Serves 10

Ingredients

Sweet Pastry (recipe follows)
4 cups peeled, cored, and thinly sliced Golden Delicious
apples
1 package (8-ounce) cream cheese, softened
2/3 cup sugar
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 sliced almonds

Sweet Pastry
In medium bowl with electric mixer, beat 6 tablespoons softened butter, 1/3 cup sugar, 1/4 teaspoon vanilla, and 1/8 teaspoon salt until smooth. Stir in 1cup all-purpose flour until soft dough forms.

1. Prepare Sweet Pastry. Heat oven to 425 degrees F. Pat pastry into bottom and 1 1/4 inches up sides of lightly greased springform pan. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned; set aside. Reduce oven heat to 400 degrees F.
2. Place apples in shallow pan, cover with foil, and bake 15 minutes. Meanwhile, in medium bowl, beat cream cheese with 1/3 cup sugar. Beat in egg, lemon zest, vanilla, and salt until smooth; spoon into partially baked pie shell.
3. Arrange warm, partially cooked apple slices on top of cream cheese layer. Combine remaining 1/3 cup sugar and the cinnamon; sprinkle over apples. Top with almonds. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until crust is brown and apples are tender. Cool before cutting.

Thanks to the Washington Apple Website for this recipe.