Saturday 13 June 2015

Boston Cream Pie

Two layers of beautifully light sponge, filled with a thick vanilla Creme Patissiere and covered with a luscious chocolate ganache - Boston Cream Pie is a simple, elegant, and truly indulgent dessert.


This is quite obviously a cake, not a pie. So I did a bit of research to try and determine the origin of this (to me) strange name. From what I can gather, the reason for being called a pie is due to the fact that when this cake was first made, it was made in a pie tin, rather than a cake tin.


I also learnt that The Boston cream pie is the official dessert of Massachusetts, declared as such on 12 December 1996. Thanks, Wikipedia!


This cake is the second Freaky Friday recipe post! For the Summer Addition I was assigned to a blog that I have long adored, The Foodie Affair. Sandra, our host over on this great blog, is a self taught cook, wife, mother, and full time working professional. She continually posts the most amazing recipes. Thankfully, she likes to run - so all the more sweet treats for us to enjoy from her kitchen!


If you missed the last Freaky Friday event, we are a group of bloggers who get assigned to cook/bake something off another blog and post the recipe on the assigned day. All without anyone else knowing who is cooking who. This time we have 19 great blogs participating. You can view all the recipes through the link up at the bottom of this post. 


It took me such a long time to pick just one recipe to make from The Foodie Affair. I loved the Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup, the Peanut Butter Brownies, the Shrimp in Coconut Sauce... I could just go on and on. Eventually I settled for the fabulous Best Boston Cream Pie. I had never heard of this cake but to me it looked like a Victoria Sponge gone wild. So I was sold on the idea. 



I was so delighted with this cake. It was a breeze to make (so don't let the long list of instructions put you off!) and tasted absolutely wonderful. The cake itself was perfectly light, spongy, and airy, the creme pat creamy and smooth, and of course, the chocolate! YUM!

Important note: The Creme Patissiere needs time to chill very well in the refrigerator. It is therefore advisable to make this at least a few hours in advance of making the cake to allow ample time to get a lovely, thick Creme Patissiere.


Boston Cream Pie


Serves about 12

Vanilla Creme Patissiere


3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup cream
½ cup sugar
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 vanilla bean, split


Cake

6 large eggs, at room temperature and separated
1 cup granulated sugar, divided
1 cup self raising flour

Ganache

8 ounces chocolate 
1 cup cream
1 tablespoon butter 

1. Make the Vanilla Creme Patissiere as follows:  Bring the milk and cream to a simmer over medium heat in a saucepan. In a bowl whisk together sugar, eggs, egg yolk and flour to blend. Whisk the warm milk and cream into the egg mixture. Return to saucepan and whisk over medium heat. Add split vanilla bean. Cook for about 5 minutes and let mixture get to a boiling point and let boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Transfer to a small bowl, allow to cool slightly before covering with plastic wrap and storing in the refrigerator to chill for about 4 hours.

2. Preheat oven to 180C (350F). Cut two round circles of parchment paper to fit on the bottom of two 9" cake pans. Set aside. 

3. Using two mixer bowls (one large, one small), separate the eggs by putting the egg whites in the large and the egg yolks in the small bowl. Add ½ cup of sugar to the egg whites and beat until very stiff and set aside. 

4. Add ½ cup of sugar to yolks and beat until very light yellow in color and thick. Fold egg yolks into egg whites. Two tablespoons at a time add flour and gently and quickly fold into mixture (don't over mix or beat). Pour into prepared pans. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick comes out dry.
Cool for about 5 minutes, remove from pan and remove parchment paper. Cool completely on baking racks.

5. Make the ganache by heating the cream and butter over a gentle heat in a saucepan. Add the chocolate, broken into chucks, and mix and very smooth.

6. Assemble the cake by placing one of the sponges (completely cooled)on a cake plate, removing the vanilla bean from the creme patissiere and spreading the creme pat over the cake. Place the second cake on top and pour the ganache over the top of the cake.



