Easy Pastry Shop Apple Tart

For the crust:

1/2 cup butter,softened

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon vinilla extract

1 cup all-purpose flour

For the cream filling:

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the top:

3 apples, peeled and thinly sliced

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup slivered almonds

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Make the crust: Cream the butter and sugar. Stir in the vanilla. Finally, mix in the flour to make a smooth dough. Press into the botton of an 8-inch springform pan (I used a 9-inch pan or a 9-inch tart pan), giving it about a 1-inch rim. Bake 15 minutes, or until lightly golden. Remove the tart shell from the oven.

While the crust bakes, beat together the cream cheese, sugar, egg and vanilla for the cream filling until smooth. Make the topping by tossing the apple slices with the cinnamon and sugar.

Spread the cream cheese mixture into the tart shell. Arrange the apple slices on top in a spiral pattern and then scatter the nuts on top. Bake until the apples are tender and golden, about 40 minutes.