Allow us to present to you with Boston cream pie! This airy sponge cake is filled with rich pastry cream and topped with a shiny chocolate ganache glaze. It’s supremely decadent, satisfying, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
Our bookshelves are full of cookbooks, but we can say with 100% honesty that our go-tos are generally authored by America’s Test Kitchen. After all, America’s Test Kitchen and its knowledgeable test cooks, editors, and cookware specialists put the time and effort into perfecting recipes, a practice we value and respect.
Their cookbook The Perfect Cake boasts more than 240 kitchen-tested cake and cupcakes recipes ranging from a yellow sheet cake and tres leches cake to rainbow cake and bananas Foster cake. It’s the kind of cookbook that compels you to jump out of your seat, run to the kitchen, and grab the flour. So if you enjoy baking cakes, you need this cookbook.
One recipe in particular stole our hearts: Boston cream pie. We knew that if anyone could do this classic recipe justice – completely from-scratch – it’s ATK.
What is Boston Cream Pie?
The “pie” in Boston Cream Pie is a bit of a misnomer. This show-stopping dessert was originally dreamed up in the 1800s, back in the day when pies and cakes were both baked in pie plates, and names were used interchangeably. The cake features custard or pastry cream sandwiched between two rounds of buttery cake and is finished with chocolate glaze. It’s incredible.
Boston Cream Pie Recipe Details
- Texture: The sponge cake itself is light and springy, nicely offsetting the rich pastry cream and silky chocolate glaze.
- Flavor: We have buttery sponge cake, vanilla pastry cream, and deep chocolate flavors to satisfy taste buds. These classic flavors work wonderfully together – what a trio!
- Ease: This Boston cream pie may seem intimidating if you’re unprepared, but don’t be discouraged! We’ve provided some helpful tips, careful directions, step-by-step photos, and a video tutorial to guide you through the process. Turns out, Boston cream pie isn’t terribly difficult if you break the recipe down into 3 parts: 1) pastry cream 2) sponge cake 3) chocolate glaze
- Time: Set aside 6 hours to complete this recipe, which includes a lot of waiting as the components bake, cool, etc. This dessert definitely requires some time to make, but you just can’t rush perfection.
Recipe Testing: What Works & What Doesn’t
Considerations when making the pastry cream. The recipe begins with homemade pastry cream. Made with life’s best ingredients (butter, egg yolks, vanilla extract, and sugar), this buttery sweet cake filling is everything you might imagine it to be. We often use it instead of peanut butter mousse when making these homemade eclairs.
The egg yolks must be gently cooked and tempered with warm half-and-half. And remember: you’ll need to whisk the pastry cream constantly as it cooks and thickens. Then, allow the vanilla pastry cream to cool completely before spreading it on the cake.
Here are a few key points to remember:
- Pastry cream will be thick right off the stove.
- For a smooth cream, strain to rid any lumps.
- Place plastic wrap on the surface when cooling.
If you want to save time on the day of serving, the pastry cream can be made in advance. You can watch us prepare the pastry cream in the recipe video below, which is helpful if you’ve never tempered eggs before.
How to make sponge cake. Sponge cakes are known for their delicate and airy texture, thanks to (1) a high egg-to-flour ratio and (2) the air beaten into the eggs. America’s Test Kitchen employs the “hot milk sponge cake” method, which skips the egg separation and the meticulous folding. Instead, you whisk a warm butter + milk mixture into whipped eggs + sugar, then whisk in the cake’s dry ingredients. The warm milk keeps the butter melted, thus allowing it to mix seamlessly into the batter. And since we’re whisking together just 3 bowls of ingredients, this is an excellent recipe for sponge-cake beginners. We truly appreciate this simplified method, since this recipe does have a number of steps.
The sponge cake’s ingredients are pretty similar to the pastry cream’s ingredients. This is what we LOVE MOST about baking. It’s the same ingredients, just beaten, mixed, and cooked in different ways. Magic.
