Shelly's Recipe

APPLE CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE CARAMEL FROSTING

Category: Cakes

4 cups finely chopped, peeled apples
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 beaten eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder and ground cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup chopped walnuts

Cream Cheese-Caramel Frosting
3 oz cream cheese
1/4 cup butter, room temperature
1/3 cup caramel ice cream topping
4 1/4 cups confectioners sugar, divided

Spray a 13x9 inch baking pan. Combine apples and sugar. Add oil, eggs, and vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and soda. Add to apple mixture; stir until just combined. Stir in nuts. Pour into prepared pan. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes. Cool completely in pan. Frost with cream cheese-caramel frosting, garnish with pecans and drizzle with caramel topping, if desired. Store in refrigerator.

Cream Cheese-Caramel Frosting: Beat together 1 (3 oz) pkg softened cream cheese and 1/4 cup butter until light and fluffy. Beat in 1/3 cup caramel ice cream topping. Slowly beat in 2 cups sifted confectioners sugar. Beat in 2 1/4 cups additional sifted confectioners to reach a spreading consistency.