Caramel Apple Cake

Special equipment: 10 cup bundt pan

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Generously butter and flour a 10-cup bundt pan.

Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, 1 1/3 cup of the sugar and 1 teaspoon of the pie spice together in a large bowl.

Toss the apples with the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon pie spice and set aside.

Whisk the eggs and oil together in another bowl.

Whisk in the sour cream, orange zest and juice, and vanilla.

Pour the egg mixture into the dry ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon just until combined but still a bit lumpy.

Using a slotted spoon, scatter about 1/2 cup of the apples in the bottom of the bundt pan. Put about a third of the batter on top. Repeat, alternating with the remaining apples and batter, ending with the batter.

Bake the cake until it pulls away from the sides of the pan and a skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Cool 10 minutes and invert the cake onto a rack placed over a baking sheet. Cool. (The cake can be prepared to this point a day ahead.)

Combine the sugar, corn syrup, and 2 tablespoons water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook, swirling the pan but not stirring, until the sugar is dark amber-colored caramel, about 15 minutes. Pull pan from the heat and carefully pour in the cream (take care it will splatter). Stir in the pecans, vanilla, and salt. Cool until caramel becomes thick and syrupy, then evenly pour over the cake and cool until set.