Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, such as Valrhona
  • 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon warm water
  • 3/4 cup cake flour
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 3/4 cups dark brown sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 egg, plus 1 yolk, preferably pasture-raised
  • 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons buttermilk
  • 2 vanilla beans
  • 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 cups milk
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 9 egg yolks, preferably pasture-raised
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup red wine or port
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon anise seeds
  • 1/2 cup dried sour cherries

Method

  • Preheat the oven to 350F.
  • Butter a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
  • To make the devils food cake, whisk together the cocoa and water in a bowl to make a paste.
  • Sift together the flours, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, combine the butter, brown sugar, and vanilla on medium speed.
  • Add the egg and the yolk, followed by the cocoa paste.
  • Once combined, alternate adding the dry ingredients and the buttermilk.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, turning after the first 30 minutes, until the cake is firm to the touch and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
  • Remove the cake from the oven, let rest in the pan for 5 minutes, then remove from the pan and transfer to a cooling rack.
  • To make the ice cream, split the vanilla beans lengthwise and scrape the seeds from each side into the measured sugar.
  • In a medium saucepan, combine the milk, cream, and half of the vanilla sugar.
  • Whisk together and bring to a full rolling boil over medium-high heat.
  • While the milk mixture is heating, whisk together the egg yolks and the remaining vanilla sugar.
  • Temper the eggs into the boiling milk mixture by removing the saucepan from the heat and pouring half of it over the yolks.
  • Whisk this well and return the yolk mixture to the saucepan.
  • Whisk in the salt.
  • In a metal bowl over ice, chill the ice cream base thoroughly.
  • Strain the base through a fine-mesh sieve.
  • Process the base in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturers instructions.
  • Transfer the ice cream to a covered container and place in the freezer until it is firm, about 2 hours.
  • To make the sour cherries, in a small pot, combine the wine, sugar, and anise seeds and heat until the sugar is dissolved.
  • Add the dried cherries, stir, and slowly reduce the mixture until it has the consistency of a syrup.
  • Set aside to cool.
  • When ready to assemble, let the ice cream defrost at room temperature for 15 minutes.
  • Mix the sour cherries into the ice cream.
  • Evenly spread the ice cream over 4 (1/2-inch-thick) slices of the chocolate cake, covering them all the way to the edge.
  • (The ice cream must be soft enough to avoid ripping the bread.)
  • Top with a matching 4 slices of chocolate cake and place them in the freezer for at least 1 hour before serving.