Boston Cream Pie
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With its tender sponge cake layers, rich custard filling, and luscious chocolate glaze, Boston Cream Pie is an iconic and wicked-good American dessert.
Boston cream pie is a classic American dessert with layers of tender sponge cake, rich vanilla pastry cream, and a decadent chocolate glaze. Don’t let the name fool you—it’s all cake, no pie! First created in the 19th century at Boston’s Parker House Hotel, it was originally called the “Parker House Chocolate Cream Pie” and quickly became a beloved favorite.
The secret to a truly great Boston cream pie is a cake that stays moist and flavorful even when chilled, as it must be refrigerated due to the custard filling. I rely on a hot milk sponge cake adapted from Alice Medrich—it’s simple to make and ideal for this dessert. I also add a hint of rum to the filling, which complements the vanilla and chocolate flavors. This small touch makes the dessert feel extra special without veering from its classic roots.
“I’ve tried many recipes for BCP. This is now my go to. Perfection.”
What You’ll Need To Make Boston Cream Pie
- Whole milk: Adds creaminess to the pastry cream and keeps the cake moist.
- Unsalted butter: Enriches the pastry cream and cake batter.
- Egg yolks and Whole Eggs: Provide richness and structure to the pastry cream and cake.
- Sugar: Sweetens the pastry cream, cake, and soaking syrup.
- Cornstarch: Thickens the pastry cream.
- Vanilla extract: Adds a warm, aromatic flavor to the pastry cream and cake.
- Rum: Adds depth and a subtle boozy note to the pastry cream and soaking syrup.
- Cake flour: Creates a light, tender crumb in the cake.
- Baking powder: Leavens the cake for a soft, airy texture.
- Heavy cream: Provides richness and a smooth texture to the chocolate ganache.
- Bittersweet chocolate: Creates a luscious, glossy ganache with a rich cocoa flavor.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Make the Custard Filling
Pour the milk into a medium saucepan and add the butter. Place over medium heat and bring to a boil, keeping a close eye on it so it doesn’t boil over.
In a large bowl, add the egg yolks, sugar, cornstarch, and salt. While whisking, slowly pour in about ¼ cup of the hot milk mixture, mixing until incorporated.
Gradually whisk in the remaining hot milk mixture. Pour the contents of the bowl back into the pot and cook over medium heat.
Whisk constantly, until thickened and bubbling, then reduce the heat and cook for one minute more. Off the heat, stir in the vanilla and rum. Pour the mixture into a medium bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until cool.
Step 2: Make the Sponge Cake Layers
Preheat the oven to 350°F and set prepare two 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper and nonstick cooking spray. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, salt, and baking powder.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk or beaters, add the whole eggs, egg yolks, sugar, and vanilla. Whip at high speed for 3 to 4 minutes until the batter is pale and voluminous.
Add half of the flour mixture over the eggs and fold with a whisk until the flour is almost blended into the batter. Repeat with the remaining half of the flour mixture. Heat the milk and butter in a small saucepan until the butter is melted and the mixture is extremely hot. Pour all of the hot milk mixture over the batter and whisk until combined.
Divide the batter evenly into the prepared pans. Bake for about 15 minutes, until the cakes are set and golden. Let cool for about 20 minutes, then invert onto a rack to cool completely.
Step 3: Make the Soaking Syrup
Combine the water and sugar in a small pan and heat until the sugar dissolves. Off the heat, add the rum and set aside to cool.
Step 4: Make the Chocolate Ganache Glaze
In a small saucepan, bring the heavy cream to a boil. Off the heat, add the chocolate. Let sit for 1 minute to soften the chocolate, then whisk until combined and smooth.
Step 5: Assemble
To assemble the “pie,” place one cake layer on a serving platter. Brush it with half of the soaking syrup. Spread the pastry cream filling evenly over top.
Brush the cake with the remaining soaking syrup. Pour the ganache onto the center of the cake.
Use an offset spatula to spread the ganache to the edge of the cake, letting excess drip decoratively down sides. Set the cake aside for 30 minutes to allow the chocolate to set before slicing and serving, or refrigerate until ready to serve, up to 1 day ahead of time; freeze for longer storage.
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Boston Cream Pie
With its tender sponge cake layers, rich custard filling, and luscious chocolate glaze, Boston Cream Pie is an iconic and wicked-good American dessert.
Ingredients
For the Pastry Cream Filling
- 1¾ cups whole milk
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 egg yolks
- ⅔ cup sugar
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon rum
For the Cake Layers
- 1 cup cake flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled off
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 3 large eggs, at room temperature
- 2 large egg yolks, at room temperature
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup whole milk
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
For the Soaking Syrup
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon rum
For the Chocolate Ganache Topping
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 4 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped
Instructions
For the Pastry Cream
- Pour the milk into a medium saucepan and add the butter. Place over medium heat and bring to a boil, keeping a close eye on it so it doesn't boil over. Immediately remove from the heat and set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks, sugar, cornstarch, and salt until pale and no lumps remain, 1 to 2 minutes (the mixture will be very thick at first). While whisking, slowly pour in about ¼ cup of the hot milk mixture, mixing until incorporated. Gradually whisk in the remaining hot milk mixture. Pour the contents of the bowl back into the pot and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until thickened and bubbling, a few minutes. Reduce the heat to low and cook, whisking constantly, for one minute more. Off the heat, stir in the vanilla and rum. Pour the mixture into a medium bowl; cover with plastic wrap, pressing directly against the surface of the pastry cream to prevent a film from forming, and refrigerate until cool, about 2 hours.
