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1
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
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2
Line a 9-inch round cake pan with parchment paper.
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3
Place a large heatproof mixing bowl over simmering water, or on the top of a double boiler.
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4
Stir together chopped chocolate and butter, until melted.
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5
Remove from the heat.
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6
Place a mixing bowl over warm tap water.
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7
Add eggs and beat with an electric mixer, until light in color and tripled in volume, about 3 minutes at medium speed and then high speed for another 5 minutes.
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8
Gently fold half of the eggs into the chocolate mixture.
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9
Then fold in espresso beans.
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10
Add the remaining eggs, folding gently, until a few streaks remain.
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Be careful not to overmix.
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12
Pour batter into the cake pan.
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13
Place cake pans in a bain marie (water bath).
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14
Place in the oven and bake for 5 minutes.
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15
Cover the cake pan with aluminum foil and bake, still in the bain marie, and additional 10 minutes.
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16
Set aside to cool on a rack for 45 minutes, then refrigerate for at least 6 hours, to overnight.
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17
Turn oven down to 350 degrees.
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18
On a baking sheet spread pecan halves.
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19
Toast until golden, about 10 - 15 minutes.
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20
Set aside to cool.
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21
To remove cake from pan, place the pan over a low burner for a moment or two.
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22
Run a sharp knife around the inside edge to loosen the cake.
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23
Invert onto a platter.
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24
Whisk the crema or creme fraiche with the sugar and vanilla until peaks form.
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25
Pile the stiff cream on the chocolate cake.
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26
Then, using a spatula, spread it out to the edges to make a thick even layer of cream over the top, being careful not to drip the white cream onto the sides of the cake.
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27
Refrigerate for 10 minutes to set.
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28
Arrange pecan halves on top of the cream to form a circle around the outside edge.
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29
Dip your fingertips or a fork into the melted chocolate and drizzle over the center in a free-form pattern.
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30
Refrigerate until serving time.
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31
The finished cake can be held overnight.
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32
In large bowl whisk together cream and buttermilk.
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33
Cover and set in a warm place (a gas oven with just the heat from the pilot light for example) for 8 hours.
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34
Place in refrigerator.
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35
Can be kept for up to a week.
