Savannah Christmas Praline-Spice Cake

== Description ==
Source: Christmas With Southern Living 2003 - Southern Living
Two ingredients dress up canned frosting for this decadent layer cake. We offer you a double dose of candied nut garnishes, too. If you'd like to simplify, just choose one.
== Ingredients ==
* 1 (18-ounce) package carrot cake mix
* 3 large eggs
* 1 cup water
* 1/3 cup vegetable oil
* 3 large carrots, grated
* 2 cups chopped pecans, toasted and divided
* 1 (1-ounce) can crushed pineapple, well drained
* 2/3 cup sugar
* 24 pecan halves
* 2 (16-ounce) containers homestyle cream cheese frosting
* 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
* Praline Crumbles
== Directions ==
# Grease 3 (8") round cakepans.
# Line with wax paper; grease wax paper.
# Set aside.
# Beat first 4 ingredients at low speed with an electric mixer 30 seconds.
# Beat at medium speed 2 minutes.
# Stir in carrot, 1 cup pecans, and pineapple.
# Pour batter evenly into pans.
# Bake at 350° for 20 to 22 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
# Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes.
# Remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.
# Wrap cake layers in nonstick aluminum foil.
# Freeze 30 minutes. (This step aids in frosting the finished product.)
# Coat a sheet of wax paper with cooking spray; set aside.
# Place sugar in a large heavy skillet.
# Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, 5 to 10 minutes or until sugar melts and turns light brown.
# Remove from heat.
# Working quickly, drop pecan halves, a few at a time, into caramelized sugar, turning to coat.
# Using a fork, remove pecans to greased wax paper.
# Cool completely; remove from wax paper, and reserve for garnish.
# Combine frosting, vanilla, and remaining 1 cup pecans in a bowl.
# Unwrap layers, and spread frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake.
# Let cake stand 1 hour before serving.
# Sprinkle Praline Crumbles over top of cake, and garnish rim of cake with candied pecans.
Yield: 1 (3-layer) cake
Category:American Recipes
Category:American Desserts
Category:Southern Recipes
Category:Southern Desserts
Category:Christmas Desserts
Category:Dessert Recipes
Category:Cake Recipes
Category:Cake mix Recipes
Category:Egg Recipes
Category:Water Recipes
Category:Vegetable Oil Recipes
Category:Oil Recipes
Category:Carrot Recipes
Category:Nut Recipes
Category:Pecan Recipes
Category:Pineapple Recipes
Category:Sugar Recipes
Category:Frosting and icing Recipes
Category:Vanilla extract Recipes
Category:Vanilla Recipes
Category:Cooking spray Recipes