- Don’t make our mistake! By skipping over a few words in the recipe, we managed to ruin our sponge cakes… twice! That’s four 9-inch cakes completely destroyed. Line the cake pans with parchment paper. While you’re at it, grease the pans before and after they’ve been lined with parchment paper. Don’t even think about the shortcuts! If it’s helpful, see this parchment paper rounds for cakes video & post. You may be tempted to grease the pans and skip the parchment paper, but the cakes WILL stick. See this Recipe Testing blog post for proof!
By the way, if you love sponge cakes, you’ll enjoy this impressive Vertical Cake.
Making the chocolate glaze. Rounding out our Boston cream pie is a veil of chocolate glaze, an extra glossy version of chocolate ganache. Made with 3 ingredients, this chocolate glaze is velvety and smooth – and if you set it aside for a few minutes before stirring, it’s also thick enough to cling to the sides of the cake. You’ll heat heavy cream and a bit of corn syrup together on the stove before pouring the mixture over finely chopped chocolate. Any dark, bittersweet, or semisweet chocolate can be used. The corn syrup adds sweetness, so avoid anything very sweet. The corn syrup also provides shine and sticking power to the glaze, and I highly recommend its addition. Honey should make a nice substitution, though I haven’t tried it myself.
Believe us, this cake is worth the effort.
Overview: How to Make Boston Cream Pie
You can find the full printable recipe towards the end of this post. We include the following summary so you can prepare yourself for all of the involved steps.
- Read the recipe and watch the video first. Many of the little steps are either time-sensitive or require cooling.
- Make the pastry cream. Heat half-and-half over medium heat. Meanwhile, whisk the egg yolks, sugar, and salt in a bowl until smooth. Whisk in flour until combined and thick. Whisk 1/2 cup warm half-and-half into the yolk mixture, then slowly whisk the tempered yolk mixture into the half-and-half in the saucepan. Cook until the mixture thickens. Remove from heat and whisk in butter and vanilla. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer set over a bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until set.
- Preheat the oven. Grease 2 9-inch cake pans, line with parchment paper, then grease the parchment paper. You must use parchment! See the recipe note.
- Make the cake. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl. Heat milk and butter over the stovetop or in the microwave, then stir in the vanilla. Whisk eggs and sugar together, add the hot milk mixture, and mix until combined. Whisk in the dry ingredients.
- Bake the cakes. Divide batter evenly between the pans. Bake until light brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Set aside to cool.
- Assemble the cake. Remove the pastry cream from the refrigerator 20 minutes before assembling the cake. Place a bottom cake layer on your cake stand or serving plate. Spread pastry cream evenly on top. Place the second cake layer on top and gently press down. Refrigerate until needed.
- Make the glaze. Heat heavy cream and corn syrup in a small saucepan. Place chocolate in a heatproof glass bowl. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and set aside for 5 minutes to soften the chocolate. Whisk until smooth.
- Pour glaze into the center of the cake. Spread glaze to the edges of the cake. Refrigerate the cake, uncovered, for at least 2 hours before slicing and serving.
More Classic Recipes We Love
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Boston Cream Pie
- Prep Time: 4 hours
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 6 hours
- Yield: serves 10-12
- Category: Cake
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Completely from-scratch with homemade pastry cream, buttery sponge cake, and shiny chocolate glaze, this classic Boston cream pie recipe is supremely decadent and satisfying.
Ingredients
Pastry Cream
- 2 cups (480ml) half-and-half
- 6 large egg yolks, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup (31g) all-purpose flour (spoon & leveled)
- 1/4 cup (4 Tablespoons; 60g) unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Sponge Cake
- 1 and 1/2 cups (188g) all-purpose flour (spoon & leveled)
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup (180ml) whole milk
- 6 Tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 and 1/2 cups (300g) granulated sugar
Chocolate Glaze
- 1/2 cup (120ml) heavy cream
- 2 Tablespoons light corn syrup
- 4 ounces (113g) bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
Instructions
- Read the recipe and watch the helpful video above before beginning as there are many little steps that are time sensitive or require cooling.
