Dome Cake (Italian Zuccotto)

Zuccotto is a famous Italian dessert believed to have originated in Florence. Zuccotto is derived from the Italian word for pumpkin, "zucca". It is assembled by lining up softened ladyfingers or a sponge cake around the mold to create the frame of the cake, while the center is filled with a delicious, creamy filling. Finally, the cake is turned upside down before serving. It is believed that the unusual appearance of this dessert was designed to resemble the famous dome of the Florence Cathedral. The recipe is an ancient Italian creation, dating back to the 16th century, and it is believed that the famous Bernardo Buountalenti, the man who invented gelato, actually created the first zuccotto. The original zuccotto filling was prepared with chocolate syrup that was layered between the mixture of dried fruits and nuts. However, the original zuccotto was reinvented in the 20th century, and it was adapted to fit the current confectionery trends. Today, zuccotto fillings are usually made with ice cream, whipped cream, or ricotta. The mixtures are highly variable and can include numerous flavours such as almond, vanilla, or citrus, and can be modified with the addition of nuts, fruits, brandy, or chocolate chips.

1 layer Victoria sponge baked in a 9" tin or a pound cake, cut into ½" slices
2 oz + 1 Tbsp. your choice of liqueur (60 mL)
4 oz semisweet chocolate, broken into pieces (113 g)
2 oz dark chocolate, grated (57 g)
18 oz heavy/whipping cream, divided (530 mL)
4 tsp. instant espresso-coffee powder, divided
1 recipe Italian pastry cream

Garnish:
grated chocolate or chocolate curls for decoration

Italian Pastry Cream (Crema Pasticcera):
4 egg yolks
3.5 oz sugar (100 g)
2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour, unbleached (30 g)
17 oz milk (500 mL)
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Line a 2½ qt bowl with plastic wrap. Have it much larger than you need to cover the top later.

Place one slice in the bottom of the bowl. If you're using a loaf cake, cut slices and then triangles and fill the bowl like a jigsaw puzzle to cover every spot, so that the entire bowl is covered.

Slice a few pieces of the other half of the cake into strips.