Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and position rack in center of oven

Step 2

Grease bottom only of cake pans with butter and flour/cake spray and for added measure, line bottom of pans with parchment paper (DO NOT grease the sides of the pan or your spongecake may not rise properly)

Step 3

Combine flour with salt in a small bowl and set aside.

Step 4

In a standing mixer, whip the egg whites on medium-low speed until foamy (not stiff) and then add the cream of tartar and continue mixing until the whites become opaque

Step 5

Add 1/2 cup sugar slowly to the side of the bowl and increase the speed of the mixer until soft but not stiff peaks form. Scrape the contents to another bowl and set aside

Step 6

Using the same bowl, which is now empty, add the egg yolks and whip at high speed for 3 to 5 minutes until lightened in color and the mixture "ribbons" when the beaters are raised

Step 7

Slowly add the remaining sugar (ie, 1/2 cup), cold water, and vanilla into the egg yolks and mix until combined on low speed

Step 8

Sift the flour onto the egg yolks in two additions, and stir gently with large spatula to combine.

Step 9

Gently but thoroughly fold in the whipped egg whites

Step 10

Transfer mixture to prepared pans and bake for about 20 to 30 minutes until cooked through; using 3 pans, I only needed 20 minutes.

Step 11

Remove from oven, cool for about 10 minutes in the pans and then carefully remove the cakes from the pan (see next step).

Step 12

To prevent tearing or crumbling around the edges, I carefully use a knife to loosen the edges with a gentle up-and-down sawing motion (not gliding the knife around), ensuring a smooth release of the cake without damaging its sides.

Step 13

After fully cooled, wrap and refrigerate or freeze.

Step 14

Note that the heavy cream gets whipped separately and is added to the finished pastry cream AFTER it has been cooked and cooled. I do this just before I'm getting ready to assemble the cake.

Step 15

In a small bowl, add egg yolks and cornstarch. Whisk to blend and set aside

Step 16

In a medium saucepan, add milk, sugar, salt, and vanilla OR chocolate (depending on if you are making the chocolate or the vanilla cream [you will repeat all of these steps to make the other flavor)Heat until small bubbles form (scalded) and remove from heat.

Step 17

Temper eggs by adding small amounts (about 1/2 cup/4 ounces) of the hot milk mixture, a little at a time, while whisking very QUICKLY to prevent the eggs from curdling.

Step 18

After all of the milk mixture has been added into the eggs/cornstarch, return everything to the saucepan and cook over medium heat and stir constantly until thickened. The mixture thickens quickly (depending on how hight heat is)!! Stir fast and furious with whisk!Continue to heat and stir until it has stopped thickening.

Step 19

Cool the pastry cream and refrigerate until ready to use (this is when you do the last step below, adding the whipped cream). TIP: when folding in the whipped cream during next step, you must rewhip the pastry cream if it has set.

Step 20

When ready to assemble the cake, whip heavy cream until soft peaks form (overbeating will cause it to turn to butter) and then fold together with cooled pastry cream (rewhip the pastry cream first if it has been refrigerated and/or it has firmed up a lot).

Step 21

Repeat all these steps for other flavor (chocolate or vanilla).

Step 22

Add gelatin and water to a small saucepan and heat gently just until the gelatin dissolves. Do not let the mixture set. If the gelatin cools too much you will have lumps or threads of gelatin in your whipped cream.

Step 23

Whip the cream and sugar using a standing mixer until the mixture is slightly thickened.

Step 24

Add the gelatin mixture slowly and then increase speed to high and continue whipping until the frosting is firm.

Step 25

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and heat over medium-high heat until sugar dissolves and then cool or store in refrigerator.

Step 26

Using a teaspoon or small squeeze bottle, distribute the rum syrup evenly over each of the three cake layers.

Step 27

Place one cake layer on the bottom of an 8- or 10-inch cake board or cake dish (you may spread some frosting between the dish and bottom layer to prevent the cake from shifting)

Step 28

Spread all of the vanilla pastry cream on top on the bottom layer and then top with another layer of sponge cake. Spread all of the chocolate pastry cream on top of middle layer and then top with final layer of sponge cake

Step 29

Frost cake, and add generous amount of crushed peanuts or sliced almonds to the sides of the cake. (if you have refrigerated the frosting (made ahead) you may have to rewhip it.

Step 30

Decorate the top if desired and refrigerate until serving.