Ultimate Carrot Cake

We have started our crazed birthday celebration month.  It all starts with my Hubby's birthday, then a week later, Kiddo D, then 8 days later, Kiddo A, ending with mine 4 days after that.  We get about a 6 1/2 week break before Kiddo B has her birthday on Halloween, then BLAM, it is the holidays!  OK, just started to stress myself out a bit.  We had Kiddo D's birthday celebration early before he went back to his Mom's for the school year, and he requested Carrot Cake.  I share with you the most AMAZING Ultimate Carrot Cake!
Go forth and make this! Seriously, WOW!
Ingredients:

• 4 eggs
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 3 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 3 cups grated carrots (grated on large side of grater...otherwise you get mush)
• 8 ounce can crushed pineapple, drained and squeezed so you get as much juice out as you can

     FROSTING:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 3-3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, depending how sweet you like you frosting
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup toasted, chopped pecans.  To take it over the top, use SPICED PECANS (recipe below)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 9x13" pan with non-stick spray.
In a large bowl, beat together eggs, oil, applesauce, white sugar, brown sugar, and  3 teaspoons vanilla. Mix in flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Stir in carrots and pineapple. Pour into prepared pan.
Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.
To Make Frosting:
In a medium bowl, combine butter, cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Frost the cooled cake and top with toasted pecans.

*****Spiced Pecans*****
This makes more than you need, but once you try them, you won't care!  These FABULOUS gems go in every Christmas goodie basket I make!
Beat one egg white and 1 TBSP vanilla together until frothy.  Stir in one pound of pecan halves into the mixture.  Stir to coat.
In another bowl, mix 1 cup sugar, 1 tsp salt, 2 tsp cinnamon, and 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice.  Pour sugar mixture into moistened pecans.  Thoroughly mix so that pecans are well coated with sugar and spice combination.
Spread on large cookie sheet and bake at 275 degrees for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. 
I apologize in advance for introducing this Pecan Crack into you life.

This recipe has been linked up to:
Simply Sweet Home Friday Favorites
Mommy's Kitchen Sunday Potluck