Cinnamon Apple Cake (Hanukkah Cake)

Step 1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray an 8-inch springform pan with cooking spray.

Step 2
Beat 1 1/2 cups of sugar with butter, vanilla extract, and cream cheese in a bowl until soft and creamy; beat in eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl.

Step 3
In a separate small bowl, stir together cinnamon with 1/4 cup of sugar. Stir 2 tablespoons of cinnamon-sugar mixture into flour mixture; reserve the rest of cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Step 4
Stir flour mixture into butter mixture to make a smooth batter, and mix in apples. Pour batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the top of batter with reserved cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Step 5
Bake in the preheated oven until cake pulls away slightly from the edges of the pan, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Cool cake completely on a wire rack before removing the pan and slicing cake.