Black-eyed Susan Cake

Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins Preparation Time: 40 mins Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 2 cups dried apricots
• 2 cups water
• 2 cups black-eyed peas, cooked, drained and rinsed
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 3 eggs or 3/4 cup egg substitute
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 2/3 cup raisins (regular or golden)
• 1 cup pecans, chopped (optional)
• 2 5/8 ounces fat free cream cheese (1/3 of an 8 oz package)
• 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons lemons, zest of
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 12 hershey chocolate kisses or 12 chocolate stars
• 32 dried apricots

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 375°f.
• 2 grease and flour two 8-inch cake pans, or grease and line with circles of parchment paper.
• 3 cake: cook apricots in 2 cups water, about 12 minutes, until very soft.
• 4 measure out 1 cup apricots and liquid; set aside.
• 5 put remaining apricots and liquid in blender and puree.
• 6 add peas to blender and puree again.
• 7 put oil, brown sugar and eggs in mixing bowl; beat on high 3 minutes or until creamy.
• 8 whisk flour, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda and baking powder in separate bowl.
• 9 pour egg mixture over puree and fold together.
• 10 gently fold in flour mixture.
• 11 fold in raisins and pecans, if using.
• 12 pour into prepared cake pans.
• 13 bake 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
• 14 remove from pans and cool completely on wire racks.
• 15 frosting: beat cream cheese in mixer until creamy.
• 16 beat in remaining ingredients. frosting will be soft but it will firm upon standing.
• 17 place one cake layer on plate and spread reserved apricots over it.
• 18 top with second layer.
• 19 spread frosting over top and sides of cake.
• 20 to decorate: cut apricots into slices.
• 21 place chocolate kiss or star on cake, and arrange 8 apricot "petals" around it, skin side up.
• 22 repeat until cake is covered.