- Make the pastry cream: Heat half-and-half in a medium saucepan over medium heat until simmering. Meanwhile, whisk egg yolks, granulated sugar, and salt together in a bowl until smooth. Add flour and whisk until combined. Mixture will be thick. Whisk about 1/2 cup half-and-half into yolk mixture to temper, then slowly whisk tempered yolk mixture into half-and-half in the saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue to cook, whisking constantly, for 5 minutes as the mixture thickens. (America’s Test Kitchen instructs for 7-8 minutes, but mine began thickening quickly.)
- Increase heat to medium and cook, whisking vigorously, until bubbles burst on the surface, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and whisk in the butter and vanilla extract until combined. Pastry cream will be thick. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer set over a bowl. Press plastic wrap directly on surface of pastry cream and refrigerate until set, at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C). Grease two round 9-inch cake pans, line with parchment paper rounds, then grease the parchment paper. Parchment paper helps the cakes seamlessly release from the pans. (If it’s helpful, see this parchment paper rounds for cakes video & post.)
- Make the cake: Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in a small bowl. In the microwave or on the stove, heat milk and butter together until butter has melted. Stir in the vanilla extract. Cover loosely to keep warm. In a large bowl using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip the eggs and granulated sugar together on high speed until light and creamy, about 4 minutes. Add hot milk mixture and whisk by hand until combined, then whisk in the dry ingredients. Batter will bubbly on top and somewhat thick, similar to pancake batter.
- Divide batter evenly between 2 pans. Bake until the tops of cakes are light brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20-22 minutes.
- Remove cakes from the oven and set on a wire rack. Allow to cool completely in the pan. As the cakes cool, check the pastry cream in the refrigerator. If it’s too thick, it won’t easily spread and could tear the cake. I remove pastry cream from the refrigerator about 20 minutes before assembling the cake.
- Assemble the cake: Once cakes are cool, run a thin knife around the edges to release them from the pans. Place bottom cake layer on your cake stand or serving plate. Spread pastry cream evenly on top. Place second cake layer on top and gently press down to adhere to the pastry cream. Refrigerate cake while preparing the chocolate glaze.
- Make the glaze: Heat heavy cream and corn syrup in a small saucepan over medium heat until just simmering. As it heats up, place chocolate in a heat-proof glass bowl with a pouring spout (I use this 2-cup liquid measuring cup). Once simmering, remove cream from heat and pour over chocolate. Let sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Gently whisk until smooth.
- Pour glaze into the center of cake. Spread glaze to the edges of cake allowing it to gently drip down the sides. Refrigerate cake, uncovered, for at least 2 hours (and up to 24 hours) before slicing and serving. If chilling for longer than 2 hours, allow cake to come to room temperature before slicing and serving.
- Cover leftover cake tightly and store in the refrigerator for 5 days.
Notes
- Make Ahead Instructions: You can prepare pastry cream up to 24 hours in advance. See step 3. Baked and cooled cakes can also be prepared 24 hours in advance. Cover and store at room temperature, then continue with step 8. In order to maintain the proper consistency of the chocolate glaze, I recommend preparing right before pouring over cake. However, the entire assembled cake with chocolate glaze on top can be stored for up to 24 hours. See step 10. Pastry cream can weep and break if frozen, so I do not suggest freezing this cake. You can, however, freeze the baked and cooled cake layers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight before using.
- Special Tools: KitchenAid Stand Mixer | Glass Mixing Bowls | White Mixing Bowls | Colorful Mixing Bowls | Glass Measuring Cup | Whisk | Sieve | 9-inch Round Cake Pans | Icing Spatula | Marble Cake Stand | The Perfect Cake Cookbook
- Substitutions: Each ingredient is crucial to the finished cake. I do not recommend substitutions, though you can get away with using the same amount of whole milk instead of half-and-half in the pastry cream. This may be more convenient since whole milk is used for the sponge cake.
