Boston Cream Pie is two layers of sponge cake with pastry cream in between and a chocolate glaze poured over the top. Try my Boston Cream Pie Surprise Inside Cake for a layered cake with a pudding filling and a surprise inside.
Boston Cream Pie
This ‘pie’ is actually a layered sponge cake. Since pies were around in America before cakes, most kitchens had pie pans (which were used for cakes and pies). This was probably how the dessert was given a pie name. In December of 1996, the pie was proclaimed as Massachusetts State Dessert. After trying three Boston Cream Pie recipes (and not being completely satisfied with the results) I went for it a fourth time (successfully) with the recipe from Baking Illustrated.
Boston Cream Pie Ingredients
There are three important parts to this recipe–sponge cakes, pastry cream filling, and chocolate glaze. The pastry cream should be made first since it has to be stored in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours, up to 2 days.
Heavy Cream: Heavy cream is used in the chocolate glaze, and it is different than half-and-half. Heavy cream is between 30-36% fat and all cream.
Cornstarch: Cornstarch was used in this recipe (as opposed to flour) to thicken up the cream. Cornstarch is also easier to use in this recipe compared to flour.
Flour: Both cake flour and all-purpose flour were used in the sponge cake recipe.
Light Corn Syrup: Light corn syrup is a natural sweetener. It helps give you a glossy texture in the chocolate glaze. I do not recommend using dark corn syrup in the glaze recipe.
How to Store Boston Cream Pie
Since there is cream in the center of this cake, it will need to be refrigerated. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1-2 days.
More Popular Cakes
Boston Cream Pie
Ingredients
Pastry Cream
- 2 cups half-and-half
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar, divided
- 1 pinch kosher salt
- 5 large egg yolks
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 4 tablespoons (½ stick / 57g) unsalted butter, cold and cut into four pieces
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
Sponge Cake
- ½ cup (50 g) cake flour
- ¼ cup (31 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 tablespoons whole milk
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 5 large eggs, room temperature and divided
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar, divided
Chocolate Glaze
- 1 cup (238 g) heavy cream
- ¼ cup (85 g) light corn syrup
- 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped into small pieces
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Pastry Cream
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the half and half, 6 tablespoons of sugar, and salt. Heat until the mixture starts to simmer, whisking occasionally until the sugar is dissolved.
- While the half and half is simmering, in a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks until combined. Whisk in the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar for about 15 seconds, or the sugar has begun to dissolve. Whisk in the cornstarch and mix until the mixture is light yellow. It will be thick.
- Slowly pour the simmering half and half into the egg yolk mixture, whisking to combine. Pour the mixture back into the saucepan, scraping the sides of the bowl.
- Over medium heat, bring the mixture back to a simmer, whisking constantly. After about 30 seconds, the mixture should thicken and be glossy.
- Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the butter and vanilla. Using a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl, strain the cream. Immediately after straining, cover the surface of the pastry cream with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours, up to 2 days.
Sponge Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray two 8-inch round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray, or prepare with GOOP, and line bottoms of the pans with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together both kinds of flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, add the milk and butter. Heat until butter has melted (20-30 seconds). Cover to keep warm.
- Separate three eggs. In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the three egg whites only. To the egg yolks, add the other two whole eggs and set aside.
- At low speed, beat the egg whites until foamy. Increase the speed to medium and gradually add half of the sugar. Beat until soft peaks form. (Soft peaks will briefly stand on their own before falling back in the mixture.) Transfer the beaten egg whites to a large bowl.
- In the bowl of the stand mixer, add the egg yolks and whole egg mixture. Beat this mixture at medium-high speed with the remaining sugar until the eggs are thick, about 5 minutes. Add these eggs to the beaten egg white mixture.
- Sprinkle the flour mixture over the egg mixture, gently folding about 12 times with a rubber spatula, or until mostly combined.
- In one side of the batter, make a well. Pour the milk and melted butter mixture into the batter and continue to gently fold until there is no trace of flour remaining.
- Pour the batter into the prepared cake pans. Bake for 16-18 minutes, or until the cakes spring back when touched. (Check a few minutes early for doneness.)
- When done, remove the cakes from the oven and immediately loosen the cakes from the pans with an offset spatula. Invert each cake onto a large plate or serving platter. Remove parchment paper and flip each cake over again onto a wire rack. Let the cakes cool to room temperature before continuing with the recipe.
Glaze
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add heavy cream and corn syrup. Bring to a simmer.
- Once at a full simmer, remove from heat and add the chocolate pieces. Cover and let stand for 8 minutes, or until the chocolate has melted.
- Gently stir in the vanilla until the mixture is smooth. Allow glaze to cool to lukewarm. (If put in the refrigerator to cool, stir every few minutes.)
Assembly
- While the glaze is cooling, place one of the cooled sponge cakes onto a cardboard round or a cake stand. Spread the pastry filling evenly over the cake to the edges.
- Place the second cake on top. Pour the glaze onto the middle of the cake and let it flow down the sides of the cake.
- Let the cake sit for about an hour, or until the glaze has set. The cake is best served the same day.
Did you make this recipe?
Thank you for making my recipe! You took pictures, right? Well go ahead and post them on Instagram! Be sure to mention me @iambaker and use the hashtag #YouAreBaker.
Great recipe… Love it 😍 😍
Can I ask what’s the half and half?
Hi, Diane! I work with iambaker and am happy to help with questions. Half and half is equal parts milk and cream. You can usually find it next to milk, whipping cream, and heavy cream at your local grocery store. Have a great day!
Amanda pleade tell me if. this sponge cake will be ok to use in a. jelly roll cake or slso called log. cake. thank you.
Hi mam..sufana.. Frm India….May i know..what is half and half means
Hi, Sufana! I work with iambaker and am happy to help with questions. Half and half is equal parts milk and cream. You can usually find it next to milk, whipping cream, and heavy cream at your local grocery store. I hope this helps, and have a great day!
The layers were thin .I followed method I was taught in culinary school…. I beat the eggs, butter and sugar , added the rest of wet ingredients then added the dry ingredients using cake flour ( I wont make a cake recipe with all purpose flour) and my cake was not dry . Next time I will double the batter.
I highly recommend following this recipe AS WRITTEN. This recipe was tested several times until we were able to replicate the desired results perfectly. Adjusting the process will result in less-than-desired results.
Yummiest cream pie ever!! Next time I will let it sit according to recipe. I just couldn’t resisit!!
Hi there! I made this recipe last night delish however I had trouble with the glaze. I let it become lukewarm before I poured it in the center and run down the side s however it was really runny. Most of it ran off the cake and onto the cake stand. So I ended up with a very thin layer of glaze. Any suggestions? Thx!
Hi Stephanie! I just posted this recipe so maybe you made a recipe from a different website? In which case I don’t know what the measurements for your glaze were so wouldn’t be able to effectively troubleshoot.
Why do people make your recipies but wont follow the directions then bitch about it Go figure.
Hi. Can you please tell me what is Cake flour? I have Self rising flour and All purpose flour. Can you give me an example or a photo of the box please. Thanks
Hi, Teya! I work with iambaker and am happy to help with questions. Cake flour is flour with very low protein. Here is a link to make your own cake flour if you don’t have any on hand. I hope this helps, and have a wonderful day!
Made this today and it was delicious 😋.I halfed the recipe because I didn’t want to eat it all in one day. Mine doesn’t look as nice but it tastes delicious. My pregnant self used cravings as an excuse to get the bigger piece.