Spicy Cake

We are still swimming in apples and about to go pick more from an orchard - yes we are nuts... but where else can you go and taste apples to figure out what new trees we should plant? We had a chili cookoff and bingo night at church and I signed up for dessert because 1. I don't like chili and 2. I don't cook chili. Chili is not my jam. Bronwyn just had her braces adjusted and had a sore mouth so we ate before we went anyway. The bottomless pit of the boys had dinner and tasted chili and desserts. I made this Apple Spice Cake which was packed with warm fall spices and shredded apple. The icing was pretty different from what I'm used to, but was so good on this cake. This is a great cake - I may have even had a piece for lunch one day, and Andy may have had it for breakfast. Hey... it has apples in it - it's almost health food. Ok not. Still so good.

Apple Spice Cake with Brown Sugar Icing
2 1/4 cup all purpose flour, spooned and leveled
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp. ground allspice
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs, room temperature
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed (light or dark)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup sour cream, room temperature
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
2-3 large honey crispy apples, grated using the large holes on a box grater, ~1 1/2 cups (can keep the skin on)
Brown sugar icing
1/4 cup salted butter
1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed
2 Tbsp. heavy cream
1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9×9-inch light colored nonstick pan with parchment paper and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients.
2 1/4 cup all purpose flour, spooned and leveled,1 1/2 tsp. baking soda,1 tsp. salt,1 tsp. ground cinnamon,1/2 tsp. ground ginger,1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg,1/2 tsp. ground allspice,1/8 tsp. ground cloves
In another mixing bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients.
2/3 cup vegetable oil,2 large eggs, room temperature,3/4 cup brown sugar, packed (light or dark),1/2 cup sour cream, room temperature,1 tsp. pure vanilla extract,3/4 cup granulated sugar
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and fold just until combined.
Fold in the grated apples.
2-3 large honey crispy apples, grated using the large holes on a box grater, ~1 1/2 cups (can keep the skin on)
Turn out the cake batter into the prepared pan.
Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in pan for 10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack.
To make the brown sugar icing, melt the butter, brown sugar and heavy cream in a medium sized saucepan over medium heat. Whisk until mixture is combined and comes to a gentle boil.
1/4 cup salted butter,1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed,2 Tbsp. heavy cream
Remove from heat and whisk in the vanilla and powdered sugar.
1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract,1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
Pour the icing on top of cake. The cake doesn’t need to completely cool, when it's still a little warm, the icing melts into the cake.
Slice and enjoy warm!