Fluffy Boston Cream Pie Recipe: A Heavenly Classic Dessert

Crafting a delightful boston cream pie sparks joy in every baker’s kitchen.

Sweet memories flood back with this classic dessert’s creamy layers.

Silky pastry cream nestles between tender cake rounds, creating pure magic.

Chocolate ganache drizzled on top adds a luxurious finish that makes hearts sing.

Baking champions know this treat requires patience and precise technique.

Delicate and indulgent, this recipe promises to become your new favorite showstopper.

You’ll fall in love with every decadent bite of this iconic American dessert.

What Makes Boston Cream Pie a Timeless Dessert

• Craft with Confidence: Perfect for bakers wanting to level up their skills, this recipe offers a delightful challenge without overwhelming complexity.
• No-Fuss Crowd-Pleaser: Impress family and friends with a classic dessert that looks sophisticated but is totally manageable for home cooks.
• Versatile Celebration Treat: Ideal for birthdays, potlucks, dinner parties, or any special occasion that calls for a show-stopping dessert.
• Sweet Layers of Love: Combines creamy pastry cream, tender cake, and rich chocolate ganache in a harmonious blend that guarantees smiles with every bite.

Ingredients for Boston Cream Pie

• All-Purpose Flour: A key ingredient that provides structure and texture to the cake.
• Baking Powder: Helps the cake rise and become light and fluffy.
• Kosher Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the cake.

• Eggs, Sugar: Create a rich, pale, and fluffy base for the cake batter.
• Milk, Butter: Add moisture and richness to the cake, creating a tender crumb.
• Vanilla: Provides a classic, warm flavor to the cake.

• Milk: Forms the liquid base for the creamy filling.
• Egg Yolks, Sugar: Create a smooth and thick custard-like cream.
• Cornstarch: Helps thicken the pastry cream and provide a silky texture.
• Butter: Adds richness and a smooth finish to the pastry cream.

• Heavy Whipping Cream: Creates a smooth and glossy ganache.
• Chocolate: Provides a rich, decadent topping for the cake.

How to Prepare Boston Cream Pie

Step 1: Prepare Creamy Pastry Filling

Warm milk in a saucepan over medium heat until it simmers. In a separate bowl, whisk egg yolks and sugar until light and fluffy.

Sift cornstarch into the mixture and blend until smooth. Slowly add hot milk to temper the eggs, stirring constantly.

Strain the mixture back into the saucepan and cook over medium-high heat, whisking continuously until it thickens and bubbles. Remove from heat and stir in butter until fully incorporated.

Cover with plastic wrap touching the surface and refrigerate until completely chilled.

Step 2: Mix Cake Batter Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Kosher salt

Whisk the dry ingredients thoroughly and set aside.

In a mixer, beat eggs and sugar until pale and fluffy, about 4 minutes. The mixture should create ribbons when the beater is lifted.

Step 3: Create Liquid Mixture

Melt butter and heat milk together in a microwave-safe container. Reduce mixer speed and gradually add dry ingredients to the egg mixture.

Stir vanilla into the hot milk, then slowly incorporate into the batter.

Step 4: Bake the Cake

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Prepare an 8-inch round cake pan with baking spray or butter and flour. Add parchment paper to the bottom.

Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean, approximately 33 minutes.

Step 5: Cool and Slice Cake

Let the cake cool in the pan briefly, then transfer to a wire rack. Once completely cool, slice horizontally into two even layers.

Step 6: Assemble the Cake

Place bottom cake layer on a serving plate. Spread chilled pastry cream evenly, leaving a 1-inch border.

Gently place the top cake layer, pressing slightly to distribute the cream.

Step 7: Prepare Chocolate Ganache

Heat heavy whipping cream in the microwave until steaming.

Add finely chopped chocolate and let sit for 5 minutes. Stir until smooth and glossy.

Step 8: Finish and Serve

Pour ganache over the chilled cake, spreading evenly to the edges. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving to allow everything to set perfectly.

Expert Tips for Fluffy Boston Cream Pie

• Temper egg yolks carefully by slowly adding hot milk to prevent scrambling and ensure a smooth, silky pastry cream.
• Cool pastry cream with plastic wrap directly touching the surface to prevent skin formation and maintain a creamy texture.
• Use room temperature eggs for better cake volume and whip them until pale and fluffy for a light, airy sponge.
• Chill the assembled cake for at least two hours to allow pastry cream to set and flavors to meld together perfectly.
• Create a perfectly smooth ganache by letting chocolate sit in hot cream without stirring, then gently mixing for a glossy finish.

