Apple Cake with Maple Walnut Cream Cheese Frosting

By Mother

Ingredients

• FOR CAKE:
• 1 1/4 cups smooth apple sauce
• 2 1/2 cups plus 1 tablespoon flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 cup dried currents
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temp.
• 1 tablespoon brandy
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 large eggs
• FOR FROSTING:
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter room temp.
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 8 ounce pkg. Cream Cheese room temp
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon maple flavoring
• 2 cups walnuts

Preparation

Step 1

FOR CAKE:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Butter and flour three 9" cake pans.
Sift 2 1/2 cups flour and next 5 ingredients into medium bowl. Toss currants with remaining 1 tablespoon flour in a small bowl to coat; mix in walnuts.
Using electric mixer, beat sugar, butter, brandy and vanilla in a large bowl until blended. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Beat in half of flour mixture and apple sauce, then remaining flour mixture. Stir in currants and walnuts.
Divide batter among prepared pans.
Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Cut around sides to loosen cakes; turn out onto racks and cool.

FOR FROSTING:
Using electric mixer beat butter and sugar in large bowl until blended. Beat in cream cheese then maple syrup and flavoring. Chill until beginning to firm, about 20 minutes.
Place 1 cake layer on platter. Spread with 3/4 cup frosting. Top with second layer; spread with 3/4 cup frosting. Top with 3rd layer. Spread 1 cup frosting in a thin layer over cake. Chill 15 minutes. Spread remaining frosting over cake.
Press 2 cups walnuts halfway up sides of cake. Chill until frosting is set at least 30 minutes.