40 comments:

  1. Nicole, yay! I'm so glad that you are my secret blogging buddy :) ! I immediately recognized the cake from the round-up! Wow, you did an amazing job. It's just beautiful and isn't it crazy delicious?? I can't imagine making this in a pie in tin since you wouldn't be able to see the beautiful layers. Thank goodness for evolving baking methods. Sharing all over throughout the weekend :) XO

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  2. Yum! I love Boston Cream Pie! Can't wait to try this!

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  3. I love Boston cream donuts - I think I would absolutely love this cake!

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  4. This is amazing!! I love a Boston Creme doughnut so this cake sounds pretty darn perfect!! Cant wait to try it!!

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  5. Love that you gave us a little American history along with the post, it looks fantastic!

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  6. Nicole, that is gorgeous!! I'd be in absolute heaven if I could have a slice of that right now! Sandra's blog is awesome!

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  7. Nicole, I applaud you for making this classic American dessert! I couldn't imagine how such a recipe could come from a girl all the way in New Zealand, but I love the story of how it came to be on your site! I love Sandra's work too and it doesn't surprise me that you should find such inspiration from someone as talented as that lady; wonderful post here. Thank you for sharing!

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  8. You did such a beautiful job with the cake Nicole! I wish I had a slice right now!

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  9. Fabulous recipe! Your cake looks so delicious!

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  10. This looks amazing! My one attempt at a Boston Cream Pie was a complete failure, hah! I didn't leave the custard to chill long enough I think. Yummed!

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  11. Oh my goodness, never had Boston Cream Pie but this looks superb and I really want some now:-)

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  12. This looks so good ! I am yet to make a Boston Cream Pie :-)

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  13. OMG I want some NOW! Looks Amazing!

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  14. Oh my goodness, does this ever look good! Boston cream pie is something I've never made, but I sure do love to eat it, LOL.

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  15. This looks stunning! I just might use this for our Father's Day dessert!

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  16. This looks stunning! I just might use this for our Father's Day dessert!

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  17. Nicole - another stunningly gorgeous dessert from you! You are one amazing baker! I love this, I need to give it a try soon -- such a beautiful presentation! Thanks for being in our group!

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  18. Nicole - another stunningly gorgeous dessert from you! You are one amazing baker! I love this, I need to give it a try soon -- such a beautiful presentation! Thanks for being in our group!

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  19. This looks better than a Boston cream pie. Looks fabulous.

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  20. Wow! You did a fantastic job with this "cake". It looks wonderful. If you have any left, I'll take a piece! :)

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  21. Oh My Goodness! I want a big slice of this incredible cake!! Nettie

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  22. When I studied in the US that was my favorite doughnut! Looks delicious!

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  23. What a gorgeous cake Nic! This was my favorite when I was little!

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  24. This is an absolute stunner, nicely done!!

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  25. That chocolate drizzle keeps pulling me in :-)

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  26. This is my husband's fave dessert. I'm definitely making this one!!

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  27. This is such a show-stopper! Looks totally scrumptious, Nicole!

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  28. Oh my word! This looks amazing!

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  29. What a stunning pie! You're really a master at baking beautiful cakes!

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  30. My kids love boston cream donuts, so I just know they are going to love this cake. It looks really good! :D

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  31. What a treat, this looks sooooo amazing!

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  32. One of my favorites Nicole, although I've never attempted. I'm afraid of making that crème! You've done a beautiful job. To add to your Boston Cream Pie knowledge, the original one was made at The Omni Parker House in Boston. I just happen to be a Boston girl that has even had their version!

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  33. This looks absolutely delicious, my son in law would luuuuv this. Pinning/sharing.

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  34. Boston Cream Pie has been on my 'to make' list for ages! Yours looks absolutely amazing - what a lovely recipe, Nicole!

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  35. I absolutely LOVE Boston Cream Pie!! This looks so good! :) That sponge cake looks divine!

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  36. That chocolate is making me seriously hungry! Looks amazing!

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  37. This is amazing! What a fabulous dessert, and what fabulous skills you have! This is stunning. Yum!

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