Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter 
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract 
• 1 cup all-purpose white flour
• 8 ounces cream cheese
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 4 medium apples
• 1/4 cup slivered almonds

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 450° F.
2. Set cream cheese out to soften. Peel, core and slice apples.
3. Cream together butter, 1/3 cup sugar and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla.
4. Fold in flour to make a dough.
5. Spread dough on bottom and sides of a 9″ spring form pan.
6. In a medium bowl combine softened cream cheese and 1/3 cup sugar; mix well.
7. Add egg and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla; mix until blended.
8. Pour mixture into pastry-lined pan.
9. Combine 1/3 cup sugar and cinnamon; toss with apples until all are coated.
10. Spoon apple mixture over cream cheese layer.
11. Sprinkle with almonds.
12. Bake at 450° F for 10 minutes.
13. Reduce heat to 400° F and continue baking for 25 minutes. Cool.

Helpful hints

• One medium apple yields 1 cup when peeled and cored.
• You can substitute fresh cranberries for slivered almonds on top of tart to reduce phosphorus to 53 mg per serving.
• For a lower carbohydrate version diabetics can substitute Splenda® granular instead of sugar; carbohydrate is reduced to 19 grams, calories 266.