S'pudding Spice Cake With Caramel Frosting

a very dear friend from work gave me this recipe...cake is so moist..and dense..there is no "pudding" in this cake...guess the name comes from the "spuds"

• Ready In: 55 mins
• Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 1 3⁄4 cups sugar
• 1  cup mashed potatoes, no seasoning
• 3⁄4 cup  Crisco
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 2  cups powdered sugar
• 1  teaspoon nutmeg
• 3  large eggs
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1  cup buttermilk
• 2  cups all-purpose flour

• CARAMEL FROSTING

• 3⁄4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 2  cups powdered sugar
• 3  tablespoons milk
• 1⁄4 cup butter, softened
• 1  whole pecans

Directions

1. cream sugar, potatoes, crisco, salt and spices for 4 minutes -- add eggs, beat till blended -- add buttermilk.
2. mix, alternately with flour.
3. pour into 2 greased and floured 9" round cake pans --
4. bake at 350* for 30-35 minutes.or toothpick test.
5. to prepare CARAMEL FROSTING:
6. melt butter in pan, stir in brown sugar.cook over low heat 2 minutes -- add milk, bring to a full boil -- cool to lukewarm without stirring --
7. add powdered sugar, beat till smooth -- and of spreading consistency --
8. frost cooled cake.
9. I live to decorate the outside edge of top frosted layer with whole pecans.this is just a personal preference.