Recipe: Caramel Apple Layer Cake with Apple Cider Frosting

This is a recipe that I discovered at my local Whole Foods Market and couldn't resist trying for myself.  I made a few changes to it, so I am giving you my version of their delicious recipe.  If you would like to check out the original, you can find it here.

Ingredients

Cake:

3¾ cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1½ teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon salt

1½ cups light brown sugar

¾ cup canola oil

¾ cup unsweetened applesauce

¾ cup jarred caramel ice cream topping

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 eggs

1½ cups buttermilk

For the Apple Frosting:

7 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened

1/2 cup apple cider or apple juice (I used Simply Apple Juice)

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Pinch of salt

Directions

Cake:

• Preheat oven to 350*.
•  Grease and flour (or use cooking spray) three (9-by-2-inch) round cake pans; set aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.
• In a second large bowl, beat sugar and oil together with an electric mixer until well combined, about 30 seconds.
• Add applesauce, dulce de leche and vanilla, beat for 30 seconds, then add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Add flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the buttermilk, and continuing to beat until well combined. 
• Pour batter into prepared cake pans and bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle of each cake comes out clean, about 40 minutes.
• Set aside to let cool for 10 minutes, then gently loosen cakes and turn out onto a cooking rack; set aside to let cool completely.

 Frosting:

• For the frosting, put sugar, butter, cider, cinnamon and salt into a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
• Arrange one cake on a large plate and spread about 2/3 cup of the frosting evenly over the top. Arrange second cake on top then frost top and sides of entire cake with remaining frosting.
• Set aside at room temperature or in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to allow frosting to set before serving.

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