Apple Torte

Total Time: 2 hrs 10 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr 30 mins Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup apricot jam
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 4 cups peeled apples, slices
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon cardamom
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds

Recipe

• 1 position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 400°. grease a 9" round springform pan.
• 2 in the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter, sugar, and vanilla on medium speed.
• 3 using a fork or your fingers, work in the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• 4 press the mixture onto the bottom and 1inch up the sides of the prepared pan.
• 5 pierce the bottom several times with the tines of a fork.
• 6 chill at least 30 minutes.
• 7 line the chilled shell with parchment and fill with pie weights.
• 8 bake for 12 minutes, or until the pastry is set and golden.
• 9 carefully remove the parchment and weights and continue to bake the shell for 5 minutes longer, or until golden.
• 10 if the edges start to brown too quickly, cover with strips of foil or piecrust shields; cool on a wire rack.
• 11 when the pastry is cool, spread the apricot jam evenly over the bottom of the crust and set aside.
• 12 filling-using an electric mixer set on medium speed, beat the cream cheese with the sugar until light.
• 13 beat in the egg and vanilla.
• 14 spread the filling evenly over the prepared crust.
• 15 topping-in a large bowl, combine the apples with the sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon, and cardamom.
• 16 arrange the apples in concentric circles over the filling.
• 17 sprinkle with the almonds.
• 18 bake for 10 minutes, then decrease the oven temperature to 350° and bake an additional 30 minutes, or until the apples are tender.
• 19 cool on a wire rack at least 30 minutes.
• 20 release and remove the pan sides.
• 21 cool completely, then refrigerate until ready to serve.