INGREDIENTS:

• 1 1/4 cups cake flour, plus more for dusting the pan
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/3 cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
• 2 teaspoons instant espresso powder

• 1/4 cup boiling water
• 1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), at a cool room temperature, plus more for coating the pan
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
• 5 large eggs, at a cool room temperature
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup shelled, unsalted pistachios, plus another 1/3 cup for garnishing
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped dried cherries

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Heat the oven to 350°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Coat a 9-by-5 inch loaf pan with butter. Line the bottom and two sides with parchment paper. Butter the parchment paper, then dust lightly with flour, shaking out the excess.
2. Sift the measured flour and baking powder together onto a piece of parchment paper. In a heatproof bowl, whisk together the cocoa and espresso powders. Add the boiling water and stir until smooth. Set aside to cool, about 5 minutes.
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the measured butter, sugar, and salt on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula occasionally. Mix in the espresso-cocoa mixture and the vanilla. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in half of the dry ingredients until almost fully incorporated. Fold in the remaining dry ingredients along with 1/2 cup of the pistachios and the dried cherries just until the batter is smooth and there are no pockets of flour.
4. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/3 cup pistachios. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour.
5. Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes, then unmold the cake and peel off the parchment. Turn the cake top-side up and let cool completely (cover the cake with a slightly damp kitchen towel so the outside doesn’t dry out).