Variations to Try with Boston Cream Pie

• Gluten-Free Boston Cream Pie: Replace all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour blend, ensuring a celiac-friendly dessert that maintains the classic creamy texture and rich chocolate topping.
• Dairy-Free Chocolate Dream: Swap milk and butter with coconut milk and coconut oil, creating a luscious alternative for those with dairy restrictions while preserving the cake's signature flavors.
• Low-Sugar Wellness Version: Use monk fruit sweetener instead of sugar, reducing calorie content and creating a diabetic-friendly option that doesn't compromise on taste or creamy indulgence.
• Vegan Chocolate Cream Cake: Substitute eggs with aquafaba, use plant-based milk, and create a cashew-based cream filling to deliver a completely plant-based rendition of this beloved dessert.

Pairings That Enhance Boston Cream Pie

• Select a Moscato d'Asti with light, fizzy sweetness that complements the cake's creamy texture and chocolate ganache, balancing the dessert's rich flavors without overwhelming the palate.
• Brew a smooth medium-roast coffee with subtle caramel notes that will enhance the vanilla and chocolate elements, creating a harmonious flavor profile that accentuates the Boston cream pie's delicate taste.
• Mix a classic White Russian cocktail featuring vodka, coffee liqueur, and cream, which mirrors the cake's creamy custard and provides a decadent adult beverage that matches the dessert's luxurious character.

How to Store Boston Cream Pie Correctly

• Store the Boston Cream Pie in an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap. Keep in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days to maintain freshness and prevent bacterial growth.
• Wrap the entire cake tightly in plastic wrap, then in aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving to preserve texture and flavor.
• Wrap each slice separately in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze up to 1 month. Thaw in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours before enjoying.

FAQs

• What ingredients make the pastry cream smooth and creamy?

The pastry cream gets its smooth texture from whisking egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch together, then gradually incorporating hot milk while constantly whisking to prevent lumps.

• How do I know when the cake batter is properly mixed?

The cake batter is ready when the egg and sugar mixture becomes pale, thick, and fluffy, and when it leaves a trail when the beater is lifted, which takes about 4 minutes of mixing.

• Why is it important to temper the egg mixture when making pastry cream?

Tempering prevents the eggs from scrambling by slowly introducing hot milk, which raises the egg mixture’s temperature gradually and creates a smooth, silky custard base.

Boston Cream Pie Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.9 from 9 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 48 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Delightful Boston Cream Pie showcases layers of vanilla sponge cake filled with silky custard and topped with rich chocolate ganache. Bakers appreciate this classic American dessert for its perfect balance of flavors and elegant presentation.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 large eggs (at room temperature)
• 1 cup (240 ml) cane sugar
• 5 tbsps (70 g) unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup (120 ml) whole milk
• 1 cup plus 2 tbsps (140 g) all-purpose flour
• 1.25 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 6 egg yolks (at room temperature)
• 2/3 cup (130 g) sugar
• 1/4 cup (30 g) cornstarch
• 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups (480 ml) whole milk
• 1 tbsp (14 g) unsalted butter
• 4 oz (115 g) bittersweet chocolate (finely chopped)
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) heavy whipping cream

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Heat milk in a saucepan until simmering, then remove from heat and set aside.
2. Whisk egg yolks and sugar until light and thick. Sift cornstarch into the mixture and whisk until smooth.
3. Temper egg mixture by slowly incorporating 1/4 cup of hot milk, then add remaining milk.
4. Strain the mixture back into the saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat, whisking constantly until thickened and bubbling. Continue cooking for 1-2 minutes.
5. Remove from heat, stir in butter until fully integrated. Cover with plastic wrap touching the surface and refrigerate until chilled.
6. Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare an 8-inch cake pan with baking spray, parchment paper, and additional flour coating.
7. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl.
8. Beat eggs and sugar until pale and fluffy, approximately 4 minutes.
9. Melt butter in milk using microwave in 30-second intervals.
10. Gradually add dry ingredients to egg mixture. Incorporate vanilla and hot milk mixture, beating until combined.
11. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake for 33 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean and cake edges pull away from pan.
12. Cool cake in pan briefly, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
13. Slice cake horizontally into two layers. Place bottom layer on serving plate and spread chilled pastry cream, leaving a 1-inch border.
14. Position top cake layer gently. Refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight, covering if chilling longer.
15. For ganache, heat cream until steaming. Add chopped chocolate and let sit for 5 minutes.
16. Stir chocolate and cream until smooth. Pour over chilled cake, spreading evenly to edges.

Notes

• Temper eggs carefully by slowly adding hot milk to prevent scrambling, ensuring a smooth, silky pastry cream.
• Use room temperature eggs for the cake batter to create a more uniform, lighter texture that rises evenly.
• Chill the pastry cream thoroughly before assembling to help it set and prevent sliding between cake layers.
• For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend, maintaining the same measurements.

• Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 33 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 368 kcal
• Sugar: 32 g
• Sodium: 117 mg
• Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 12 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
• Trans Fat: 0.3 g
• Carbohydrates: 38 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 123 mg