Boston Cream Pie

Boston Cream Pie

Boston Cream Pie

The Boston cream pie was invented by an Armenian-French chef at the Parker House Hotel in Boston. While not actually a pie, but a cream filled cake, this rich dessert gets its name from being baked in a pie plate. The cake is double layered with a vanilla custard cream in the middle, glazed with a thick chocolate ganache. This cake is so beloved in Massachusetts that it is the official state dessert.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Massachusetts
Keyword: dessert, Massachusetts, USA
Author: Alex Gorgos

Equipment

  • strainer
  • standing mixer
  • 8” springform cake pan
  • parchment paper
  • bread knife

Ingredients

Pastry Cream Filling

  • 8 egg yolks
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 tbsp butter

Yellow Cake

  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 5 tbsp butter
  • 1 cup cake flour + 2 tbsp
  • 1 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

Chocolate Ganache

  • 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 4 oz bittersweet chocolate chopped

Instructions

Pastry Cream Filling

  • Bring the milk to a boil in a small pot. Immediately turn off the heat.
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  • Whisk the egg yolks and sugar together in a bowl. Whisk in the cornstarch.
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  • Whisk in a 1/4 cup of the hot milk into the egg yolk mixture. Then whisk in the rest of the hot milk.
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  • Pour the batter through a strainer back into the pot.
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  • Bring the mixture to a boil over medium high heat; constantly whisking until it is thick. Take off the heat and whisk in the butter and vanilla. Allow to completely Cool.
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Yellow Cake

  • Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl. Set aside.
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  • In a standing mixer, beat the eggs and sugar together for 4 minutes on medium speed.
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  • Melt the butter, vanilla, and milk together in a small pot while the eggs and sugar are mixing.
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  • Turn the mixer down to low speed. Gradually add in the flour.
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  • Slowly pour the milk/butter mixture into the standing mixer. Scrape the sides of the bowl and mix for 30 seconds.
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  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom of a spring form pan with parchment paper. Grease the pan. Pour in the batter.
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  • Bake for 30 minutes. Allow the cake to completely cool on a rack.
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Cake Assembly

  • Using a bread knife, carefully slice the cake in half horizontally.
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  • Place one of the halves of cake bake in the spring form pan.
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  • Pour the pastry cream onto the cake, leaving an inch of space from the outer edge.
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  • Place the other half of the cake cut side up on top of the pastry cream. Wrap in plastic and allow to set in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
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  • Bring the heavy whipping cream to a light simmer over medium heat with the chocolate.
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  • Whisk until the chocolate has completely melted.
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  • Pour the chocolate ganache over the cake. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit overnight in the refrigerator.
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Keep this cake refrigerated.
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Eat this cake within 3 days.