Apple Coffee Cake Recipe

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with non-stick foil or grease generously with butter.

Stir together pecans, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and 2 tablespoons of sugar in a small bowl. Set aside.

Whisk together flour and baking powder in a medium bowl. Set aside.

Cream butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl until well-combined, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until light and fluffy. Mix in vanilla extract.

Beat flour mixture into egg mixture one-third at a time until completely blended. Batter will be very thick. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Using a tablespoon, drop apple pie filling evenly on top of batter. Sprinkle pecan mixture on top of apples.

Bake 40 to 45 minutes until center tests done with a toothpick. Cool to room temperature. Lift cake out on the foil and cut for serving.

Yield: 24 to 36 servings, depending on cut size

_{Photo © 2006 Peggy Trowbridge, licensed to About.com, Inc.}