Autumn Apple Strudel

By nancytripp

Ingredients

• 1 cup apple juice
• 4 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 1 tablespoon brandy
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons apple juice
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 3 whole star anise*
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
• 1/3 cup (packed) dried Bing cherries
• 1/3 cup (packed) pitted prunes, halved
• 1 1/4 pounds Braeburn apples, peeled, cored, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 1/3 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2/3 cup hazelnuts, toasted, husked
• 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 9 17x12-inch sheets fresh phyllo pastry or frozen, thawed
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
• Vanilla ice cream

Details

Servings 6
Adapted from epicurious.com

Preparation

Step 1

For sauce:

Boil juice in small saucepan until reduced to 1/2 cup, about 6 minutes. Remove from heat. Add chocolate and let stand 1 minute; whisk until melted and smooth. Stir in brandy and vanilla. (Sauce can be prepared 4 days ahead. Cover and chill. Rewarm before serving.)

For filling:

Combine 1 cup juice, wine, star anise, and cinnamon in large saucepan. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Bring to simmer. Remove from heat. Cover; let stand 10 minutes. Add cherries and prunes. Cover and simmer until fruit is plump, about 5 minutes. Discard star anise, cinnamon, and vanilla bean. Mix in apples and sugar; simmer until apples are tender but hold shape and liquid is reduced to 3 tablespoons, stirring occasionally, about 45 minutes.

Mix cornstarch and 2 tablespoons apple juice. Add to filling; stir over medium-high heat until filling thickens and boils, about 3 minutes. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Cool slightly, cover, and chill.)

For strudel:

Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly butter heavy large baking sheet. Blend first 3 ingredients in processor until nuts are finely ground.

Place dry kitchen towel on work surface. Place 1 phyllo sheet on towel (cover remaining phyllo with plastic wrap and damp towel). Brush phyllo lightly with melted butter. Top with second phyllo sheet; brush with butter. Sprinkle with scant 3 tablespoons nut mixture. Continue with 6 more phyllo sheets, brushing each with butter and sprinkling with scant 3 tablespoons nut mixture. Top with remaining phyllo sheet. Brush with butter. Spoon filling atop phyllo stack in 12x3-inch log, starting 2 inches from 1 long side and 2 1/2 inches from each short side. Fold short edges over filling. Using towel as aid and beginning at edge close to filling, roll up strudel jelly-roll style. Place strudel, seam side down, on prepared baking sheet. Brush strudel with butter. (Can be made 4 hours ahead. Chill.)

Bake strudel uncovered until golden, about 45 minutes. Let cool at least 30 minutes. Cut warm or room-temperature strudel into slices; place on plates. Serve with ice cream and warm chocolate sauce.

*Brown star-shaped seedpods sold at Asian markets and specialty foods stores and in the spice section of some supermarkets.