Lightly oil a 9x5" loaf pan and line with plastic wrap, leaving plenty of overhang. Whisk coffee, rum, salt, and 1 Tbsp. sugar in a shallow dish until sugar and salt dissolve. Chill until ready to use.
Whisk cream and mascarpone in a medium bowl just until smooth. Set aside.
Pour water into a large saucepan to come 2" up the sides and bring to a simmer. Combine egg yolks, remaining ⅓ cup sugar, and 2 Tbsp. water in a medium heatproof bowl. Set bowl over pan and reduce heat to low so water is at a bare simmer. Using an electric mixer (or a large whisk and a friend to fill in when your arm cramps), beat mixture on medium-high until eggs triple in volume and are extremely pale yellow and mixture forms a slowly dissolving ribbon when drizzled over itself in bowl, 5–7 minutes. Remove bowl from heat.
Using clean beaters (or whisk), beat reserved cream mixture until medium peaks form. Add egg yolk mixture and gently fold until no streaks remain.
Working one at a time, dip ladyfingers into chilled coffee mixture and let soak just long enough for them to soften, 1–2 seconds per side. Lay 8 cookies in prepared pan (it’s okay to smush them in a bit). Spread one-third of filling over. Layer another 8 soaked ladyfingers on top and spread half of remaining filling over. Repeat layers one more time with remaining ladyfingers and filling. Cover pan with plastic wrap; chill tiramisù until firm, at least 6 hours and up to 12 hours (longer is better; you’ll get cleaner slices and the layers will be fully set).
Invert a small platter or a large plate over top of loaf pan, hold together tightly, and flip them over so plate is underneath. Set on a work surface and carefully remove pan. Peel away plastic wrap from tiramisù; discard. Generously dust tiramisù with cocoa powder. Serve in slices, dusting with more cocoa powder if desired.
Do Ahead: Tiramisù (without cocoa powder) can be made 3 days ahead. Keep chilled.
"MERYY CHRISTMAS" toa All, From NEW YORK'S # 1 Independent FOOD BLOG
Prepare Custard Filling and let cool completely. Prepare Sponge Cake in 9-10 inch spring form pan. When cooled, cut horizontally into 3 layers.
Whip 1 cup of the whipping cream till stiff peaks form adding 2 Tbs of the powdered sugar. Gently fold together the whipping cream and the cooled custard filling and divide the mixture into 2 equal portions. To one portion add the cocoa powder and nuts. To the other portion, fold in the candied orange peel.
Place the bottom cake layer back into the (cleaned) spring form pan and sprinkle with rum. Spread the cocoa mixture over. Place the second layer of cake atop and sprinkle with maraschino or orange liqueur. Spread the orange peel custard mixture and then top with top cake layer and sprinkle with remaining rum.
Cover and chill for 3 or 4 hours.
Meanwhile, whip the remaining 1 cup of whipping cream till stiff peaks, adding the remaining 2 Tbs of powdered sugar. Place the chilled cake onto a serving plate, releasing the sides of the spring-form pan and spread the whip cream over the top and sides of the entire cake. Decorate with maraschino cherries and/or mint leaves, if desired.
Custard Filling:
Combine 1/3 cup sugar, 2 Tbs cornstarch and 1/4 tsp salt; blend in 1+1/2 c. milk. Cook and stir till bubbly. Cook and stir 2 minutes more. Gradually stir about half of the hot mixture into 2 beaten egg yolks; return to remaining hot mixture. Cook and still till bubbly. Cook and stir 2 more minutes. Cover the custard directly with clear plastic wrap (so that a film doesn’t form on the top) and let cool completely without stirring.
