line bottoms with wax paper; spray paper. Ar­range apple slices in a single layer in 1 prepared pan. Sprinkle walnuts and raisins evenly over bottom of other prepared pan.

2.Beat butter, sugars, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger and salt in a large bowl with mixer on low speed until blended. Increase speed to medium-high and beat, scraping bowl a few times, 3 minutes or until fluffy.

3.On low speed, beat in eggs 1 at a time until well blended. Beat in flour in 4 additions, alternately with applesauce in 3 additions, just until blended. Divide batter between prepared pans, gently spreading level.

4.Bake 40 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool in pans on a wire rack 10 minutes. Gently run a knife around sides of cakes and invert cakes sharply on rack; remove wax paper. Cool completely.

5.Frosting: Beat cream cheese, butter, honey and vanilla in a medium bowl with mixer on medium speed about 2 minutes until smooth and fluffy.
6.Place apple cake layer apple side up on cake platter. Spread with 3/4 cup frosting. Top with other cake layer walnut-raisin side down. Spread top of cake with remaining frosting. Just before serving, garnish with sliced apple.