This lovely dessert puffs up while it bakes and takes on a light creamy texture that will delight crowds of all ages. Serve it on its own or warmed slightly with a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream.
- Cooking spray
- 4 tsp. cinnamon
- 3 1/2 c. sugar, divided
- 6 c. chopped apples
- 1 c. butter, softened
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 12 oz. 1/3 less fat cream cheese, softened
- 4 eggs
- 3 c. flour
- 1 T. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
Preheat the oven to 30 degrees. Spray a glass 9 X 13-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
Combine the cinnamon and 1/2 cup of the sugar. Add 4 tablespoons of the cinnamon mixture to the apples. Toss to evenly coat the apples. Set aside. Reserve the remaining cinnamon mixture as a topping for the squares.
Beat the butter, vanilla, cream cheese and remaining 3 cups of sugar with an electric blender until well mixed. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing the batter after each addition. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture and beat until well blended.
Stir the apple mixture into the batter and mix to blend. Pour the batter into the prepared glass baking pan. Sprinkle evenly with the reserved cinnamon mixture.
Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until the squares pull away from the sides of the glass baking dish. Cool the squares completely before cutting and serving.
- Yields: 24 servings
- Preparation Time: 1 hour and 45 minutes