Ingredients:
* For the Cake:
* 3 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 cup granulated sugar
* 1 cup light brown sugar
* 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
* 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* ½ teaspoon ground allspice
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 3 large eggs
* ¾ cup canola or vegetable oil
* ¾ cup unsweetened applesauce.
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
* 3 cups peeled, cored, and finely chopped apples (such as Honeycrisp or Granny Smith)
* 1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
* For the Topping/Frosting:
* Option 1: Caramel Glaze(find recipes online, or use store bought)
* Option 2: Cream Cheese Frosting
* ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
* 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
* 1 cup powdered sugar
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
Instructions:
* Prepare the Apples and Pecans:
* Peel, core, and finely chop the apples.
* Toast the pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat or in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 5-7 minutes, until fragrant. Let them cool, then chop them.
* Mix the Dry Ingredients:
* In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, baking soda, and salt.
* Mix the Wet Ingredients:
* In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, oil, applesauce, and vanilla extract.
* Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:
* Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
* Gently fold in the chopped apples and toasted pecans.
* Bake the Cake:
* Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
* Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan or a Bundt pan.
* Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
* Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
* Allow the cake to cool completely.
* Prepare the Frosting/Topping:
* For the cream cheese frosting: In a bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, and beat until creamy.
* For the Caramel Glaze: prepare your favorite recipe, or gently heat a store bought glaze.
* Frost the Cake:
* Once the cake has cooled completely, frost it with the cream cheese frosting or drizzle it with caramel glaze.
Tips and Variations:
* For a richer flavor, use brown butter in the cake batter.
* You can add a dash of ground cloves to the spice mixture.
* Feel free to adjust the amount of spices to your preference.
* For added decoration, sprinkle extra toasted pecans on top of the frosting.
Enjoy your delicious Fall Spice Apple Pecan Cake!