Winter Fruit and Nut Cake

 

1/2

cup chopped dates

1/2

cup sweetened dried cranberries

1/2

cup chopped pecans

1

box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® yellow cake mix

1

teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

2

tablespoons water

1/3

cup vegetable oil

3

eggs

1

cup chunky applesauce

1/3

cup butter or margarine, melted

3/4

cup packed brown sugar

3/4

cup chopped pecans

3

tablespoons milk

• 1 Heat oven to 375°F (350°F for dark or nonstick pan). Grease or spray bottom only of 13x9-inch pan. In medium bowl, toss dates, cranberries and 1/2 cup pecans with 1/4 cup cake mix. In large bowl, beat remaining cake mix, pumpkin pie spice, water, oil, eggs and applesauce with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 2 minutes. Stir in date mixture. Spread in pan.
• 2 Bake 34 to 39 minutes (37 to 43 minutes for dark or nonstick) or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Meanwhile, in small bowl, mix butter, brown sugar, 3/4 cup pecans and the milk. Spread over top of warm cake.
• 3 Set oven control to broil. Broil cake with top 4 inches from heat about 1 minute or until bubbly. (Watch carefully to prevent burning.) Cool completely, about 1 1/2 hours. Store loosely covered.