When I saw this recipe on Pinterest, I KNEW I had to try it.. immediately.

And I am so glad I did.
 

Between the pecan and apple cake, sweet cream cheese filling and caramel frosting, it is like I died and went to heaven! 

 

I will be honest when I say this recipe isn't exactly easy.  There are a lot of steps and a lot of dishes, and a LOT of calories, but it is really really good!  I did modify the recipe from Ali at Jam Hands to make it slightly simpler, but without sacrificing taste.

 

First, you must prepare the cake batter (which also requires peeling and chopping apples)

 

Preheat oven to 350º

 

Combine the following ingredients:

•     3 cups all-purpose flour
•     1 cup granulated sugar
•     1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
•     2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
•     1 teaspoon salt
•     1 teaspoon baking soda
•     1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 
•     1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
•     3 large eggs, lightly beaten
•     3/4 cup canola oil
•     3/4 cup applesauce
•     1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 Stir in:

•     3 cups peeled and finely chopped apples (about 1 1/2 lb.) 
•     1 cup finely chopped pecans 

 

Next prepare the cream cheese filling:

•     1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
•     1/4 cup butter, softened
   
•     1/2 cup granulated sugar
•     1 large egg
•     2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
•     1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Add 1/2 of the cake batter to a greased/floured bundt pan, and spoon cream cheese filling in a line trying to stay away from the pan edges.  Swirl filling through batter with a knife.  Spoon remaining 1/2 of cake batter over the top.

This is what my swirled filling looked like after baking:

Bake at 350º for 1-1 1/2 hours (until knife comes out clean) and let cool completely before frosting.

Finally, prepare the caramel pecan frosting, by bringing the following to a boil over medium heat:

•     1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
•     1/4 cup butter
•     3 tablespoons milk

Remove from heat and whisk in:

•     1 teaspoon vanilla extract
•     1 cup powdered sugar

Pour over cooled cake and top with 1 cup of pecan halves (I also poured/spooned a little frosting over the pecans to glaze them) and then dust with powdered sugar:

 

I told you it was a lot of work.. but just look at it.  You should be drooling!   And it tastes as good as it looks!  

Time to hit the gym!