Apple Pie Spice Cake

A not too sweet and almost foolproof spice apple cake. You can also make this in a bundt pan. But I think the springform round cake shape seems appropriate for this cake. Optional spices can be added like cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, a pinch of ground cloves, etc.

• Ready In: 1 hr 10 mins
• Yields: 1 cake

Ingredients

• 4  tablespoons butter
• 1⁄3 cup brown sugar
• 1  cup pecans, coarsely chopped
• 1 (18 ounce)  spice cake mix
• 1 (21 ounce) can  apple pie filling
• 2⁄3 cup sour cream
• 3  medium eggs, slightly beaten
• 1  tablespoon  oil

Directions

1. Preheat oven 350°F and grease a 10" springform cake pan and set aside.
2. In a separate small pan, melt butter; then stir in brown sugar and nuts.
3. Pour pecan mixture into bottom of cake pan. This will be the top of the cake.
4. By hand, mix cake mix, pie filling, sour cream, eggs, and oil until well-blended.
5. Carefully pour over nut mixture and spread evenly.
6. Bake 45 minutes to one hour. Oven temps vary so check cake after 45 minutes.
7. Remove from oven and let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then invert onto cooling rack.
8. Release spring and remove sides and bottom of pan.
9. If some pecan topping sticks to the pan, replace it on the cake.
10. Garnish with whole pecan halves.