Maple WASC with Maple Cream cheese filling and maple buttercream

When I couldn't find a Maple WASC recipe, I decided to create my own by using the basic formula.

MAPLE WASC

1 Duncan Hines Spice Cake mix

1 Cup Sugar

1 Cup all-purpose flour

2 Tbsp. vegetable oil

4 eggs

2/3 Cup water

2/3 Cup REAL maple syrup (I don't recommend using table syrup) - the darker the better

1 tsp. Watkins imitation maple flavoring

1 Cup sour cream

Mix together dry ingredients on low.

Add oil, eggs, syrup and water

Blend well

Add sour cream and maple flavoring

Mix on medium for 2 minutes.

Bake per pan instructions.

MAPLE CREAM CHEESE FILLING

(found on www.kitchensimplicity.com to go with their maple-walnut cake)

1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened

1/4 Cup butter, softened

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup REAL maple syrup

1 tsp. vanilla

Cream together cream cheese, butter and brown sugar.  Beat in maple syrup and vanilla until well blended.  Makes about a cup and a half.

MAPLE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

1 Cup (2 sticks) salted butter, softened

1 Cup Crisco shortening

4 Tbsp. half and half

2 Tbsp. REAL maple syrup

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. Watkins maple extract

2 Tbsp. meringue powder

2 lbs. powdered sugar

Cream butter, shortening, half and half, syrup, vanilla and maple extract until well blended.  Stir together meringue powder and powdered sugar.  Add to butter mixture slowly and allow to blend on low to low-medium speed on KitchenAid mixer for about 5 minutes or until fluffy and smooth.  Makes about 6 cups.