Classic Boston Cream Pie Recipes

Steps:

• To make cake: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter and flour a 9-by-2-inch round cake pan. Line with parchment paper; set aside.
• Sift together cake flour and salt. Sift again, twice; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, mix eggs and sugar until well combined. Place the bowl over a pot of gently simmering water; whisk until mixture is warm, about 110 degrees, and sugar is dissolved, about 6 minutes. Remove from heat; place bowl on mixer. With the whisk attachment, beat egg mixture on high until thickened and pale, about 6 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine milk and split vanilla bean. Place over medium heat until hot, being careful not to let boil. Remove and discard vanilla bean. With egg mixture beating, pour hot milk into egg mixture in a slow, steady stream. Turn off mixer. Transfer to a medium bowl; fold in flour mixture. Pour into prepared pan.
• Bake until cake is golden brown and springs back when gently pressed, about 30 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool for 15 minutes. Remove from pan; cool completely.
• To make filling: Prepare an ice-water bath. In a large bowl, whisk egg yolks; set aside. In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Gradually stir in milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and begins to bubble, about 5 minutes. (It is essential that mixture come to a boil.) Remove from heat.
• Whisking constantly, slowly pour hot milk mixture into egg yolks. Return mixture to saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture begins to bubble, about 3 minutes. (It is essential that mixture bubble again.) Remove from heat; stir in vanilla extract.
• Transfer filling to a medium bowl. Place the bowl in the ice bath. Stir from time to time until mixture cools; it thickens as it cools. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing wrap against the filling to prevent a skin from forming. The filling may be refrigerated overnight at this stage, or it is ready to use.
• To make glaze and assemble cake: Split cake into two layers; spread bottom half with chilled filling. Place in refrigerator to set, about 30 minutes. Wrap remaining half of cake with plastic wrap; set aside.
• In a medium-size heat-proof bowl, or the top of a double boiler, set over a pot of gently simmering water, combine chocolate and heavy cream. Stir occasionally until chocolate melts, about 12 minutes. Remove from heat; set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
• Remove cake from refrigerator; top with reserved layer. Transfer cake to serving plate; pour chocolate glaze over top. Allow to set 20 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter and flour a 9-inch-round cake pan. Line with parchment paper; set aside.
• Sift together the cake flour and the salt. Sift again, twice; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, mix the eggs and sugar until well combined. Place the bowl over a pot of gently simmering water; whisk until mixture is warm, about 110 degrees, and the sugar is dissolved, about 6 minutes. Remove from heat; place bowl on mixer. With the whisk attachment, beat the egg mixture on high until thickened and pale, about 6 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine the milk and split vanilla bean. Place over medium heat until hot, being careful not to let boil. Remove and discard vanilla bean. With egg mixture beating, pour the hot milk into the egg mixture in a slow, steady stream. Turn off mixer. Transfer to a medium bowl; fold in the flour mixture. Pour into prepared pan.
• Bake until cake is golden brown and springs back when gently pressed, about 30 minutes. Transfer to wire rack to cool for 15 minutes. Remove from pan; cool completely.
• In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks; set aside. In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Gradually stir in the milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and begins to bubble, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Slowly pour the hot milk mixture into the egg yolks while whisking. Return mixture to saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture begins to bubble, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in the vanilla extract.
• Transfer filling to a medium bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing wrap against the filling to prevent a skin from forming; chill in refrigerator until firm, at least 1 hour.
• Split the cake into two layers; spread the bottom half with chilled filling. Place in refrigerator to set, about 30 minutes. Wrap remaining half of cake with plastic wrap; set aside.
