Apple Spice Cake

I found this in a magazine, but adapted it to my likes. I love apples, spice, and caramel, so it was a little slice of heaven for me. Impress everyone at your next dinner party with this easy recipe.

• Ready In: 1 hr 5 mins
• Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 1 (18 1/4ounce)  French vanilla cake mix (don't substitute the flavor, it's so much better with this one!)
• 1  cup applesauce
• 1⁄2 cup water
• 1⁄3 cup  oil
• 3  eggs
• 1  teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1⁄2 cup  chopped pecans
• 1⁄2 cup raisins (optional)
•  caramel ice cream topping

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a Bundt pan.
2. Beat together the cake mix, water, applesauce, oil, eggs, and spice, scraping down the sides as needed. Fold in the nuts and raisins.
3. Pour into the Bundt pan and bake until golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean. (My oven has major hot spots and I have to really adapt the time, so it will vary among ovens. I'm going to say 45-55 minutes as an estimate.).
4. Cool 10 minute in the pan; turn onto a wire rack to cool completely.
5. When it is cool, place on a cake plate and drizzle with the caramel ice cream topping and nuts, if desired.