1/2 cup cocoa powder
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup or (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter softened, plus more for greasing
1 3/4 cups sugar
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans, plus more for garnishing
Caramel Sauce, for serving, recipe follows
Vanilla ice cream, for serving
1 cup water
2 cups sugar
1 cup whipping cream
Pinch coarse salt
Dash ground cayenne pepper