• In a medium-size heat-proof bowl, or the top of a double boiler, set over a pot of gently simmering water, combine the chocolate and the heavy cream. Stir occasionally until the chocolate melts, about 12 minutes. Remove from heat; set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
• Remove cake from refrigerator; top with reserved layer. Transfer cake to serving plate; pour chocolate glaze over top. Allow to set 20 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• For custard, in a heavy saucepan, mix sugar and cornstarch; whisk in milk and egg yolks. Cook and stir over medium heat; bring to a gentle boil. Cook and stir 1 minute; remove from heat. Stir in butter until melted. Immediately transfer to a clean bowl; stir in vanilla. Press plastic wrap onto surface of filling; cool 30 minutes. Refrigerate until cold., While custard is chilling, make cake layers. Preheat oven to 375°. Line bottoms of 2 greased 8-in. round baking pans with parchment; grease paper and dust with flour., In a large bowl, cream sugar and shortening until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition., Transfer to prepared pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 15-20 minutes. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks; remove paper. Cool completely., For glaze, in a small saucepan, bring water and butter to a simmer; immediately remove from heat and whisk in cocoa powder. Beat in confectioners' sugar and vanilla until smooth; cool slightly. , Place one cake layer on a serving plate; spread with cold custard. Top with the second cake layer. Spoon chocolate glaze over the top, allowing it to drip down sides of cake. Refrigerate until serving.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• To Make Cake:.
• Cream butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla in medium bowl until light and fluffy.
• Combing dry ingredients.
• Add alternately with milk to creamed mixture.
• Pour batter into well-greased and floured 9-inch layer pan.
• Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean.
• Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan.
• Cool completely on rack.
• To Make Filling:.
• Combine sugar, cornstarch, milk, and egg yolks in saucepan.
• Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture boils; boil and stir 1 minute.
• Remove from heat; blend in butter and vanilla. Cover and cool completely.
• To Make Glaze:.
• While the cake and the filling can (and should) be made ahead of time, the glaze cannot be made until you're ready to assemble the pie.
• Bring water and butter to a full boil in a small saucepan. Remove from heat and stir in cocoa immediately. Then, beat in the confectioners' sugar and vanilla until the mixture is smooth. Cool slightly.
• Assembling the pie:.
• Cut the cake into 2 thin layers.
• Spread filling onto one layer. Top with remaining layer.
• Pour glaze on top; let some drizzle down sides. Chill again before serving.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line the bottoms of two 9-inch cake pans with greased parchment, but leave the sides of the pans untouched. The cakes need to cling to the ungreased pans to rise properly.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt and then sift back into the bowl. Set aside.
• In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the eggs and egg yolks on high speed. Once the eggs are well combined and starting to foam, about 1 minute, turn the speed to medium-low and sprinkle 3⁄4 cup (150g) of the sugar slowly over top. Turn the speed to high and let it whip for about 5 minutes.
• While the eggs are whipping, in a small saucepan over medium heat, bring the milk, oil, and remaining 3⁄4 cup (150g sugar) to a boil. Turn off the heat and stir in the vanilla.
• Once the eggs are light in color and thick, they should be able to form a ribbon of batter that sits on top of the egg foam for a few seconds when you lift the whisk out of the foam. Turn the mixer speed to low, slowly add the boiling milk mixture, and then add the flour mixture, a few tablespoons at a time, scraping down the bowl several times.
• Immediately pour the batter into the prepared pans and gently run a spatula through the batter to pop any large air bubbles.
• Bake until a tester comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes. Let the cake cool completely in the pans. Run a knife around the edge before turning out onto serving plates.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the milk, 1⁄4 cup (50g) of the sugar, butter, salt, and vanilla; bring to a gentle boil; and then remove from the heat.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and remaining 1⁄4 cup (50g) sugar. Add the egg and egg yolks and whisk into a smooth paste.
• Whisk enough of the hot milk, a little at a time, into the egg mixture until it is warm to the touch. Once the eggs are tempered, pour the mixture back into the remaining milk in the pan.
• Return the saucepan to medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a boil; continuously whisk for 3 minutes more or the pastry cream will separate once it cools.
• If there are any lumps in the pastry cream, strain it through a fine-mesh sieve into a shallow container and cover with plastic wrap, pressed directly onto the surface, to prevent a skin from forming.
• In a large bowl, add enough ice cubes and cold water to create a bath for the container to sit in without the water breaching the sides.
• Set the container in the ice bath or place in the freezer until chilled, about 15 minutes before using. Or transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• In a medium saucepan over low heat, warm the cream until just simmering. Turn off the heat and add the chocolate. Swirl the pan to make sure all of the chocolate is submerged in the hot cream. Let sit for 3 minutes and then gently stir until smooth.
