French Apple Cake

Directions

1. PREHEAT oven to 350ºF
2. TO prepare the caramel, heat 3/4 cup granulated sugar with 4 tsp. water. When the sugar becomes light brown, add the juice of 1/2 lemon and remove from heat.
3. COAT the bottom and sides of a springform pan with the caramel.
4. PEEL, core and thinly slice the apples and arrange in an attractive circular overlapping pattern on the caramel.
5. IN a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs with remaining 3/4 cup granulated sugar. Add the flour, butter, PHILADLEPHIA Cream Cheese (4 oz.) and continue beating until you have a creamy batter.
6. POUR over apples and caramel and bake for 35 minutes. Let cool slightly prior to turning over onto a decorative cake plate.
7. OPTIONAL:
8. WHILE cake is baking, beat PHILADELPHIA Honey Nut Flavor Cream Cheese until fluffy. Separately, beat whipping cream until fluffy and then add 1/4 cup powdered sugar. Gently fold the whipped PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese into the whipped cream and chill well using the freezer, if necessary. Top the warm cake slices with a spoonful of PHILADLEPHIA Cream Cheese/whipped cream mixture and enjoy!