Old-Fashioned Oatmeal Honey Apple(sauce) Cake

YUM!!  Three of my favorite things are honey, apples and oatmeal so when I saw this recipe I had very high hopes; I was not let down!  The recipe calls for chopped almonds, however, I used pecans instead because it was all I had in my pantry.  I really loved the way the pecans tasted with this cake and I think I will use them rather than almonds again in the future.  This cake is so delicious and it is perfect warmed up and served with a little bit of whipped cream on the side.

Old-Fashioned Oatmeal Honey Apple(sauce) Cake

Source:  CookingLight magazine

Yields: 16 servings

Ingredients:

Cake:

1 cup quick-cooking oats

1 cup hot water

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/3 cups packed light brown sugar

3/4 cup chunky applesauce

1/3 cup honey

2 large eggs

Frosting:

1/4 cup butter

1/3 cup packed light brown sugar

1/4 cup honey

1/2 cup coarsely chopped almonds, toasted (I used pecans)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine oats and hot water in a small bowl; set aside.

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife.  Combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.  Combine sugar, applesauce, honey and eggs in large bowl; beat with a mixer at high speed 1 minute.  Add oat mixture; beat at low speed until well blended.  Add half of flour mixture to sugar mixture; beat well.  Add remaining flour mixture; beat well.  Spoon batter into an 11x7 inch baking dish coated with cooking spray.  bake at 350 degrees for 48 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.  Place dish on wire rack.

To prepare frosting, melt butter in a small heavy saucepan over medium heat.  Add brown sugar and honey; cook 2 minutes or until bubbly, stirring constantly.  Stir in almonds.  Quickly pour frosting over cake; spread evenly using a rubber spatula.

Preheat broiler.

Broil cake 1 minute or until frosting is bubbly and golden.  Cool completely on wire rack.  Serve with whipped topping and sprinkle with cinnamon.