German Apple Cake

Ingredients

• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil or canola oil
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 4 large apples, cored, peeled, and grated (such as Fuji or Granny Smith, medium grate, about 4 cups)
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Cream Cheese Icing Ingredients

• 2 (3 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened (or 3 quarters of an 8-ounce package)

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9-x13-inch baking pan or spray with non-stick cooking spray.

2. 2

   Beat eggs and oil in a large mixing bowl until pale yellow and creamy; then add sugar, flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, and vanilla. Stir until well blended; then add the grated apples that have been drained of any juice that accumulated during grating. Mix well and add chopped walnuts.

3. 3

   Pour dough into the prepared baking pan and cook 35 to 45 minutes, or until cake shrinks from sides of pan and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Cool cake on a wire rack. When COMPLETELY cool, ice cake with Cream Cheese Icing; cut into slices and enjoy!

4. 4

   DIRECTIONS for CREAM CHEESE ICING: Beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla with a wire whisk or electric mixer until smooth and fluffy. Add confectioners' sugar, a little at a time, until it is is incorporated and icing is smooth.