The Boston Cream Pie is a timeless, culinary creation dating back to 1856. The dessert was first created and served at the grand opening of Boston’s Parker House, now widely known as Omni Parker House, nestled in downtown Boston, MA. Today, the Boston Cream Pie is distinguished as Massachusetts’ official state dessert over Toll House Cookies and the Fig Newton.
What is Boston Cream Pie?
Despite the name, it’s not a pie at all. Filled with a rich and velvety pastry cream, what truly makes this two-layer golden cake so special is the rich chocolate icing. Back in the 1800s, chocolate was mainly consumed at home as a beverage or in puddings. With this inventive use of chocolate, the dessert was originally named “Chocolate Cream Pie.” Over time, the name changed, and in 1958, the Boston Cream Pie became so popular it was fashioned into a Betty Crocker boxed cake mix recipe.
It’s so wicked awesome (that’s Boston lingo for REAL GOOD), we’re sharing our original recipe so you can learn how to make your own Boston Cream Pie at home. But if baking isn’t your thing, you can always order Boston Cream Pie delivery from Goldbelly.
Boston Cream Pie Recipe
Ingredients:
Sponge Cake
- 7 eggs, separated
- 8 oz. sugar
- 1 cup flour
- 1 oz. melted butter
Pastry Cream
- 1 tbsp. butter
- 2 cups milk
- 2 cups light cream
- ½ cup sugar
- 3 ½ tbsp. cornstarch
- 6 eggs
- 1 tsp. dark rum
Icing
- 5 oz. fondant for white icing
- 6 oz. fondant for chocolate icing
- 3 oz. semi-sweet chocolate, melted
Substitution for Fondant Icing:
Chocolate Icing
- 6 oz semi-sweet chocolate, melted
- 2 oz. warm water
White Icing
- 1 cup sugar (confectioner’s sugar recommended)
- 1 tsp. corn syrup
- 1 tsp. water
Directions
For the cake
Step 1: Separate egg yolks and whites into two separate bowls. Add ½ of the sugar to each bowl. Beat both until peaked. When stiff, fold the whites into the yolk mixture. Gradually add flour, mixing with a wooden spatula. Mix in the butter. Pour this mixture into a 10-inch greased cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes, or until spongy and golden. Remove from the oven and allow to cool fully.
Step 2: Bring to a boil in a saucepan the butter, milk and light cream. While this mixture is cooking, combine the sugar, cornstarch and eggs in a bowl and whip until ribbons form. When the cream, milk, and butter mixture reaches the boiling point, whisk in the egg mixture and cook to boiling. Boil for one minute. Pour into a bowl and cover the surface with plastic wrap. Chill overnight if possible. When chilled, whisk to smooth out and flavor with 1 tsp. dark rum.
Step 3: Level the sponge cake off at the top using a slicing knife. Cut the cake into two layers. Spread the flavored pastry cream over one layer. Top with the second cake layer. Reserve a small amount of the pastry cream to spread on the sides to adhere to the almonds.
For the chocolate and white fondant icing
Step 4: For the chocolate fondant: Warm 6 oz. of white fondant over boiling water to approximately 105 degrees. Add melted chocolate. Thin to a spreading consistency with water. For the white fondant: Warm 5 oz. of white fondant over boiling water to approximately 105 degrees. Thin with water if necessary. Place in a piping bag with a 1/8-inch tip.
Alternate approach to Step 4: Melt the chocolate. Combine with warm water. Combine ingredients and warm to approximately 105 degrees. Adjust the consistency with water. It should flow freely from the pastry bag.
Step 5: Spread a thin layer of chocolate fondant icing on the top of the cake. Follow immediately with spiral lines starting from the center of the cake, using the white fondant in the pastry bag. Score the white lines with the point of a paring knife, starting at the center and pulling outward to the edge. Spread sides of cake with a thin coating of the reserved pastry cream. Press on toasted almonds for the final step of our classic Boston Cream Pie recipe.
Best of luck to all of you in recreating this piece of culinary history. Of course, if you’d rather leave the creation and experience to Parker’s Restaurant, stop in next time you’re in Boston for great food and a slice of Boston Cream Pie for dessert. JFK and Jackie’s table awaits.
