Preheat your oven to 350°F.

Beat together at medium speed of a mixer 1 1/2 cups sugar, butter, vanilla, and cream cheese until well-blended; this will take about 4 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Then add flour mixture to the creamed mixture, beating at low speed until blended.

Combine the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and cinnamon. Combine two tablespoons cinnamon mixture and apples in a bowl. Stir the apple mixture into batter. Pour batter into an 9-inch springform pan coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle the top with remaining cinnamon mixture.

Bake for 65-70 minutes or until the cake pulls away from the sides of the pan. Cool the cake completely on a wire rack.