Preheat oven to 350*F and bake pecans for 5-7 minutes until lightly toasted and fragrant.
Meanwhile, stir flour, both sugars, salt, baking soda and spices together in a large bowl.
Stir in eggs, then oil, apple sauce and vanilla.
Stir in apples and pecans.
Spoon two-thirds of the apple batter into the prepared pan, then spoon cream cheese filling over the apple mixture, leaving a 1 inch border around the edges of the pan.
Spoon remaining apple batter over the cream cheese filling.
Bake cake at 350*F for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until a long wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool cake in the pan, on a wire rack about 1 hour. Remove cake from pan, and cool completely (an additional hour).
When the cake has cooled, prepare praline frosting.
Combine brown sugar, butter and milk in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Boil 1 minute (set a timer).
Remove pan from heat and add vanilla extract, then powdered sugar. Whisk together until fully combined. If needed, pour frosting through a fine strainer to remove any powdered sugar lumps. Cool frosting slightly (about 5 minutes) until it has begun to thicken slightly, but is still easily pourable. Pour over cake, as desired. Garnish with pecans, if desired.