Bavarian Apple Torte

Makes 8-10 servings.

Crust:
In large bowl, cream together ½ c. butter, 1/3 c. sugar, and ¼ tsp. vanilla. Cut in 1 cup flour until mixture resembles coarse meal. Press dough onto the bottom and pat partially up sides of 9” springform pan.

Filling:
Preheat oven to 450. In a medium sized bowl, combine 8 oz. softened cream cheese and ¼ cup sugar and mix well. Add 1 egg and ½ tsp. vanilla and blend thoroughly. Pour into prepared pan.

Topping:
In a large bowl, combine 1/3 cup sugar, and ½ tsp. cinnamon. Add 4 cups cored, peeled, and thinly sliced apples and toss. Arrange apples over cream cheese filling and sprinkle with ¼ cup sliced almonds (optional). Bake at 450 for 10 minutes and continue baking at 400 for and additional 25 minutes. Cool completely before removing rim of pan. If almonds brown too fast make a loose tent of foil.