Apple Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

 

Yield:

8 Servings

 

Ingredients

Cake:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

3 large apples, peeled and coarsely grated (3 cups)

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 large eggs, beaten

1/2 cup vegetable oil

Frosting:

12 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped  

Preparation

Make cake: Place a rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Grease and flour 2 8-inch round pans. Whisk together flour through salt. In a bowl, mix apples and sugar.
Stir dry ingredients into apple mixture. Mix in eggs and oil. Divide batter between pans; bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes; then invert onto a rack to cool completely.
Make frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy, 2 minutes. Reduce speed; add confectioners' sugar and vanilla. Mix until combined, 2 minutes more.
Place a cake layer on a platter; spread top with 1 cup frosting. Top with second cake layer. Frost top and sides and decorate with walnuts.