San Francisco Meets Boston Cream Pie

Submitted by Caroline Cooks

"Easy! a family and guest-pleaser. A better-than average-chocolate is a must! Try adding in-season sliced strawberries over bottom layer after spreading pudding filling! So yummy! Cooking time does not include refrigerated time. Note: Several reviewers have commented on glaze "setting up" fast. Best to assemble while cake layers are at room temp. Added 07.21.12 "Why is it called a pie?", and "Why the name 'Boston'?". Why "pie" instead of "cake?", probably because colonists baked cakes in pie tins as they did not own cake pans. As far as the name Boston Cream Pie, story began when a New York newspaper in 1855 published a recipe for a 'Pudding Pie Cake'. Recipe was similar to the Boston Cream Pie recipe of today except that it had a powdered sugar topping. In Boston, Harvey D. Parker opened a restaurant called Parker House Restaurant. On the menu was a 'Parker House Cake Pie", which has evolved into Boston Cream Pie. :)"

 

• Ready In: 35mins
• Ingredients: 10
• Serves: 6-8

ingredients

• 1 (9 ounce) package jiffy yellow cake mix
• 1 (3 1/2 ounce) package vanilla instant pudding mix
• 1 cup milk
• 3⁄4 cup half-and-half cream
• glaze
• 1 1⁄2 ounces ghirardelli dark chocolate
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1⁄4 cup powdered sugar
• 1⁄4 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 tablespoons half-and-half cream

directions

1. Prepare cake according to directions; baking in greased and lightly floured 8” round cake pan.
2. When baked, let stand 5 minutes, then remove from pan and cool on wire rack.
3. Prepare pudding mix according to directions, using 1 milk and 3/4 cup Half/Half; cover and chill while preparing glaze.
4. Glaze-In small saucepan, cook chocolate and butter on low heat till melted.
5. Stir in sugar, vanilla and milk, cook to spreading consistency (like syrup).
6. To assemble pie-Cut layer of baked cake in two equal halves. (Cooks note:—take a long length of strong sewing thread, wrap around fingers on both hands; hold taut on either side of layer and move carefully at same height through cake layer.).
7. Set top aside.
8. Carefully spread pudding mixture over bottom layer to edges.
9. Top with second layer and press to set. Spread very warm glaze on top of pie, letting glaze flow down in a few places on sides.
10. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Cover & refrigerate left-over pie.

Reviews

[Baby Kato]

This was wonderful Caroline. So quick and easy to make. Just what the doctor ordered. It was my dh's birthday, and Boston Cream Pie was his pick. I used chocolate pudding, dh's preference and topped with a really good extra fine, extra dark chocolate. This beautiful dessert was amazing. The texture and flavor were spot on. I took the cake out of the fridge 1/2 hour before I was ready to serve, so that the rich, sweet, chocolate glaze could soften.Thank you so much for sharing this treasure, that I will make again. :)

 

[dragonlady647]

Excellant cake/pie I made 2 due to DD needed it for a project at school so we test drove this recipe on the family. The pudding was not thick enough so added whipped cream on the first cake to make it thicker . Layers slid when we cut the cake. so second cake I made my own pudding from scratch and consistancy was much better. Overall I will try this again.

 

[Chef Jean]

Ohhh sooo yummy! I had a few layers of yellow cake in the freezer so I used three thin layers of cake and two layers of pudding. The amount of pudding was perfect for two layers and the chocolate glaze was the perfect amount :)

 

[jneen]

I made this for Easter dinner. It was very good. I had some difficulty with the glaze. I used a two layer yellow cake. Next time I'll use the Jiffy. I put the finished cake in the refrigerator and the glaze hardened too much. I used Ghiradelli dark chocolate for baking. I doubled the glaze and was careful not to overcook it. I'll try it again some time and see if I have better luck.

 

[Joann]

I followed one of the other reviewers and made a homemade yellow cake, It tasted good, but it made so much cake doing it homemade, I should have cut the cake recipe in half, and also doubled the glaze.