Apple Frangipane Tart

Description
Contributed by Catsrecipes Y-Group

Recipe Location: CDKitchen
 * Recipe ID: 38388
 * Serves/Makes: 8
 * Difficulty Level: 4
 * Ready In: 1 - 2 hrs

Ingredients

 * 4 ounces Neufchatel cheese, softened
 * ¾ cup sugar, divided
 * 2¼ ounces ground almonds
 * 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
 * 2 egg whites
 * 5 sheets frozen phyllo pastry, thawed
 * Butter-flavored vegetable cooking spray
 * 3½ Granny Smith apples, peeled
 * 2 tablespoons warm honey

Directions

 * 1) Beat cheese at medium speed of a mixer until smooth.
 * 2) Add ½ cup sugar, ground almonds, vanilla extract, and egg whites, and beat until well blended. Set aside.
 * 3) Working with 1 phyllo sheet at a time, coat each sheet with cooking spray, and fold in half crosswise, forming a 13 x 8½-inch rectangle.
 * 4) Gently press 1 folded sheet of phyllo into a 10-inch tart pan, allowing ends to extend over edges of pan; recoat phyllo with cooking spray.
 * 5) Place another folded sheet of phyllo across first sheet in a crisscross design; recoat phyllo with cooking spray.
 * 6) Repeat procedure with remaining 3 sheets of phyllo.
 * 7) Decoratively crimp edges of phyllo crust, and spread cheese mixture evenly into crust.
 * 8) Cut each apple half crosswise into thin slices, leaving slices stacked together to keep shape of apple half.
 * 9) Place 6 apple halves around edge of tart and 1 in the center of cheese mixture; sprinkle with remaining ¼ cup sugar.
 * 10) Bake at 350°F for 50 minutes or until mixture is puffed and golden and apples are tender.