chocolate-cherry cake (passionate cook)

Mum's chocolate & cherry "spitting"cake
(yields one 40 x 30 cm tray)

200 g butter (softened)
180 g caster sugar
4 yolks
2 eggs
120 g dark chocolate (melted)
60 g white breadcrumbs
200 g ground almonds
4 egg whites
400 g cherries

Preheat the oven to 175 C. Grease a (40 x 30 cm) baking tray and line with baking parchment.
Beat the butter and sugar until pale and creamy. Meanwhile, meld the chocolate in a bain marie or in the microwave and leave to cool slightly. Add the yolks and eggs, then combine with the chocolate.
Mix in the breadcrumbs and almonds, then beat the egg whites until stiff and fold into the chocolate dough.
Spread the dough evenly on the tray, then cover with the cherries, gently pushing them in about half-way.
Bake for ca. 40 minutes until a metal stick comes out clean when you insert it into the dough. Leave to cool and dust with ising sugar just before serving.