Rose Levy Beranbaum's Cradle Cake

Ingredients (16)

• Dacquoise
• 1/2 cup superfine sugar, divided
• 1/2 cup pecan halves
• 1/2 ounce fine-quality unsweetened or 99% cacao chocolate, chopped
• 2 large eggs, separated, at room temperature
• Batter
• 2 egg yolks from above
• 1/3 cup low-fat buttermilk, divided
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup (or 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons) cake flour (or bleached all-purpose
• flour), sifted into the cup and leveled off
• 1/2 cup superfine sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter (65° to 75°F)
• Special Equipment: One 9 by 4- or 5-inch loaf pan, preferably silicone, coated with baking spray with fl our. If using a metal pan, line the bottom with a rectangle of parchment.