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This post is sponsored by McCormick. All opinions are 100% mine.
Here in New England where we live, apple picking is a must-do activity every fall! It’s a wonderful way to spend time with our family outdoors: enjoying New England’s colorful foliage, going on a hayride out to the fields to pick out a pumpkin, buying corn stalks and mums for decorating the front stoop of our house – and of course – stocking up on a ton of freshly-picked apples for fall baking!
And what do I always make with those apples? This Fresh Apple Torte!
Our fresh apple torte is an often-requested recipe that has made its way into my extended family’s holiday dessert rotation every year. It’s that delicious – and this is pretty much my idea of the perfect apple dessert!
We start with a simple and sweet shortbread crust that is pressed down into the bottom of a springform pan (a deep dish pie plate also works). Then a vanilla-flavored cream cheese filling is spooned onto the crust. Apple slices are then sweetened and seasoned with sugar and McCormick’s Apple Pie Spice blend – then placed over the cream cheese filling in a decorative spiral. Finally, a sprinkle of sliced almonds are added to the top to the torte before baking.
When this fresh apple torte comes out of the oven – the aroma of the apples, vanilla and apple pie spices is truly amazing! And my husband Jack’s favorite part about this dessert is how the edges of the apples get sweet and caramelized during the baking process – almost creating a crust around the edges of the pan. Allow your fresh apple torte to cool slightly before serving with some vanilla ice cream.
No matter what fall baking you are doing, McCormick has you covered with their Apple Pie Spice and Pumpkin Pie Spice blends. Or, if your fall baking calls for specific kinds of spices, looks for McCormick Gourmet’s Saigon Cinnamon, Ground Ginger, Ground Nutmeg, Ground Jamaican Allspice, plus so many more! McCormick also has a great collection of fall baking recipes right here.
We love seeing what you made! Tag us on Instagram at @afamilyfeast or hashtag #afamilyfeast so we can see your creations!
Fresh Apple Torte
A delicious apple torte with a sweet shortbread crust and cream cheese filling topped with sweet cinnamon apples and almonds.
Ingredients
For the crust
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
For the filling
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
For the topping
- 3 cups apples peeled, cored and thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon McCormick Apple Pie Spice
- 1/3 cup sliced almonds
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 475 degrees. Lightly grease a 9″ springform pan (or a 9″ deep dish pie plate may be used).
- To make the crust, cream together the butter, 1/3 cup sugar and the one teaspoon vanilla in a bowl. Add the flour and beat to mix well – the mixture will resemble coarse crumbs. Evenly spread the mixture in the pan and press down to completely cover the bottom.
- To prepare the filling, beat together the cream cheese, ¼ cup of sugar, egg and ½ teaspoon vanilla until smooth. Pour the filling over the uncooked crust and gently spread until it evenly covers the crust.
- In a medium bowl, toss the peeled and sliced apples with the remaining ¼ cup of sugar and Apple Pie Spice. Arrange the apples over the cream cheese layer in a pinwheel design, starting from the outside edge and working toward the middle of the pan.
- Any extra apples can be piled on top of the others. Sprinkle the top evenly with the almonds.
- Bake at 475 for 10 minutes. Lower the heat to 375 degrees and bake for 25 minutes. Finally, lower the heat to 350 degrees and bake for 20 minutes more.
- Remove from oven and let cool before serving.
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You may also like these other delicious Fall-inspired desserts:
Kim Beaulieu says
This is the prettiest torte on the face of the planet. I am in love. With a torte.
Nancy P.@thebittersideofsweet says
You have made my mouth water at 10 am for all things cinnamon! This looks wondeful!
Medeja says
Lovely autumn torte!
Martha says
Thank you!
Ginny McMeans says
I love love love apple season and your torte is beautiful Love the shortbread base – it just all looks elegant!
Martha says
Thanks Ginny!
Lauren @ Healthy Delicious says
This torte is gorgeous! Loe the top.
Brenda@Sugar-Free Mom says
I live in New England and love apple picking and this time of year. That torte and apples looks beautiful but the cream cheese filling has won my heart!
Kim (Feed Me, Seymour) says
Ok, this definitely MUST be my Thanksgiving dessert! So beautiful!
Melanie says
This is like dessert art. So gorgeous. You are amazing.
Martha says
Thanks Melanie! 🙂
christine says
Wow, this is beautiful! I’m in MA and we apple pick every year. We make an entire day of it – like most New Englanders. Sadly, the season seemed to have gotten by us this year and we didn’t go. I’m so bummed.
Stephanie @ Back For Seconds says
This is just stunning!
Martha says
Thanks Stephanie!