Cinnamon Apple Cake

1 3/4 cups sugar, divided
3/4 cup (6 oz) reduced-fat cream cheese
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp ground cinnamon
3 cups chopped, peeled apples (Rome is recommended)

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2.  Beat 1 1/2 cups sugar, cream cheese, butter, and vanilla at medium speed until well blended.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition; set aside.
3.  Lightly spoon flour into measuring cups; level with a knife.  Combine flour, baking powder, and salt.  Add flour mixture to creamed mixture, and beat at low speed until blended.  Combine 1/4 cup sugar, cinnamon, and apples in a bowl. Stir apple mixture into batter.  Pour batter into an 8-inch springform pan coated with cooking spray.  Sprinkle with cinnamon/sugar mixture.*
4.  Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until cake pulls from sides.  Cool completely on wire rack.

*My recipe does not specify how much cinnamon and sugar to sprinkle on the top, so I just make a guess.