William Tell's Never-Miss Apple Cake

Ingredients

1 pkg. (8oz.) cream cheese, softened
2 cups sugar, divided
4 eggs
1 cup canola oil
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking soda
2 cups chopped peeled tart apples
1 cup shredded carrots
1/2 cup chopped apples

Praline Icing:

1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, cubed
2 Tbsp. 2% milk
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted

In a small bowl,beat cream cheese and 1/4 cup sugar until smooth. Beat in 1 egg; set aside. In a large bowl, beat oil with remaining sugar and eggs until well blended. Combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and baking soda; gradually beat into oil mixture until blended. Stir in the apples, carrots and pecans.

Transfer half of the apple batter to a greased and floured 10-in. fluted tube pan; layer with cream cheese mixture and remaining apple batter.

Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 min. before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.

Ina a large saucepan, bring the brown sugar, butter and milk to a boil. Cook and stir for 1 minute. Remove from the heat; whisk in confectioners' sugar and vanilla until smooth. Drizzle over cake. Sprinkle with pecans.