Apple Tart for Our Beloved Mom

Happy Mother's Day!

"Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever." Anonymous

A special day dedicated to all moms for their unconditional love, who never ask for anything in return. Thanks for being through the tears, laughter and sleepless nights.

My mom and I live in a different country, so every mother's day all I can do is wish her Happy Mother's Day over the phone. However, I am fortunate enough to have my mom-in-law here in Australia with us. Today we made her breakfast and I baked this apple tart (recipe from here) as it is one of her favourite all-time dessert.

The recipe is quite easy to follow and I fancy the idea of using cream cheese as the filling. A touch of cinnamon adds a spicy-sweet taste to the sliced apples. A delicious apple tart topped with almond flakes that will leave you wanting more with every single bite.

Recipe

Crust:
1 cup (140 grams) all-purpose flour
1/3 cup (35 grams) confectioners (powdered or icing) sugar
12 cup (1 stick) (113 grams) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

Filling:
One 8-ounce (227 grams) cream cheese, at room temperature
1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated white sugar
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Topping:
1/4 cup (grams) granulated white sugar
1/2 teaspoon (2 grams) ground cinnamon
4 cups (50 ml) Granny Smith apples, peeled and cut into 1/4 inch (.6 cm) slices (about 3-4 large apples)
1/3 cup (35 grams) sliced almonds

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven. Grease (or spray with Pam) a 9 inch (22 cm) springform pan.

Crust: In the bowl of your food processor place the flour and sugar. Pulse to blend together. Add butter and pulse until dough just begins to come together. Pat the dough onto the bottom and once inch (2.5 cm) up the sides of the pan. Cover with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator while you make the filling.

Filling: In a food processor process the cream cheese until smooth. Add the sugar and mix well. Blend in the egg and vanilla extract and process until smooth. Remove the crust from the fridge and pour in the filling. Return to refrigerator while you prepare the topping.

Topping: Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a large bowl. Toss the sliced apples in the sugar mixture. Spoon the apples evenly over the cream cheese layer and sprinkle with almonds. Place the springform pan on a larger baking sheet to catch the drips.

Bake at 450 degrees F (230 degrees C) for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) and bake for 25 to 30 minutes until golden brown (apples are soft when pierced with a fork), and filling is almost set. Remove from oven and place on wire rack to cool. Sprinkle with confectioners sugar and serve at room temperature. Leftovers can be covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated.