SWEET CRUST:

1/2 c. butter
1/3 c. sugar
1/4 tsp. vanilla
1 c. flour

CHEESE FILLING:

1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1/4 c. sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla

TOPPING:

1/3 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
4 c. peeled, cored & sliced apples
1/4 c. sliced almonds, optional

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Cream together butter and 1/3 cup sugar. Beat in 1/4 teaspoon vanilla. Blend in flour. Mixture will be crumbly. Pat into bottom and 1 1/2 inches high around sides of 9 inch springform pan.

Prepare cheese filling: Beat together cream cheese and 1/4 cup sugar. Add egg and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, blending well. Pour into pastry lined pan and spread to edges.

Combine sugar and cinnamon. Toss apples in sugar mixture. Spoon apples over cream cheese layer. Sprinkle with nuts. (The lady who gave me this recipe has substituted pecans; I never use the nuts.) Bake 10 minutes at 450 degrees, then reduce temperature to 400 degrees and continue baking for an additional 25 minutes. Loosen torte from rim of pan. Cool before removing from pan.