Boston Cream Pie | Life, Love and Sugar

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This traditional Boston cream pie is made with two layers of sunshine vanilla sponge cake crammed with wealthy vanilla pastry cream and topped with shiny, wealthy chocolate ganache. Opposite to the title, it’s a cake and never a pie! Straightforward to make and utterly scrumptious, you will adore it!

Why You’ll Love This Boston Cream Pie Recipe

Fluffy cake, pastry cream, and chocolate!? What’s to not love? This dessert is each gentle in texture and wealthy. The perfected mixture. Let me fill you in on a few of the issues that make this Boston cream pie top-of-the-line.

• Texture. I really like the textural distinction of the layers of sunshine, fluffy cake subsequent to the sleek, luscious pastry cream. Who may say no to that?
• Style. It is a vanilla and chocolate mixture that’s traditional, easy and so good collectively. The sunshine vanilla cake, wealthy vanilla pastry cream and chocolatey glaze marry collectively fantastically.
• Presentation. Elegant but approachable, there’s little question that Boston cream pie is sweet to have a look at. The way in which the shiny chocolate ganache drapes over the fluffy yellow cake layers and pastry cream makes for one inviting edible artwork piece.
• Surprisingly straightforward. It may appear intimidating to make pastry cream, cake, and chocolate ganache however, actually, every of those parts is definitely tremendous easy to throw collectively. You are able to do it!

What Is Boston Cream Pie?

Much less of a pie and extra of a cake, this traditional American dessert originated within the 1800s in – you guessed it – Boston! It’s comprised of layers of vanilla sponge cake divided by a easy vanilla pastry cream. The dessert is topped with a luscious chocolate ganache and served chilly. Why is it known as a “pie”? As a result of way back, truffles had been really baked in pie tins.

Recipe Components

Right here’s what you’ll must make this straightforward Boston cream pie recipe and few notable suggestions. Make sure you scroll to the recipe card beneath for exact measurements.

• Egg yolks – Begin with room-temperature eggs. Chilly eggs can have a tough time mixing easily and simply into the opposite substances. Make sure you use massive eggs, not medium or additional massive.
• Cornstarch – This helps to thicken the pastry cream, together with the eggs.
• Milk – Milk kinds the bottom of the pastry cream. The next fats content material offers you the creamiest texture. I like to recommend entire milk.
• Vanilla extract – For taste. I like to recommend a superb high quality extract, since lots of the flavour of your cream and total cake comes from the vanilla.
• All-purpose flour – Make sure you measure it correctly. An excessive amount of flour offers you a dry cake. I like to recommend a meals scale, however it’s also possible to use the spoon and degree methodology.
• Semi-sweet chocolate chips – Milk or darkish chocolate chips would additionally work, however will change the consistency of your glaze. Milk chocolate will make it slightly thinner and darkish chocolate will make it slightly thicker
• Corn syrup – This lends a prettier shiny end to the chocolate glaze, however you may go away it out, if you need.
• Heavy whipping cream – Don’t change this within the glaze with one thing else, like milk. It would skinny out your glaze.

Find out how to Make Boston Cream Pie

Right here’s a fast overview of learn how to make Boston cream pie. Don’t overlook to scroll to the recipe card beneath for extra detailed directions.

To make the pastry cream

• Beat. Beat the egg yolks collectively gently.
• Cook dinner. Whisk collectively the sugar and cornstarch in a big saucepan after which whisk within the milk. Cook dinner over medium warmth till the combination begins to thicken and simmer.
• Mood. Whisk slightly little bit of the milk combination into the egg yolks. Add the egg combination to take advantage of combination.
• Cook dinner. Deliver the pastry cream to a lightweight boil and prepare dinner for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
• End it off. Take away the saucepan from the warmth and stir within the butter and vanilla extract.
• Chill. Pour the pastry cream right into a bowl, cowl with clear wrap pressed in opposition to the highest, and chill within the fridge for 1-2 hours.

To make the cake layers

• Prep. Line the bottoms of two 9-inch cake pans with parchment paper, grease the edges, and preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Mix the dry substances. Whisk collectively the flour, baking powder, and salt.
• Whip. Whip the eggs, sugar, and vanilla extract on excessive velocity till pale and fluffy.
• Warmth. Warmth the milk and butter till the butter is melted and the combination could be very sizzling.
• Add dry substances. Fold half of the dry substances into the whipped egg combination after which fold within the remaining dry substances.

• Add sizzling milk. Gently whisk within the sizzling milk combination.
• Bake. Divide the batter between the cake pans and bake for 20-23 minutes.
• Cool. Enable the truffles to chill of their pans for 2-3 minutes earlier than turning them out onto cooling racks to chill utterly.

