Name: Applesauce Spice Layer Cake
Prep time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 25 min
Yield: 12
Ingredients: 1 large Granny Smith apple (8 oz), peeled, halved; 1/2 c. walnuts; 1/2 c. raisins; 2 stick unsalted butter; 1 c. packed dark-brown sugar; 3/4 c. granulated sugar; 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda; 1 tsp. each ground cinnamon and ginger; 3/4 tsp. salt; 4 large eggs; 3 c. all-purpose flour; 1 1/2 c. chunky applesauce; 1 brick cream cheese; 3/4 stick unsalted butter; 1/4 c. honey; 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract; Garnish: thinly sliced apple

Step 1Cake: 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.

Step 2Beat 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.

Step 3On 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.

Step 4Bake 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.

Step 5Frosting: Beat cream cheese, butter, honey and vanilla in a medium bowl with mixer on medium speed about 2 minutes until smooth and fluffy.

Step 6Place 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.

Applesauce Spice Layer Cake

Ingredients

Cake

Frosting

Directions

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