SPICED APPLE CAKE WITH CARAMEL SAUCE

FOR THE CAKE:
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon five-spice powder*
2 eggs, beaten
4 cups finely chopped Granny Smith apple (about 4 medium)
1 1/2 cups chopped macadamia nuts
FOR THE CARAMEL SAUCE:
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup unsalted butter
3/4 cup whipping cream

TO MAKE THE CAKE:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease a 13x9 inch baking pan.

In large bowl, beat 2 cups sugar and 1/2 cup butter at medium speed 5 minutes or until well blended; set aside.

Meanwhile, in medium bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, nutmeg, cinnamon and five-spice powder. Add eggs 1 at a time to sugar mixture; beat until incorporated. At low speed, slowly add flour mixture, beating just until blended. Stir in apples and nuts. Spread batter evenly in pan.

Bake 55 to 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack.

TO MAKE THE CARAMEL SAUCE:
Meanwhile, place all sauce ingredients in medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to low; cook about 5 minutes or until sugar is dissolved.

Serve warm sauce over cake.

*Five spice powder is a prepared seasoning that often includes star anise, cloves, cinnamon, fennel seed and pepper. Also called Chinese five-spice powder, it can be found in the spice or Asian foods section of the grocery store.

Servings: 12
Source: Cooking Pleasures, October/November 2000