Chunky Apple Cake w/Cream Cheese Frosting

½ cup butter, melted

2 cups sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

2 tsp ground cinnamon

4 Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced

1 cup chopped walnuts, toasted

Cream Cheese Frosting

Chopped walnuts, toasted (optional for topping)

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 walnuts. Spread into a greased 13x9 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 walnuts , if desired.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 (8-oz) package cream cheese, softened

3 Tbsp butter or margarine, softened

1-1/2 cups powdered sugar

1/8 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla extract.

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.

Helen Mack, Fontana, California, September 2001 Southern Living.