Cake
2 3/4 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temp
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup maple syrup (what ever sweetener you prefer, i used Agave)
3 eggs
1/2 tsp maple flavoring ( I used almond extract)
1 cup buttermilk
3/4 cup chopped, toasted walnuts (optional)
Frosting
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, room temp.
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temp.
3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 tsp maple flavoring
Cake Decorations
Preheat oven to 350. Generously grease and flour 2 (9-inc) found cake pans. ( I used a bundt pan)
To prepare cake, sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg in a medium bowl. Using a mixer, beat butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add maple syrup and beat until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Add maple flavoring. Fold in walnuts, if using. Divide batter equally between pans.
Bake cake 25 to 30 minutes, until a wooden pick comes out clean when inserted in the center. Let cool in pans on a wire rack 20 minutes. Invert onto racks; let cool completley.
To prepare frosting, beat cream cheese and butter with a mixer at medium speed until smooth. Add powdered sugar and maple flavoring. Beat just until smooth.
Frost cake. Decorate with M&M's and other candies. Serves 16.
