Granny Smith Apple Cake

Ingredients

• 1 cup apple sauce 
• 1 teaspoon baking soda 
• 8 ounce block cream cheese fat-free softened
• 3 large eggs 
• 3 cups flour all-purpose
• 12 ounces apples i use 2 granny smith apples diced
• 2 cups granulated sugar 
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 
• 0.3 cup pecans chopped
• 1.3 cups powdered sugar 
• 1 teaspoon salt 
• 0.5 cup stick margarine softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

Equipment

• bowl
• oven
• knife
• whisk
• wire rack
• blender
• baking pan
• measuring cup

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 32
2. To prepare cake, lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife.
3. Combine flour and next 4 ingredients (flour through nutmeg) in a large bowl; stir with a whisk.
4. Add apple and pecans; toss gently to combine. Make a well in center of mixture.
5. Combine granulated sugar, applesauce, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and eggs in a bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well-blended.
6. Add to flour mixture. Stir just until moist. Spoon batter into a 13 x 9-inch baking pan coated with cooking spray.
7. Bake at 325 for 55 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack.
8. To prepare icing, beat butter and cream cheese with a mixer at medium speed until smooth.
9. Add powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla; beat just until blended.
10. Spread icing over cake.