Flourless Chocolate Cake With Toasted Hazelnuts And Brandied Cherries

Ingredients

• 1 750-ml bottle brandy
• 1 1/2 cups dried tart cherries
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 10 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 1 1/4 cups (2 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, diced
• 10 large egg yolks
• 1/2 cup plus 6 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 9 large egg whites
• 8 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 1/2 cups hazelnuts, toasted, coarsely chopped
• whipped cream