Maple Tree Cake

4 eggs
2 cups sugar
2 cups (16 ounces) sour cream
2 teaspoons maple flavoring
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
Dash salt
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Frosting
1/4 cup butter, softened
3 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon maple syrup
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup peanut butter chips
2 tablespoons dried cranberries
2 tablespoons golden raisins
2 tablespoons chopped dried apricots
2 tablespoons chopped dried apples

In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs and sugar. Add sour cream and maple flavoring. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; add to sour cream mixture and mix well. Fold in pecans.

Pour into two greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

For frosting, in a mixing bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar. Add syrup; mix well. Spread between layers and over top and sides of cake.

In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate and peanut butter chips; stir until smooth. Transfer to a pastry or a heavy-duty resealable plastic bag; cut a small hole in the corner of bag. Pipe a tree and branches on top of the cake. Combine dried fruit; sprinkle around tree base and at ends of branches to resemble leaves. Makes 12 servings.