Chunky Apple Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

            Chunky Apple Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

½ cup butter, melted

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

2 tsp ground cinnamon

4 Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced

1 cup chopped pecan

Cream Cheese Frosting

Stir together first 4 ingredients in a large bowl until blended.  Combine flour and next 3 ingredients; add to butter mixture, stirring until blended.  Stir in apple slices and 1 cup pecans.  Spread into a greased 13-x9- inch pan.

Bake at 350° for 45 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.  Spread with Cream Cheese Frosting; sprinkle with pecans if desired.  Store in refrigerator.  Yield:  12 to 15 servings.

            Cream Cheese Frosting

1 (8-oz) package cream cheese, softened

3 T butter, softened

1 ½ cups powdered sugar

1/8 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

Beat cream cheese and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.  Gradually add sugar and salt, beating until blended.  Stir in vanilla.  Yield:  1 2/3 cups.