Boston Cream Pie is a special dessert recipe made a bit easier with one shortcut. The pastry cream that goes between the layers is homemade from pure ingredients and the chocolate ganache is classic simple goodness. The cake layers are made from a box mix, carefully chosen for suitablity to this recipe.
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Brief background of the Boston Cream Pie
No, it's not actually a pie. It's a cake. A bit of research reveals that it is a remake of an early American recipe known as "pudding cake-pie". Pie pans were more common in the 1800's than cake pans, and that is probably where the name came from.
The owners of the Parker House Hotel in Boston claim that in 1881 one of their chef's created the first "Boston Cream Pie". It was declared the official dessert of Massachusets in 1996.
Our version of the Boston Cream Pie
There are many variations, but the basics are the same: A two layer, buttery, spongy vanilla cake with a creamy custard in the middle and topped with chocolate ganache.
You can definitely go the super easy route with a box cake and box vanilla pudding for the custard. But we felt that making the custard from scratch resulted in a far superior taste, so we opted for that, along with homemade ganache (because it's easy anyway).
Traditionally Boston Cream Pie is made from one cake layer which has been split horizontally. That makes a smaller cake, but go that route if you like. We made two layers and then trimmed off the highest part of the "dome" to make the layers a bit flatter.
Tips for making pastry cream
It is a bit of a delicate process, but with our tips and recipe you can be sure it will be delicious and perfect.
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- Make the pastry ahead allowing several hours or up to a day to thoroughly chill
- Tempering the egg yolks keeps them from cooking immediately upon being added to the hot milk mixture. This just means gradually bringing the temperature of the eggs down before adding to the milk.
- Whisk constantly as the custard is cooking to keep it creamy. When it thickens it will happen pretty fast, so don't turn your back on it.
- Once it's done, pour it into a bowl and lay plastic wrap directly on the surface before refrigerating. This keeps it from forming a skin on top.
- When thoroughly chilled, take it out and whisk again before spreading on the cake.
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📖 Recipe
Boston Cream Pie Recipe
Ingredients
Cake Layers
- 1 Duncan Hines Classic Butter Golden Cake Mix (has flour) prepared in two round layers, according to instructions
Pastry Cream
- 3 egg yolks
- 3 Tbsp. cornstarch
- 1-⅔ cups whole milk
- ⅔ cup sugar
- 2 tsp. vanilla or 1 vanilla bean, scraped
- 1 Tbsp. butter cut into 4 pieces
Chocolate Ganache
- 6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
- ⅓ cup heavy cream
- 2 Tbsp. light corn syrup
Instructions
Cake Layers
- Prepare 2 round layers (8 or 9") according to package directions and then cool completely.
- If desired slice "dome" off top of layers to make them more flat.
Pastry Cream
- Beat egg yolks in small bowl and then whisk in cornstarch and set aside.
- Combine milk, sugar and vanilla in a heavy saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved and mixture comes to a simmer.
- Set milk mixture off heat and allow to cool for about 10 minutes.
- Stir ½ cup of milk mixture into egg yolk mixture very gradually, whisking constantly.
- Add egg yolk mixture to milk mixture gradually and return to medium heat, whisking constantly until thickened and continue to cook for 1-2 minutes, reducing heat to medium-low.
- Remove from heat and stir in butter until melted and thoroughly mixed.
- Pour pastry cream into a bowl and lay plastic wrap directly on surface. Refrigerate for 4 hours or up to a day before spreading on bottom cake layer and then topping with 2nd cake layer.
Chocolate Ganache
- Heat cream over medium to medium high heat just until it begins to boil and then remove from heat.
- Add chocolate and whisk until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.
- Stir in corn syrup and whisk until smooth.
- Cool 3-4 minutes before pouring over cake, allowing to drizzle down sides.
Notes
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Tawnie Kroll says
This was so flavorful and easy to make. My whole family loved it, thank you!
Pam says
So glad to hear that Tawnie!
Tammy says
Boston Cream Pie is probably one of my absolutely favorite desserts. I wish I could reach in and grab a slice of this beautiful dessert. Cannot wait to make!
Pam says
Yay! Hope you enjoy it Tammy!
Val says
I've been taking a break from sweet treats lately but, I've been wanting to be a little naughty and treat myself to something sweet. This Boston Cream Pie might be it.
Pam says
We won't tell. Thanks, Val.
Monica says
What a fun and crowd-pleasing dessert! These are classic flavors to be sure, and this recipe is so easy to follow. Can't wait to make again!
Pam says
Thanks so much, Monica.
Sara Welch says
What a perfectly fluffy and decadent dessert! Looks worthy of a restaurant, indeed!
Pam says
Oh, wow. Thank you, Sara!
Terri says
Wish you had a homemade cake recipe instead of a mix. Otherwise, it looks great. I’m just not a fan of cake mixes.
Pam says
Terri, you could certainly sub in your favorite yellow cake recipe and then use ours for the pastry cream and ganache. Thanks for checking in!
Alene says
I have to be gluten free, regrettably, but I have lots of gluten free recipes for yellow cakes. And if I am super lazy, there are even gluten free cake mixes. I used one once in a recipe, and it worked just fine. So I am definitely going to make it!
Karen Veneziano says
Its my first time making this recipe. It was very easy to make and very delicious! I'll definitely be making the again.
Anna says
Fine except for the cream filling was not a cream consistency at all. It was not thick at all like that shown in the photos of this recipe. I followed the recipe instructions to an absolute tee and still had a very thin liquid consistency. All the “cream” liquid just ran off the sides of the cake and didn’t stay between the two cake layers as it was supposed too. Very disappointing and misleading recipe. The cream filling in this recipe turns out much more like milk than it does cream. Do not recommend this recipe at all.
Pam says
Anna, We thank you for commenting but we feel that you must have made some mistake in your measurements. Are you sure that you used Tablespoons for measuring your cornstarch and not teaspoons? The recipe was developed and the photos taken of it made according to the recipe exactly. You may have been disappointed, but the recipe is NOT misleading.