- Egg Whites: Lots of leftover egg whites! Make a scramble or use some in any of these recipes.
- Corn Syrup: Feel free to leave out the corn syrup, though it’s what adds shine and sticking power to the glaze. You can try substituting with honey.
- Chocolate: Any dark, bittersweet, or semi-sweet chocolate is a wonderful choice for the chocolate glaze. The corn syrup adds sweetness, so avoid anything very sweet.
- Parchment Paper: Parchment paper is a MUST for lining the cake pans. I failed this recipe 2x before discovering how crucial the parchment paper is. All cakes were ruined until I lined the cake pans with parchment paper on the 3rd try. Parchment paper guarantees the cakes will seamlessly release from the pans. If it’s helpful, see this parchment paper rounds for cakes video & post.
- Recipe reprinted in partnership with America’s Test Kitchen from The Perfect Cake
Keywords: Boston Cream Pie
Boston cream pie is possibly my favorite cake of all time and this recipe does not disappoint. The sponge was light and fluffy and the pastry cream was perfect. I did use half semi sweet and half bittersweet chocolate for the glaze because I didn’t have enough of just bittersweet. My husband and I ate the whole cake in a couple of days and as soon as it was gone I wanted to make another one! The pastry cream and the sponge from this recipe are my go-to for other applications as well.
★★★★★
It came out perfect and was delicious.
Got many compliments.
Thanks for a great recipe.
★★★★★
Hi Sally! Love your recipes. Just making sure that none of the butter in this recipe needs to be room temperature.
Hi Shana, that’s correct! When you make the cake, you will heat the milk and butter together until butter has melted.
Do you think this cake could be made in a jelly roll pan and turned into a Swiss roll?
Hi Rachel, I haven’t tested it so I’m unsure. I fear it won’t roll very nicely, but you can certainly try.
Boston Cream Pie is my absolute favorite dessert and I’m so excited to use this recipe for Thanksgiving this year. Sometimes I feel that the ratio of cake to cream is too high, however. What do you think about only making 1 9″ cake, then cutting it in half and putting the cream in the middle? Would that not be enough cake? Are the layers in this recipe particularly small or large? Thanks!
Hi Kelly, The layers are not super high but it’s personal preference how much cake you like with your pastry cream! If you bake both layers and decide not to use one, you can always freeze it for later.
My filling was not thick enough. Oozed out the sides. I feel the addition of flour takes away from the creamy vanilla cream flavor. Ended up making a Boston cream trifle which was fine. The flavors were good. Won’t make again though.
★★★
Yes, same thing happened to me
Thank you once again for a fantastic recipe Sally. I dont know how I ever baked without you!
★★★★★
Help! I baked my sponges and they ended up with SO many bubbles on the top and didn’t seem to bake right. One of the two sunk down after about 5 min but the toothpick came out clean. I don’t have a stand mixer so I mixed the egg and sugar on high with a hand mixer for 4 min. What should I look for or do differently with the next batch. The pastry cream came out beautiful at least!
Hi Megan, We are happy to help troubleshoot. Small air bubbles are totally normal, but if you have larger pockets of air in your cake, it’s likely from over-mixing your batter, which incorporates too much air in the the cake batter. Make sure to just mix until combined next time. You an also gently tap the filled pans on the counter before baking to help release air pockets.
When cakes sink or deflate, they’re usually not completely cooked through. Or the leaveners (baking powder and soda) may have been close to expiration. Avoid opening and closing the oven door during bake time as well, which can also deflate the center of the baked cakes. We hope all of this helps for next time!
Fantastic recipe, as always. There was a lot of chocolate glaze so it didn’t look quite like the photo but no one ever complains about having too much chocolate! The cake recipe itself was just perfect. Excellent crumb. Probably my favorite cake recipe from this site. Thank you!
