Cinnamon Apple Cake

This cake was introduced to me by my friend Timo, who in the 10 years that we've known each other never mentioned once that he can actually bake cakes!

My boyfriend loved it and I had him make one himself for his father's birthday, with only a little help from me...so there it is! Stephan's very first cake!

I'll share the recipe with you since everybody loved it and thought it should go on the blog.

Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups sugar, divided
1/2 cup stick margarine
1 pinch vanilla mark
6 ounces block-style fat-free cream cheese (about 3/4 cup) 
 2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 cups chopped peeled Braeburn apple (about 2 large)

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350°F.  Beat 1 1/2 cups sugar, margarine, vanilla, and cream cheese at medium speed of a mixer until well-blended (about 4 minutes). Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Add flour mixture to creamed mixture, beating at low speed until blended.  Combine 1/4 cup sugar and cinnamon. Combine 2 tablespoons cinnamon mixture and apple in a bowl, and stir apple mixture into batter. Pour batter into an 9-inch springform pan, and sprinkle with remaining cinnamon mixture. Bake at 350° for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until the cake pulls away from the sides of the pan. Cool the cake completely on a wire rack. Serve with whipped cream and cinnamon.