Date, Dried-Cherry and Chocolate Torte

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon baking soda 
• 6 oz fine-quality bittersweet chocolate unsweetened coarsely chopped (not )
• 0.3 cup brandy 
• 10 servings garnish: confectioners sugar 
• 1 cup cherries dried (preferably tart; 6 oz)
• 2 large eggs at room temperature
• 1.3 cups flour all-purpose
• 3 oz medjool dates black pitted cut into 6 pieces
• 0.8 teaspoon orange zest fresh finely grated
• 4.5 oz pecans finely chopped
• 0.5 teaspoon salt 
• 0.8 cup sugar 
• 0.8 cup butter unsalted softened
• 0.3 cup cocoa powder unsweetened (not Dutch-process)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla 
• 1 cup water boiling
• 10 servings accompaniment: brandied whipped cream 

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan
• oven
• knife
• whisk
• springform pan

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Combine dates, cherries, and baking soda in a heatproof bowl, then stir in boiling water and brandy.
3. Whisk together flour, cocoa, and salt.
4. Beat together butter and sugar until pale and fluffy.
5. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating until just combined. Beat in vanilla and zest.
6. Add half of flour mixture and beat at low speed until just combined.
7. Add date mixture with liquid and beat at low speed until just combined.
8. Add remaining flour mixture and beat until just combined. Stir in chocolate and pecans.
9. Pour batter into a generously buttered 24-cm (9-inch) springform pan, smoothing top.
10. Bake in middle of oven until center is slightly rounded and top of torte is cracked (edges will be dark brown), about 55 minutes.
11. Let torte stand 5 minutes in pan on a rack. Run a sharp small knife around side of pan to loosen, then remove side. Cool torte on rack.
12. • Torte may be made 2 days ahead and kept in an airtight container at room temperature.