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1
Boil juice in small saucepan until reduced to 1/2 cup, about 6 minutes.
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2
Remove from heat.
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3
Add chocolate and let stand 1 minute; whisk until melted and smooth.
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4
Stir in brandy and vanilla.
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5
(Sauce can be prepared 4 days ahead.
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6
Cover and chill.
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7
Rewarm before serving.)
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8
Combine 1 cup juice, wine, star anise, and cinnamon in large saucepan.
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9
Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean.
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10
Bring to simmer.
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11
Remove from heat.
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12
Cover; let stand 10 minutes.
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13
Add cherries and prunes.
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14
Cover and simmer until fruit is plump, about 5 minutes.
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15
Discard star anise, cinnamon, and vanilla bean.
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16
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.
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17
Mix cornstarch and 2 tablespoons apple juice.
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18
Add to filling; stir over medium-high heat until filling thickens and boils, about 3 minutes.
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19
(Can be made 3 days ahead.
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20
Cool slightly, cover, and chill.)
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21
Preheat oven to 375F.
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22
Lightly butter heavy large baking sheet.
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23
Blend first 3 ingredients in processor until nuts are finely ground.
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24
Place dry kitchen towel on work surface.
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25
Place 1 phyllo sheet on towel (cover remaining phyllo with plastic wrap and damp towel).
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26
Brush phyllo lightly with melted butter.
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27
Top with second phyllo sheet; brush with butter.
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28
Sprinkle with scant 3 tablespoons nut mixture.
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29
Continue with 6 more phyllo sheets, brushing each with butter and sprinkling with scant 3 tablespoons nut mixture.
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30
Top with remaining phyllo sheet.
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31
Brush with butter.
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32
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.
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33
Fold short edges over filling.
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34
Using towel as aid and beginning at edge close to filling, roll up strudel jelly-roll style.
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35
Place strudel, seam side down, on prepared baking sheet.
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36
Brush strudel with butter.
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37
(Can be made 4 hours ahead.
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38
Chill.)
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39
Bake strudel uncovered until golden, about 45 minutes.
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40
Let cool at least 30 minutes.
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41
Cut warm or room-temperature strudel into slices; place on plates.
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42
Serve with ice cream and warm chocolate sauce.
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43
*Brown star-shaped seedpods sold at Asian markets and specialty foods stores and in the spice section of some supermarkets.
