APPLE-CREAM CHEESE TORTE
Begin preparing this a day ahead.

For crust
1 1/2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
1/2 cup (1 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt

For filling
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For topping
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, thinly sliced (about 3 cups)
1/4 cup sliced almonds

Make crust:
Preheat oven to 400°F. Wrap outside of 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides with foil. Combine all ingredients in large bowl. Using fingertips, mix until moist dough clumps form. Gather dough into ball. Press onto bottom and 3/4 inch up sides of pan. Freeze 10 minutes. Bake until crust is light golden, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F.

Make filling:
Beat all ingredients in large bowl until smooth. Pour filling into crust. Smooth top.

Make topping:
Combine sugar and cinnamon in large bowl. Add apple slices and toss to coat. Arrange atop filling. Sprinkle with almonds.

Bake torte until crust is deep golden and apples are tender, about 1 hour 30 minutes. Remove from oven; cool 1 hour. Cover; refrigerate overnight. (Torte can be prepared 3 days ahead. Keep refrigerated.)

Run small knife around pan sides to loosen torte. Remove pan sides. Place torte on platter. Serve cold.

Serves 8.


Bon Appétit
March 1999

R.S.V.P.
The Village Bake Shoppe, Lewiston NY