For the Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Spray two 9-inch round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray with flour and line the bottoms of the pans with parchment paper. Spray the paper with nonstick spray.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, salt, and baking powder.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk or beaters, whip the whole eggs, egg yolks, sugar, and vanilla at high speed for 3 to 4 minutes until the batter is pale and voluminous, and when the whisk is lifted the mixture falls in a thick fluffy rope that dissolves slowly on the surface of the remaining batter in about 4 seconds.
- While the eggs/sugar are beating, heat the milk and butter in a small saucepan until the butter is melted and the mixture is extremely hot to the touch. (It does not need to boil but must be very hot when you add it to the batter.)
- Remove the bowl from the mixer. Add half of the flour mixture over the eggs and fold with a whisk until the flour is almost blended into the batter. Repeat with the remaining half of the flour mixture. Pour all of the hot milk mixture over the batter and fold with the whisk until evenly combined. Divide the batter evenly into the prepared pans.
- Bake for about 15 minutes, until the cakes are set, golden, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Set the pans on a rack to cool for about 20 minutes.
- Run a thin icing spatula or butter knife around the inside of each pan to loosen the cakes from the sides. Invert onto a rack and peel off the parchment liners; turn the cakes right side up to finish cooling. The cake layers should be completely cool before filling and glazing.
For the Soaking Syrup
- Combine the water and sugar in a small pan and heat until the sugar dissolves. Off the heat, add the rum and set aside to cool.
For the Chocolate Ganache Topping
- In a small saucepan, bring the heavy cream to a boil. Off the heat, add the chocolate and let sit for 1 minute to soften the chocolate. Whisk until smooth.
To Assemble
- Remove the pastry cream from the fridge and whisk vigorously until smooth — it will be quite thick.
- Place one cake layer on a serving platter. Brush it with half of the soaking syrup. Spread the pastry cream filling evenly over top. Top with the second cake layer. Brush the cake with the remaining soaking syrup. Pour the ganache onto the center of the cake. Use an offset spatula to spread the ganache to the edge of the cake, letting excess drip decoratively down sides. Set the cake aside for 30 minutes to allow the chocolate to set before slicing and serving, or refrigerate until ready to serve, up to 1 day ahead of time. Let the cake sit out at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.
- Make-Ahead/Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The assembled cake can be made up to 1 day ahead and refrigerated. Let it sit out at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving. The cakes (without the cream filling/soaking syrup/ganache) can be stored in the refrigerator for 1 day or frozen for up to 3 months after wrapping them tightly with aluminum foil or freezer wrap. Thaw overnight on the countertop before assembling.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (8 servings)
- Calories: 520
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated fat: 12 g
- Carbohydrates: 72 g
- Sugar: 53 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Sodium: 257 mg
- Cholesterol: 227 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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This tastes even better the next day! Such detailed and easy directions to follow. Thank you, Jen!
Hi, Jenn! I’m wanting to make this for my husband’s birthday! Will it be just as good without the rum? Thanks!
Hi Lauren, I’d just omit the rum. It will still taste great – happy birthday to your husband!
Thank you, Jenn! 🎊 I love your blog and the cookbooks I have of yours. I am always looking out for recipes to try from your kitchen!
Hi Jenn,
Needless to say, your BCP recipe has been a hit with family and friends, so much so that I am wondering if it is possible to double the recipe to make multiple cakes at the same time. And thank you for another home run recipe. The sponge is light and fluffy, and the filing is a deliciously decadent flavor.
Thanks, as always,
Jade
Hi Jade, so glad you enjoyed it! Yes, you can get away with doubling it. Keep in mind that the cakes may take slightly longer to bake as the oven will be more crowded. Happy Holidays!
If I knew the layers would be so thin I would have opted to use my 8″ pans instead of the 9″ as recommended for a more substantial looking dessert. Great directions though. Waiting to put on the pastry cream and ganache. Will report back when finished but thus far, disappointed.
Has anyone tried the cake using almond flour?
Would it be ok to make the pastry cream filling the night before and refrigerate overnight?
Thank you!
Sure, Karen, that should be fine. 😊
I made this for my husband’s 60th and it was a big hit! I was a bit intimidated to make it with all the layers, but it was pretty easy and looked just like yours. Thank you for recipes I know I can count on! 💕
I tried this recipe for New Years Eve group of 18. Not well received. The cake was a bit dry, the filling was good, icing was a no. Sorry.
I’ve tried many recipes for BCP. This is now my go to. Perfection.
This was fantastic! I had a friend coming over who loves Boston cream pie and thought I’d surprise her with this for dessert. She was over the moon and said it was the best one she’s ever had. Needless to say she asked for the recipe. I’ve never necessarily been drawn to Boston cream pie before, but now I’m a fan!