To complete off the cake

• Make the chocolate glaze. Mix the chocolate chips and corn syrup in a bowl. Warmth the heavy cream till simply boiling and pour it over the chocolate chip combination. Enable to take a seat for 1-2 minutes, then whisk till easy.
• Clean. Give the pastry cream a stir to easy it out.

• Assemble. Take away the domes from the tops of the truffles and place one cake on a serving platter. Unfold the pastry cream over the cake layer and high it with the second cake layer. Pour the chocolate excessive of the cake, then unfold out in the direction of the perimeters.
• Chill. Refrigerate the cake till able to serve.

Making the Pastry Cream

Pastry cream isn’t exhausting to make, however it have to be thickened correctly to have success. The eggs have to be tempered correctly so that you simply don’t get scramble eggs and a lumpy cream. It additionally must be thickened sufficient, however not a lot that the cornstarch and eggs break down. Hold the following tips in thoughts for the very best outcomes.

• Cautious with warmth. Resist the temptation to show up the warmth with a view to prepare dinner the pastry cream extra shortly. Deliver it to a boil slowly in order that it will get an opportunity to thicken correctly.
• Get the timing proper. You need to prepare dinner the pastry cream lengthy sufficient for the egg yolks to prepare dinner and work their thickening magic however not so lengthy that the cornstarch begins to interrupt down. Don’t boil it for too lengthy.
• Mood. Pour a little bit of the recent milk combination into the egg yolks whereas whisking them collectively earlier than folding the egg combination into the majority of the recent milk. It will preserve the eggs from scrambling.
• Pressure it. If you happen to discover your cream seems to be slightly lumpy, you may pressure it to take away the lumps previous to chilling it.
• Chill. The pastry cream will thicken whereas cooking, however nonetheless could appear a bit skinny and never but thick sufficient for the cake. It would agency up within the fridge. Let it chill for at the very least an hour or two, or till it develops an virtually gelatin-like, thick texture.

Suggestions for Success

This straightforward recipe for Boston cream pie is fairly foolproof however you’ll need to pay shut consideration to those easy suggestions and tips in case your aim is to get it proper the primary time.

• Room temperature eggs. When making the pastry cream and the cake, you’ll want to begin with room-temperature eggs. Chilly eggs is not going to combine easily and simply into the pastry cream, making it harder to realize the specified, easy end result. On the subject of the cake batter, room-temperature eggs will maintain quantity higher than chilly ones, permitting you to realize a lighter, fluffier cake.
• Whip whip whip. When whipping collectively the eggs, sugar, and vanilla for the cake batter, achieve this till the combination has considerably lightened in shade and has grow to be fluffy. This course of incorporates air into the combination, supplying you with a splendidly gentle and fluffy cake.
• Don’t over-mix. When combing the moist and dry substances for the cake batter, watch out to not over-mix. This may trigger the glutens within the flour to overdevelop leading to a dense, robust cake.
• Scorching milk. It may appear superfluous to warmth the milk and butter earlier than including them to the cake batter however don’t skip this step. It would assist stop the glutens from overdeveloping and you’ll, consequently, end up with a way more tender, fluffy cake.
• Cool. Enable the truffles to chill utterly earlier than assembling. In any other case, the pastry cream and the ganache will soften.
• Stir. Earlier than filling the cake, give the pastry cream a radical stirring to easy it out.

Find out how to Retailer Boston Cream Pie

• Fridge. Seal the cake in an hermetic cake provider or one thing comparable. If you happen to don’t have one, pop the cake within the fridge for just a few hours to agency up earlier than wrapping it in a double layer of plastic wrap. You may also prepare slices of Boston cream in a single layer in an hermetic container. Nonetheless you select to do it, you may retailer your leftovers within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
• Freezer/Prepping forward. I don’t suggest freezing a full Boston Cream Pie. The pastry cream can cut up when it thaws, leaving you with a multitude. If you happen to’d wish to freeze issues for prepping forward, you may make the cake layers forward and freeze these, then thaw them within the fridge earlier than utilizing. You may also make the pastry cream a day or so forward after which layer every part collectively previous to serving it.

Extra Boston Cream Desserts

If you happen to like this traditional Boston cream pie, you will love a few of my different variations. Right here they’re.

Watch Find out how to Make Boston Cream Pie

Learn Transcript

This recipe was up to date 11/27/2023. For the unique recipe from 2018, obtain this PDF.

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Recipe

Boston Cream Pie

• 
  Writer: Life Love and Sugar
• 
  Prep Time: 45 minutes
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  Chill Time: 1 hour
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  Cook dinner Time: 35 minutes
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  Whole Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
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  Yield: 12-14 servings
• 
  Class: Dessert
• 
  Methodology: Oven
• 
  Delicacies: American

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Description

This traditional Boston cream pie is made with two layers of sunshine vanilla sponge cake crammed with wealthy vanilla pastry cream and topped with shiny, wealthy chocolate ganache. Opposite to the title, it’s a cake and never a pie! Straightforward to make and utterly scrumptious, you will adore it!