FAQs
The Boston Cream Pie is a timeless, culinary creation dating back to 1856. The dessert was first created and served at the grand opening of Boston's Parker House, now widely known as Omni Parker House, nestled in downtown Boston, MA.
Which famous dessert did the Omni Parker House hotel create? ›
Originally dubbed "Parker House Chocolate Cream Pie," Boston Cream Pie became an immediate and perennial hit. The original Parker House recipe for the pie (which is technically a cake) was so popular that in 1958 it became a Betty Crocker boxed mix.
What is the difference between Boston cream pie and Boston cream cake? ›
A Boston cream pie is a cake with a cream filling. The dessert acquired its name when cakes and pies were cooked in the same pans, and the words were used interchangeably. In the late 19th century, this type of cake was variously called a "cream pie", a "chocolate cream pie", or a "custard cake".
Did Ho Chi Minh invent the Boston cream pie? ›
As a cook there, Ho Chi Minh — the future leader of one of the most violent communist insurgencies the world would ever see — may well have made some of the hotel's signature dishes, such as the Boston cream pie and the Parker House roll, both of which were invented there.
Which came first Boston cream pie or Boston cream donut? ›
The doughnut was inspired by the Boston cream pie which was, in turn, created by chef M. Sanzian at Boston's Parker House Hotel in 1856.
What is another name for a Boston cream pie? ›
Other similar names were cream pie or custard cake. There are three parts to a Boston Cream Pie: the cake, the custard and the chocolate ganache. The Cake: This is a butter sponge, the same one that I use in this strawberry cake because of its versatility, classic flavour and lightness.
Where is the original Boston Cream Pie? ›
The recipe below was originally called the Parker House “Chocolate Cream Pie”, and was created and served at Parker's Restaurant from the opening of the hotel in October 1856.
What is the official dessert of Alabama? ›
Lane cake, also known as prize cake, is a four-layer white cake with a bourbon-spiked raisin filling that originated in the American South. It's the official state cake of Alabama.
How long can you freeze Boston Cream Pie? ›
Make Ahead Boston Cream Pie
Pastry cream: can be covered and chilled in the refrigerator for up to 2 days before assembling. Hot milk sponge cake: the cooled cakes can be wrapped in plastic wrap and stored at room temperature for up to 24 hours or frozen for up to two months then thawed before assembling.
Is Bavarian cream the same as Boston cream? ›
Bavarian cream involves milk, eggs, sugar, and often vanilla extract, the same as Boston cream. But then the two ingredient lists diverge: Bavarian cream includes heavy cream and gelatin, while Boston cream involves cornstarch.
It was first invented in 1856, by an Armenian-French chef named Sanzian. At the time, chocolate frosting was a fairly new idea, so the delicious dessert took the world by storm. And to this day, it remains a popular menu selection. It's even the official dessert of Massachusetts!
Why is Boston cream pie not called cake? ›
But now, at least, the answer seems simple: boston cream pie is called a pie because similar cakes were originally baked in pie pans.
Who invented banana cream pie? ›
It is hard to pinpoint the origin of banana cream pie, but many people think it came from the American Midwest, where pies have been popular for many years.
Why is a Boston cream donut called that? ›
The doughnut was made out of inspiration from the Boston cream pie which was, in turn, created by chef M. Sanzian at Boston's Parker House Hotel in 1856. It is a two-layer sponge cake filled with vanilla flavored custard and topped with chocolate glaze and has been a staple to Massachusetts since its creation.
Where did Boston cream pie originate? ›
The dessert—layers of pastry surrounding a spill of custard, the top glazed in chocolate—is often said to have been invented at Boston's Omni Parker House, where the future Communist revolutionary worked as a baker around 1912. His marble-topped pastry table can still be seen on display at the hotel.
Where did Boston cream donuts originate? ›
The birthplace of the Boston cream donut can be traced back to the Parker House Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts. In the mid-19th century, the Parker House was known for its culinary excellence and innovation.
Where did Boston cream filling originate? ›
The boston cream pie's name may be a mystery, but its origins are not. The dessert was first created in 1856 at Boston's famous Parker House Hotel (also the birthplace of Parker House rolls) by Armenian-French chef M. Sanzian.
Where was the original Parker House? ›
