Apple Pecan Spice Cake with Penuche Frosting

How beautiful leaves grow old. How full of colors are their last days.

Apple Pecan Spice Cake with Penuche Frosting
Cook's notes: This was easily one of the best fall cakes I have ever had. Everything about this cake was absolute perfection. The spice cake was tender and moist. The apples with  pecan combination brought out such a delicious flavor and texture.  Let this cake be on the top of your list for fall baking. Actually do not wait until it is officially fall. Bake it right now! And take note no mixer is needed for this recipe. The cake can stand alone but adding penuche frosting is really the piece de resistance.
Recipe adapted from the recipecritic.com

Directions: 

• 4 cups Granny Smith apples, chopped into small pieces (about 4 medium apples) 
• 1 cup brown sugar and 1 cup white sugar
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 tsp.vanilla
• 1 cup white flour and 1 cup whole wheat flour 
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• ½ tsp. baking soda
• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon or 1-1/2 tsp. Saigon cinnamon
• 1 tsp. allspice
• 1/2 tsp. ginger
• dash nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• ½ cup buttermilk 
• 1 cup pecans or walnuts roughly chopped

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9 x 13 inch baking pan. Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine apples, sugars and cinnamon.
• Whisk oil, eggs, and vanilla together in another bowl. Stir into apple mixture. 
• In another mixing bowl whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger  and salt. Add the flour mixture to the apple mixture. Add milk and stir until just combined. Add in chopped pecans or walnuts.
• Pour into prepared 9 x 13 inch pan. Bake for 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely before frosting. Sprinkle finely ground nuts immediately over frosting before it sets.  

Penuche Frosting (recipe below enough for a 9 x 9 cake double if frosting a 13 x 9 cake)  
Ingredients:

• 3 TB. butter 
• 1/2 cup brown sugar 
• 1/4 cup milk (may need more) 
• dash salt 
• 1 tsp vanilla 
• 2-1/2 cups powdered sugar 

Directions:

• In a saucepan melt butter on low heat, stir in brown sugar, milk, salt and vanilla. 
• Use a whisk and stir on low heat until sugar dissolved and smooth about 2 minutes. 
• Remove pan from heat and stir in powdered sugar. 
• Use a hand mixer to beat frosting in the saucepan until smooth. May need to add more milk for right consistency. 

Another yummy frosting option Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting
Recipe for a 9 x 9 cake double if frosting a 13 x 9 pan.
Ingredients:

• 1 (3 oz) package cream cheese frosting, room temperature
• ¼ cup butter, softened
• 2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup golden brown sugar
• 2-1/2 cups powdered sugar
• milk 

Directions:

• Melt butter on medium low, add in brown sugar and vanilla, whisk well and cook 2 minutes until sugar dissolved.
• Remove from stove and beat in cream cheese and powdered sugar, adding in milk as needed for correct consistency.