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Components

Pastry Cream

• 4 massive egg yolks, room temperature
• 3/4 cup (155g) sugar
• 4 tbsp (32g) cornstarch
• 2 cups (480ml) entire milk, room temperature
• 2 tbsp (28g) unsalted butter
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

Sponge Cake

• 1 3/4 cups (228g) all-purpose flour (measured correctly)
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 massive eggs, room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups (310g) sugar
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup (180ml) entire milk
• 1/2 cup (112g) unsalted butter

Chocolate Glaze

• 6 oz (1 cup) semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 tbsp corn syrup
• 1/2 cup (120ml) heavy whipping cream

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Directions

To make the pastry cream:

1. Put the egg yolks in a medium sized bowl and gently beat them collectively. Put aside.
2. Add the sugar and cornstarch to a big saucepan and whisk collectively till no extra lumps of cornstarch stay, then add the milk.
3. Cook dinner, stirring constantly, over medium warmth till combination simply begins to thicken and simmer. Watch out to not boil it.
4. Add slightly little bit of the milk combination to the egg yolks and shortly whisk collectively, then add the egg combination to take advantage of combination, placing all of it again within the pan. This course of ensures that you simply don’t prepare dinner the egg yolks too shortly and get scrambled eggs.
5. Place the pan again on the warmth and produce to a lightweight boil. It is best to see massive bubbles popping on high. Enable to boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Don’t boil for too lengthy, or you may overcook it and it’ll really break down, relatively than get thicker.
6. Take away from warmth and add the butter and vanilla extract. Stir till easy, then pour right into a bowl and canopy with clear wrap pressed in opposition to the highest in order that it doesn’t get a movie on high. If you happen to discover your cream is lump, you may pressure it. Set within the fridge to chill utterly, 1-2 hours.

To make the cake layers:

1. Put together two 9-inch cake pans with parchment paper circles within the backside and grease the edges. Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C).
2. Mix flour, baking powder and salt in a medium sized bowl. Put aside.
3. Add the eggs, sugar and vanilla extract to a big mixer bowl and whip on excessive velocity till pale, fluffy and thickened, about 4 minutes.
4. Whereas the eggs are whipping, warmth the milk and butter till the butter is melted and the combination could be very sizzling. It doesn’t must be boiling, however it needs to be highly regarded.
5. Add half of the dry substances to the whipped egg combination and gently fold collectively till principally mixed. Add the remaining dry substances to the egg combination and gently fold collectively till simply properly mixed.
6. Add the recent milk combination to the batter and gently whisk collectively till properly mixed.
7. Divide the batter evenly between the ready cake pans and bake for 20-23 minutes, or till a toothpick inserted in the midst of the truffles comes out clear.
8. Take away the truffles from the oven and permit to chill for 2-3 minutes, then take away to a cooling rack to complete cooling.

To complete off the cake:

1. When the pastry cream and truffles have cooled utterly, make the chocolate glaze. Add the chocolate chips and corn syrup to a medium measurement bowl.
2. Warmth the heavy whipping cream simply till it begins to boil, then pour over the chocolate chips and corn syrup. Enable to take a seat for 1-2 minutes, then whisk till easy.
3. Pour the chocolate excessive of the cake, then unfold out in the direction of the perimeters, letting a few of the chocolate drip down the edges.
4. Refrigerate cake till able to serve. Retailer in an air-tight provider, if doable. The cake is finest if eaten inside 3-4 days.

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Notes

• • Fridge storage. Seal the cake in an hermetic cake provider or one thing comparable. If you happen to don’t have one, pop the cake within the fridge for just a few hours to agency up earlier than wrapping it in a double layer of plastic wrap. You may also prepare slices of Boston cream in a single layer in an hermetic container. Nonetheless you select to do it, you may retailer your leftovers within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
  • Freezing/Prepping forward. I don’t suggest freezing a full Boston Cream Pie. The pastry cream can cut up when it thaws, leaving you with a multitude. If you happen to’d wish to freeze issues for prepping forward, you may make the cake layers forward and freeze these, then thaw them within the fridge earlier than utilizing. You may also make the pastry cream a day or so forward after which layer every part collectively previous to serving it.

Diet

• Serving Dimension: 1 Slice
• Energy: 479
• Sugar: 39.1 g
• Sodium: 132 mg
• Fats: 23.8 g
• Carbohydrates: 57.7 g
• Protein: 10.6 g
• Ldl cholesterol: 135.2 mg

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