★★★★★
Love this recipe. I’ve made Boston cream pie many times. This recipe is the best one yet. Sponge is so light and airy and yet outside are kind of crispy and crunchy. Go to a friends house & got rave reviews from everyone.
Sally, you have some great recipes- I’ve tried many & looking forward to many more. Thanks.
How can I make this pastry cream non dairy? It’s for a lactose intolerant birthday boy who just loves Boston cream pie!
Hi Esther, we haven’t tested a dairy-free version of the pastry cream, but let us know if you give anything a try.
Is it possible to turn this recipe into a cupcake format? If so, how would the measurements be altered?
Hi Avani, We haven’t tried making this cake as cupcakes yet but they would be wonderful with the pastry cream in center and the ganache on top. Fill liners 2/3 full and bake for about 19-22 minutes, but keep a close eye on them and use a toothpick to test for doneness. If you try it just be sure to use high quality grease proof cupcake liners – and of course let us know how they turn out!
Hi Sally!! I love all of your recipes, you are my go to gal!! I’m wondering if I can 1.5 x this recipe and make a 2 layer 10in instead? I’m trying to do this asap, so a quick response would be very much appreciated! Thank you!
Hi Hannah, thank you so much for making and trusting our recipes! Here is everything you need to know about converting recipes to different Cake Pan Sizes.
Would adding banana slices to the cream make the cake slide around? What if I mash?
Hi Caroline, your assumption is likely correct — we fear that adding banana slices may be a bit to slippery. If you have leftover cake, you also run the risk of the bananas browning. How about adding fresh banana slices when serving?
Thank you. I did use heavy cream and top-quality chocolate. I think perhaps I overheated the cream.
I appreciate your very speedy response—and my family liked the Boston cream pie in spite of my goof!
Hi Sally
My glaze turned out grainy. What did I do wrong?
Thanks
Hi Mary! Did you use heavy cream and pure baking chocolate? This is a simple ganache with corn syrup added for shine – you can read more about making chocolate ganache with success tips in this post!
Hi Sally. I was just wondering if the cake could be made into a 13×9 which I could then cut horizontally and have one layer of filling. I’ve made it 3 times in the last few months and it’s so delicious and I would like to make it bigger.
Hi Stephanie, the cake batter as written will fit well in a 9×13 pan. We’re unsure of the exact bake time, but keep a close eye on it and use a toothpick to test for doneness. So glad to hear this recipe is a favorite for you!
so sad. followed the recipe to a t but the cake was dense. I think it may have been an error on my end as the baking powder may have been old. the cream was great but the ganache was very liquid. oh well
★★★
hi! i’m planning of making this but I am quite busy. I was wondering, can I make the pastry cream a day in advance? I need this done by sunday, but today is friday and i’m quite busy tomorrow. will the flavour be okay if it’s in the fridge for a day? thanks!!
Hi Abby, You can make the pastry cream up to 24 hours in advance. Enjoy!
I made the pastry cream from this recipe with leftover egg yolks from another recipe. It was absolutely divine. I filled cream puffs with it. I had whole milk and cream and combined them to make half-and-half, worked great. Highly recommend.
Hi! I’m just wondering if for the pastry cream I can use corn starch instead of flour? if so would it be the same quantity?
Also would there be a difference in quality or taste in using whole milk vs half and half in the pastry cream?
Hi Tracey! For best results, we recommend sticking with the recipe. We haven’t tested corn starch, and whole milk would yield a thinner pastry cream.
I’ve been making this since 2011. The recipe was in the Cook’s Illustrated magazine that year. I kept the magazine for that recipe but used yours since it had grams instead of ounces and I weigh everything I can. I do enjoy making it even though it is time-consuming. We had a piece of it tonight even though I made it for the two of us for Easter tomorrow. I also made your dinner rolls. They are in the fridge so all I have to do tomorrow is the second rise and bake them. I love your recipes. Thanks so much.
Kathy
★★★★★
Thank you so much for making and trusting our recipes, Kathy! We hope you enjoy your delicious Easter bakes.
