Maple-Gingerbread Layer Cake with Salted Maple Caramel Sauce

Name: Maple-Gingerbread Layer Cake with Salted Maple Caramel Sauce
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3/4 cup pecan halves, toasted; 1/4 cup pure maple syrup (preferably Grade B); Coarse kosher salt; 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour; 1 1/2 teaspoons Chinese five-spice powder; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon coarse kosher salt; 1/3 cup chopped crystallized ginger (1 1/2 to 2 ounces); 1 cup maple sugar; 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature; 2 large eggs; 3/4 cup hot water; 2/3 cup mild-flavored (light) molasses; 1 1/3 cups chilled crème fraîche; 1 1/3 cups chilled heavy whipping cream; 1/2 cup maple sugar; 6 tablespoons powdered sugar; Salted Maple-Caramel Sauce (click for recipe)