Apple Spice Cake (with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting)

The days are getting shorter and turning cooler, the leaves are beginning to change color, and apple season is here!  Time to start baking all those traditional fall goodies.  I'm not much of a pumpkin recipe gal, but I love pretty much everything apples!  Below is one of my favorite fall desserts.  I like to use a tart apple as the sweetness of the cake counteracts the tartness.  I hope you enjoy this dessert as much as my family does!

Ingredients (cake):
2 c. flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. allspice
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. butter, softened
2 c. sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. baking powder
1 Tbsp. warm water
3 apples, chopped

Ingredients (frosting):

8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 c. butter, softened
3 c. powdered sugar
3 Tbsp. maple syrup (real or "fake" can be used)
1 tsp. (or more) maple flavoring

Oven Temperature:  350 degrees
Baking time: 45 minutes, or until cake is golden brown

In a bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt.

In a separate bowl (I used my KitchenAid mixer), cream together the butter and sugar.

Add in the eggs and vanilla.

In a small bowl or glass, combine the baking powder and warm water...it should bubble!

Once the baking powder and water have been stirred up well, add it to the butter and egg mixture and mix all well.

Finally, add the dry ingredients from your first bowl into the mixing bowl.  A smooth batter will form.

Go ahead and start working on getting the apples ready to go.  Any kind of apple will do you and you can chop the pieces as large or small as you want.  I like finding pieces of apple throughout my cake, so I chop them to a medium-size.

Pour the apples into the batter and gently mix in by hand--a spatula works well.

Pour the batter into a 9x13" pan.  You will need to use your spatula to spread the batter evenly throughout the pan as the batter is fairly thick.

Go ahead and place the cake in the oven and bake for approximately 45 minutes.  While the cake is baking, it's a perfect time to get started on the maple frosting.

Gather your frosting ingredients; if possible, allow the butter and cream cheese to soften up in advance so that the job is a bit easier and you have a smooth frosting.

Simply combine all of the above ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix until smooth.

After 45 minutes or so, the cake should be ready.  Go ahead and place it on a cooling rack.  Allow it to cool fully before putting the frosting on it.

Once the cake has cooled, generously spread the frosting over the top and serve!