Flourless Chocolate Cherry Cake

Flourless Chocolate Cake 
0 Preheat the oven to 350 F and place a rack in the center of the oven.
2 Add 2 inches of water into a small pot or the base of a double boiler. Place the pot on the stove and bring the water to a simmer.
3 Put the chocolate and butter into a metal mixing bowl that will fit over top of a sauce pot or the bowl of a double boiler.
4 Place the bowl over the pot of simmering water, and stir the chocolate and butter until melted.
5 Alternatively you could melt the chocolate and butter in a microwave safe bowl in the microwave in 15-20 second bursts, stirring in between.
6 Set the bowl with the melted chocolate and butter aside to cool slightly.
7 Separate 6 eggs adding the whites into the bowl of a stand mixer or a large mixing bowl and the yolks into a small bowl. Add the sugar and salt into the bowl with the egg whites - whip until stiff peaks form.
8 Add the egg yolks and vanilla into the bowl with the melted chocolate and butter and whisk to combine.
12 In three additions, fold the whipped egg whites into the chocolate mixture. Careful not to stir and knock the air out of the egg whites.
9 I like to fold in the first addition with the whisk attachment from my stand mixer but by hand and then swap to a flat rubber spatula for the next two additions.
10 Line a 9" springform pan with a piece of parchment paper, it's easiest if you crumple and then smooth out the parchment.
11 Pour the fluffy chocolate batter into the pan. Bake it in the hot oven for 45 minutes until the entire surface has puffed and cracked. It will still jiggle slightly- that's ok.
13 Take the cake out of the oven and allow it to cool for an hour before removing it from the pan. The cake will sink as it cools, that's what is supposed to happen so don't let it stress you out.
Apricot Compote & Saucy Cherries
15 For the apricot compote, cut a few apricots into 1" chunks. Add the apricots, one tablespoon of sugar and 1/4 cup of water into a small pot.
16 Cover the pot with a lid and heat over low heat. Cook until steam begins to escape the pot. Remove the lid and stir the apricots every few minutes until they have completely broken down.
17 Then continue to cook until any excess moisture has evaporated. Turn the heat off and set it aside to cool off.
18 For the cherries, pit and halve the cherries. Add them into another pot along with cherry juice or water. Cover the pot with a lid and cook for 5 minutes over medium low heat until bubbling. Take the lid off and cook for another 10 minutes.
19 In a small bowl stir together the corn starch with a splash of water. Pour the slurry into the boiling cherries and stir to combine. They won't massively thicken but the juices will turn more syrupy than juicy.
20 Turn the heat off and pour the cherries into a shallow dish to cool off to room temperature.
Whipped Cream
22 In a medium mixing bowl, add in the mascarpone, yogurt, vanilla and salt. Whip until combined.
23 Add in the heavy cream and whip until medium stiff peaks form.
Assemble
25 Remove the cake from the pan and place it on a large plate or cake stand. I like to keep the parchment on but you can also peel it off.
26 Use a large spoon to dollop the whipped cream into the sunken cake. Spoon the apricot compote and then the saucy cherries over the whipped cream. I sprinkled the top with cacao nibs but they are optional!
27 Serve immediately! The cake can also sit for an hour or two at room temperature.