Maple Tree Cake

Another one of my 'experiments' that turned out really well! I decided to make this cake for Saturday's dinner with Dave, Siobhan and the kids - it was relatively easy except for the fact that my cake pans were too large so I ran out of icing and had to press Skor pieces around the edge! A perfect fall cake as it has the woody and sweet flavour of maple syrup as well as dried fruits on top!

MAPLE TREE CAKE

Ingredients:

4 eggs

2 cups sugar

2 cups sour cream

2 tsp maple flavouring

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking soda

Dash of salt

1/2 cup chopped pecans

FROSTING:

1/4 cup butter, softened

3 cups confectioners' sugar

1/2 cup plus 1 tbsp pure maple syrup

1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/4 cup peanut butter chips (could just as easily use butterscotch)

2 tbsp dried cranberries

2 tbsp golden raisins

2 tbsp chopped dried apricots

2 tbsp chopped dried apples

• In a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar. Add sour cream and maple flavouring. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; add to sour cream mixture and mix well. Fold in pecans.
• Pour into 2 greased and floured 9" round baking pans. Bake at 350F for 30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted near the centre comes out clean.
• Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
• For frosting, in a bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar. Add syrup and mix well. Spread between layers and over top and sides of cake.
• In a microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate and peanut butter chips; stir until smooth. Transfer to a pastry or a heavy-duty reusable plastic bag; cut a small hole in the corner of the bag. Pipe a tree and branches on top of cake. Combine dried fruits and sprinkle around tree base and at ends of branches to resemble fall leaves.
• Serve & ENJOY!