• Transfer the ganache to an airtight container and store at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
• Gently warm the ganache over a pan of simmering water, forming a double boiler, to a pourable or spreadable consistency, depending on your needs.
• Place one cake layer on a serving plate.
• Stir the pastry cream to loosen, then mix in one-third of the whipped cream to lighten. Fold in the remaining whipped cream.
• Using an offset spatula, spread all of the pastry cream over the cake; making sure not to go quite to the edge. Place the next cake layer over the pastry cream. Gently press down on the cake to make sure it is sitting snugly on the pastry cream. If the pastry cream goes beyond the edge, clean it up with a metal decorating spatula. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 1 hour to set the pastry cream in place.
• Pour the ganache over the top of the cake, starting in the center and stopping just as it drips over the edge.
• Refrigerate the cake until the ganache sets, about 30 minutes, then serve right away.

Steps:

• Make the custard: In a medium saucepan, whisk together egg yolks and sugar until well combined. Whisk in cornstarch and salt. In a slow, steady stream, whisk in milk and then the cream. Add butter. Cook mixture over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, just until it starts to thicken. Immediately whisk mixture until smooth, then continue to cook and stir custard until it has come to a very low boil for 2 minutes, about 6 to 8 minutes total. Strain custard through a fine mesh sieve into a small bowl, pushing it through with a small spatula. Stir in vanilla. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing the plastic directly onto the surface. Chill for at least 3 hours and up to 24 hours.
• Prepare the cake: Heat oven to 325 degrees. Butter a 9-by-2-inch round baking pan, generously greasing the sides, and line it with parchment paper. Butter parchment paper. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.
• In a small saucepan, bring the milk and butter to a simmer over medium heat. When the butter is melted, remove pan from heat. In a large bowl, beat eggs and sugar with an electric mixer until pale and thick, about 4 to 6 minutes. With the mixer running on low, add the milk mixture and beat until combined. Then add flour mixture and vanilla and beat until combined.
• Transfer batter to the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Transfer to a rack and let cool 10 minutes. With a very thin knife, cut around the edge to release the cake from the side of the pan. Carefully flip the cake onto the rack, then turn it right-side-up to cool completely.
• Assemble the cake: Using a serrated knife, carefully cut the cake into two layers and place the bottom layer on a serving plate. Stir custard, and spread it onto the cut side of the bottom half. Replace the top half of the cake, cut side down.
• Prepare the glaze: In a small saucepan over medium-low, heat the cream to a simmer. Remove the pot from the heat and pour cream over the chocolate chips, oil, salt and let stand for 3 minutes. Whisk until smooth. Spread the glaze evenly over the top of the cake.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Spray 2 (8-inch) cake pans with cooking spray.
• Stir yellow cake mix, 3 eggs, water, and vegetable oil in a bowl until moistened. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally.
• Divide cake batter between the two prepared cake pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cakes have risen and are lightly golden brown, 33 to 38 minutes. Check for doneness after 25 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes should come out clean. Allow cakes to cool for about 10 minutes before removing from the pans. Cool cakes completely, about 40 minutes.
• Whisk 3 eggs, cornstarch, and sugar in a large bowl until well mixed and lemon colored, 2 to 3 minutes. Set aside.
• Heat 1 cup heavy whipping cream, whole milk, and 1/2 tablespoon butter in a large saucepan over medium heat until it just begins to boil.
• Reduce heat to low; pour egg mixture into cream mixture and whisk until thick, about 1 minute.
• Pour egg and cream mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a large bowl; discard any chunks.
• Whisk vanilla and salt into the egg and cream mixture until combined. Cover with a layer of plastic wrap pressed against the surface. Chill in refrigerator to form a pastry cream texture, 3 to 4 hours.
• Place chocolate in a large bowl. Heat 1 teaspoon butter and 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream in a saucepan over medium heat until butter is melted. Pour cream mixture over chocolate and whisk until smooth. Set aside until cooled, but still pourable, about 20 minutes.
• Place one cake layer on a plate, flat side up. Spread pastry cream to within 1-inch of the edge of cake. Place second cake layer on top, rounded side up. Press gently to push pastry cream to the edge. Pour chocolate mixture over top of the cake and spread so it drips over the edge.