Loved the flavor.
I left the cream out for twenty minutes and when I make this again, I will spread the cream straight out of the frig. Also my cake took longer to back, about 30 minutes. If I use less heavy cream do you think the glaze would be thicker?
Thanks for posting this recipe, another winner, I have enjoyed every recipe I have tried from your site.
God bless.
★★★★★
I just baked the cake and it’s so thin. It’s half the size of the pan. Did I do something wrong? Should I just make it again?
Hi Cindy, how’s the texture? Is it dense? Make sure to just mix cake batter until combined (over-mixing can cause dense cakes). We also recommend checking to make sure your baking powder is fresh as it can lose strength in just a few months. Here are more tips for baking cakes that may help for next time!
Hello Sally, my cake came out delicious! However the color of my sponge cake was not as beautiful golden like yours. Was more like brownish even though it was cooked perfectly. I was thinking that maybe is the brown parchment paper which could have seeped its color, but I baked once more with a white parchment paper and the sponge cake still comes out brownish… What do I do wrong? the flavor is deliciou, however I’m not happy with my color.
thanks for your time
Hi Giorgia! We’ve never had an issue with parchment seeping color. Try moving your cake away from the heating element in your oven (which can cause excess browning), or you can also try lightly tenting your cakes with aluminum foil when you notice them getting golden, before they brown.
Hey, Sally I have a few question that aren’t really related to this cake!!
First, can I use this pastry cream to fill a donut?
Second, do you have any recipes that are donuts without the traditional hole in the middle.
But here’s a review of the cake— I was defiantly worth making again, my kids fell in love at the first bite and hubby is asking when I plan on baking it again! Thanks!!
★★★★★
Hi Brooklyn, We are so happy you enjoyed this cake! Yes you can use this pastry cream to fill donuts. You can absolutely make these glazed doughnuts without the hold in the center to fill. Let us know if you give it a try!
This is an impressive recipe. will be making again this week for a work party and would like a cupcake version as well. Could I use the same cake recipe and divide into cupcakes?
Hi Melissa, We haven’t tried making this cake as cupcakes yet but they would be wonderful with the pastry cream in center and the ganache on top. Fill liners 2/3 full and bake for about 19-22 minutes, but keep a close eye on them and use a toothpick to test for doneness. If you try it just be sure to use high quality grease proof cupcake liners – and of course let us know how they turn out!
So weird! My cakes rose high and pretty then halfway through baking time I looked through the stove window and they were totally sunk…. Do you think I over beat the eggs and sugar for too long?
Hi Carmell, The cakes will sink if the eggs were over-whipped or even under-whipped. Or, what’s more likely, is that the cakes were under-baked. Easy fixes for next time if you try it again.
Hi – I made this cake once before and it was amazing big! I can’t wait to make it again for Christmas. Quick question. I accidentally bought heavy cream instead of half and half and 1% instead of whole milk can I use either of these or a combination in the cake and pastry cream?
Thanks!
★★★★
Hi Erika! Sorry for the late reply – you can use a combination of milk and heavy cream to make half and half, I would do a quick google search to find the correct proportions. Hope you loved this Boston Cream Pie!
I made this cake a few months ago as a birthday cake for someone in my family. It is one of the best cake I have ever made in terms of flavor. The style is unique and altogether the flavor is a perfect balance.
★★★★★
Could I make this a 3 or 4 tier cake with pastry cream between each layer? I’m in charge of making a bday dessert and there will be about 10-12 people and when I made this cake before it was gobbled up so quickly by only 6 people and I want to be sure there’s enough but am a bit worried it won’t be very stable with all of the pastry cream.
★★★★★
Hi Rachel, We are thrilled this cake was such a hit! You could likely make this three layers (with two layers of filling) but the filling may start to squish out if it’s much heavier than that (but we haven’t tested it!). If you want to try it, be sure to make the pastry cream the day before so it has plenty of time to chill and really thicken up. Let us know what you try!