• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a large mixing bowl place the sugar, flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, salt, and chopped nuts.  Whisk all the dry ingredients together.
• Place the eggs in a separate large mixing bowl and beat them lightly.  Add the oil, vanilla extract and diced apples and stir to combine.
• Pour the dry mixture into the wet ingredients and stir together.
• Mix in the raisens (optional but very delicious in this cake).
• Spray a 9x13 baking pan with cooking spray.  Pour cake batter into the pan and spread out evenly with a spatula.
• Bake the cake for 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean with a few little crumbs.  Start checking the cake at 25-30 minutes.  Cooking time may vary depending on the oven and the water content of your apples.
• Cool the cake and then frost with icing.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

• Place butter and cream cheese in a large mixing bowl and blend together with a mixer until smooth and creamy.
• Add powdered sugar, vanilla extract and salt and mix well.
• Add 1 tbsp of heavy cream or milk at a time until frosting is a spreadable consistency.  I usually use 1-2 tbsp cream.
• Spread the frosting on the cooled cake with an offset spatula or knife.
• Store the cake in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. I would not recommend freezing this cake because the frosting may become crumbly.