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1
Generously butter a 9-inch springform pan; line with parchment paper, and butter the paper.
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2
Crumb mixtureadd flour, baking powder, sugar, and nuts to a food processor fitted with steel blade; pulse 6-8 times, or until the nuts are finely chopped.
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3
Add in the butter, pulse 2-3 times or until mixture forms pea-size crumbs; do not overprocess.
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4
Sprinkle 1/3 of crumbs evenly on the bottom of the pan; reserve remaining crumb mixture for topping.
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5
Press crumbs down lightly in the pan to form a bottom crust; set aside.
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6
Position oven rack in lower third of oven; preheat to 350.
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7
Cakewash the cherries and dry well on paper towels; remove the pits with a cherry pitter; set aside.
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8
Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a triple sifter; set aside.
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9
Cut the butter into 1-inch pieces and put in the large bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment; soften on low speed.
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10
Increase speed to medium-high and cream until smooth and light in color, about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.
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11
Add in sugar 1 tablespoon at a time, taking 3-4 minutes to blend it in well; scrape down sides of bowl occasionally.
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12
Add eggs, 1 at a time at 1-minute intervals, scraping the sides of bowl as necessary; blend in vanilla.
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13
Decrease mixer speed to low; add the flour mixture in 3 additions, beating just until incorporated after each addition.
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14
Mix for about 15 seconds longer.
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15
Carefully spread batter over the crumb layer in the pan and arrange the cherries in rings on top; use about 20 cherries on the outer circle, working inward to 15, 10, and then 3 in the center.
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16
Sprinkle the reserved crumbs on top of the cherries.
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17
Center the pan on oven rack and bake for 60-65 minutes, or until the cake begins to come away from the sides of the pan and the top is golden brown.
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18
Remove from the oven and set on rack to cool.
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19
Cover the pan with a piece of foil, pressing it snugly against the sides to hold in the topping.
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20
Invert the cake onto the rack; lift off the pan and carefully peel off the parchment paper.
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21
Turn cake right side up onto a serving platter.
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22
To serveslice into wedges and serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
