Bavarian Apple Tart

Crust:
1/2 cup butter
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup flour

Preheat oven to 450°. In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter, sugar, and vanilla.
Mix in flour until mixture resembles coarse meal. Press dough onto the bottom and partially up the sides of a 9 inch spring form pan.

Filling:
8 ounces cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

In a medium size mixing bowl, combine cream cheese and sugar. Mix well. Add egg and vanilla, blend thoroughly. Pour into prepared pan

Topping:
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
4 cups thinly sliced apples (Rome)
1/4 cup almonds (optional)
In a large mixing bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon. Add apples and toss. Arrange apples over cream cheese filling, and sprinkle with nuts (optional). Bake at 450 for 10 minutes. Then reduce heat to 400 and continue baking for 25 minutes