Candied Pecans on Lemon Cream Cheese Glaze

The ‘Are you kidding me cake’ is soooo good! And so easy. Maybe too easy and I make it too often? Greg gets sad when the cake stand is empty.. so it’s all good. I thought this time I would mix things up with the toppings, and made candied pecans. Equally easy on the stove top in a CI skillet. It takes minutes, and honestly you will eat more then you put on the cake. I like the salt factor, so when they were all mixed in the frying pan right before I put them on the parchment paper, I added a pinch of salt all over. VERY good decision. (For me.)

CAKE:

1 box golden cake mix
3 eggs
1 can pie filling

Mix with electric mixer for 2 minutes. Pour into cast iron bundt pan that has been prepped with Bakers Joy or Pam for baking (it has flour in it… works perfectly.)

Bake in preheat oven, 350 for 50 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes and turn it out on cooling rack. Cool before glazing.

Candied Pecans
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp water
1 cup pecan halves

Combine all ingredients except the pecans in a skillet and cook over medium heat for a minute or two, until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is bubbling.
Add the pecans and cook for an additional 3 minutes, stirring to coat the pecans in the glaze. Remove from the heat, and spread the pecans out on parchment paper to let the pecans cool completely. Break apart, and enjoy!

Lemon Glaze
1/2 cup softened cream cheese
1/2 cup icing sugar
3 TBSP lemon juice or you can do 3 TBSP orange juice and 1/2 tsp vanilla
Use a hand mixer, make sure it’s smooth, no lumps. Spoon over top. Add candied pecans on top of glaze.