Apple-Pecan Cake

To go along with our Connecticut State study, we created to recipes inspired by the state.
The first recipe we made was a delicious cake perfect for the fall. I found the original recipe over at Taste of Home. I slightly modified it to fit our needs. It turned out amazing!

Batter Ingredients
1 3/4 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 cup butter
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups tart apple, peeled and cut into bite size pieces
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Cake Filling Ingredients
1 package(8 ounces) of cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg

Praline Icing
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 Tablespoons of milk, I used 1%
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped pecans, lightly toasted

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a small bowl combine the ingredients to make the filling. Beat the cream cheese and 1/4 cup sugar until it's smooth. Beat in 1 egg and set aside.

3. In a large bowl, combine  1 3/4 cup sugar and  butter until creamy. Add the 3 eggs and mix well.

4. In a separate bowl combine, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda. Gradually add the butter/sugar mixture. Mix well. Fold in apples and pecans.

5. Pour half of the apple batter into a greased and floured fluted pan, layer the cream cheese mixture, and top with the remaining apple batter.

6. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or until golden brown. Cool and then carefully remove from pan.

7. To make the frosting, combine the brown sugar, butter and milk in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil. Cook and stir for about a 1 minute. Remove from the heat and whisk in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth.
Drizzle over cake and sprinkle with pecans.

8. ENJOY!

Linking with.... 

Try a New recipe Tuesday, In and Out of the Kitchen, 

 Modest Monday, Inspire Me Monday,