Name: Apple and Pear Cake
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 85 min
Yield: 15 servings
Ingredients: 2 cups shredded peeled tart apples; 2 cups shredded peeled pears; 2 cups sugar; 1-1/4 cups canola oil; 1 cup raisins; 1 cup chopped pecans; 2 large eggs, room temperature, lightly beaten; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 3 cups all-purpose flour; 2 teaspoons baking soda; 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1/2 teaspoon salt; CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:; 3 ounces cream cheese, softened; 3 cups confectioners' sugar; 1/4 cup butter, softened; 2 tablespoons 2% milk; 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

This revival of an old-fashioned apple and pear cake is packed with juicy fruit, warm spices and buttery pecans, then finished with a velvety cream cheese frosting. Moist, tender and full of cozy flavor, it's sure to become a go-to whenever you have a hankering for something special.

Ingredients

2 cups shredded peeled tart apples

2 cups shredded peeled pears

2 cups sugar

1-1/4 cups canola oil

1 cup raisins

1 cup chopped pecans

2 large eggs, room temperature, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:

3 ounces cream cheese, softened

3 cups confectioners' sugar

1/4 cup butter, softened

2 tablespoons 2% milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1 Start the batter

2 Preheat the oven to 325°F. In a large bowl, combine the apples, pears, sugar, canola oil, raisins, chopped pecans, beaten room-temperature eggs and vanilla extract. Editor's Tip: Apples and pears can be shredded using a box grater or food processor. To use a box grater, wash and peel the fruit. For apples, hold each side of the apple firmly and grate the flesh, turning in a circular pattern until you reach the core. For pears, it's best to slice them in half, remove the core with a spoon and then grate each half.

3 Add the dry ingredients and spices

4 In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Stir the dry ingredients into the fruit mixture until a thick batter forms.

5 Bake the cake

6 Pour the batter into a greased 13x9-inch baking pan, and place it on the center oven rack. Bake the cake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about one hour. Let it cool completely on a wire rack.

7 Make the frosting

8 In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and butter until smooth. Add in the milk and vanilla, and beat until smooth and creamy. Frost the cake using an offset spatula or knife.