My Dad Loved Boston Cream Pie
Perhaps the word loved is an understatement here. My dad lived and breathed for the chocolatey-puddingy goodness of a Boston cream anything. Pies, doughnuts, cakes if it was labeled Boston cream, he was game. At the mere mention of the confection, his eyes would light up like a kid on Christmas morning, and he would tap his fingers together in joyful anticipation of the deliciousness to come. One of my favorite childhood memories is of him happily hopping into the car to drive downtown and get a box of the best Boston cream doughnuts goin! on a weekend morning.
My dad passed away in 2012, and every year since, I have honored his birthday with a Boston cream doughnut toast.
I recently found out October 23 is National Boston Cream Pie Day. So, in honor of my dad, Dave, here is a compilation of seven of the best Boston cream pies goin! in the Boston area.
Assembling Boston Cream Pie
With the three parts ready to go, its time to get the Boston Cream Pie assembled and enjoyed! While the glaze is cooling, place one of the cooled sponge cakes onto a cardboard round or cake stand. Spread the pastry cream evenly over the top.
Place the second cake on top. Pour the glaze onto the middle of the cake and let it flow down the sides of the cake. Let the cake sit for about an hour until the glaze has set. This dessert is best served the same day. Store any leftover pie covered, in the refrigerator, for 3-4 days.
Boston Cream Pie Ingredients
There are three important parts to this recipesponge cakes, pastry cream filling, and chocolate glaze. The pastry cream should be made first since it has to be stored in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours, up to 2 days.
Half-and-Half: Half and half is equal parts milk and cream, which is used in the pastry cream.
Heavy Cream: Heavy cream is used in the chocolate glaze, and it is different than half-and-half. Heavy cream is between 30-36% fat and all cream.
Eggs: You will need a total of 10 eggs in this recipe. Using five egg yolks in the pastry cream resulted in a thicker, richer cream. And, you will need five additional whole eggs at room temperature for the sponge cake.
Cornstarch: Cornstarch was used in this recipe to thicken up the cream. Cornstarch is also easier to use in this recipe compared to flour.
Flour: Both cake flour and all-purpose flour were used in the sponge cake recipe.
Light Corn Syrup: Light corn syrup is a natural sweetener. It helps give you a glossy texture in the chocolate glaze. I do not recommend using dark corn syrup in the glaze recipe.
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Parkers Restaurant At The Omni Parker House : : Boston
Come eat the delicious pie where it all began! The inaugural chef at Bostons Parker House Hotel is credited with creating the Boston cream pie recipe in 1856, and it has been a menu staple since. The original recipe is made of marbled dark and white chocolate, with a toasted almond exterior. And it most certainly is something to write home about.
Best Of The Best Boston Cream Pie
So, which won my vote for favorite? First, lets be clear. I loved all of them or they wouldnt be on this list. But if I HAD to choose
Boston Cream Pie from Left: Flour Bakery & Cafe Right: Omni Parker House
Flour Bakery & Cafe was my favorite for all-around taste and texture. It just had the it factor for me! A very close second was the original at Omni Paker House. Omni Parker House won best martini list EVER!
Where To Stay in BostonFound Hotel Boston is where I stayed my first two nights. A great mid-range option, it is located in the theater district close to Boston Gardens and has great amenities.Westin Copley Place is where I stayed the next several nights. It is luxury-range and located right in Copley Square not far from Boston Gardens or Fenway Park. The amenities are fabulous here as well.
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Making The Pastry Cream
Frequently Asked Questions And Answers
What are people saying about bakeries in Boston, MA?
This is a review for bakeries in Boston, MA:
I took shelter from the pouring rain in Flour bakery and was so glad I did. They have outdoor seating that is covered and out of the rain, but I chose to eat indoors. They have an easy online order pickup on a shelf in the dining room, but the line does move quickly if you order there. There are vegetarian, gluten free and dairy free options for some of their salads and sandwiches. Their pastry selection is mouth watering. You wont be able to resist a cookie, muffin, or Boston cream pie. I ordered a blueberry muffin that was moist and packed with blueberries. A muffin and a coffee was the perfect respite from the crazy Boston weather.
- Downtown
- price 3 of 4
The Omni Parker House Hotel is one of the most historic in the city. It was here, at Parkers Restaurant, where the Boston cream pie was born. This creamy, delicious traditional version consists of a light sponge cake filled with pastry cream and topped with chocolate. Walk off the calorites by checking out the hotels historic environs and interesting memorabilia.
- South End
- price 2 of 4
Joanne Changs beloved spot for pastries and baked goods offers a delicious, artfully-crafted version of the Boston cream pie. Layers of fluffy yellow cake and vanilla cream are toppped with a smooth chocolate ganache and coffee syrup.
- North End
- price 1 of 4
- Seaport District
- price 2 of 4
- North End
- price 2 of 4
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Veggie Galaxy : : Cambridge
If you are looking for an old-school diner vibe and a delicious vegan twist on an age-old classic head on over to Veggie Galaxy in Cambridge. The 100% vegan confection boasts a delectable vanilla bean pastry cream sandwiched between two layers of yellow cake and glazed with a heavenly dark Taza chocolate ganache.
Where To Get Pie In Boston
Pie season is here. And if youre like us, youre always working on a game plan for how youre going to eat as much of it as possible.
Were here to help. Weve created a list of stops in Boston to include as part of your strategy. Fruit pies, chocolate pies, cream pies theyre all there. You can also pre-order pies from all of these places. Shave a little stress off of making it yourself and pick up a couple of these babies instead? Nobody will be sad, we promise.
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Massachusetts Boston Cream Pie Recipe
The best delicious Massachusetts Boston Cream Pie recipe with easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions that are straightforward and foolproof. Try this Massachusetts Boston Cream Pie recipe today!
Hello my friends, this Massachusetts Boston Cream Pie recipe will not disappoint, I promise! Made with simple ingredients, our Massachusetts Boston Cream Pie is amazingly delicious, and addictive, everyone will be asking for more Massachusetts Boston Cream Pie.
Best Place To Get Boston Cream Pie Desserts :
Where are the best places to get the absolute best Boston cream pie desserts…whether it be pie, cupcakes, donuts, etc. 🙂 And which part of Boston is it located in?
I don’t know what’s best but if it were me I’d go where it was invented and that’s the Parker House.
As long as I can do take out pie. I’m traveling alone and that place is too fancy to eat alone in 🙂
Omni Parker House is where it originated.
The restaurant at the Parker House isn’t really that “fancy”, so eating there as a single really isn’t a big deal. But I’m sure they will wrap up a slice of the pie to take out for you.
I’m pretty sure the Food Court and Quincy market place, or whatever it’s official name is, would have a place or two if you want a walk up counter type place. If you’re doing typical tourist things you’d probably want to go there anyway.
You don’t get a slice when you get the Boston Cream Pie at the Parker House. You actually get your own individual little Boston Cream Pie.
Edited: 4 years ago
“The restaurant at the Parker House isn’t really that “fancy”, so eating there as a single really isn’t a big deal”
You can actually get it at the store at the Omni Parker House without eating at the restaurant.
You could also get it at Parker’s Bar in the hotel.
Not that it matter or to imply you shouldn’t go on this quest but FYI, OP, Boston Cream Pie isn’t really a ‘thing’ in Boston much beyond places that get a lot of tourists and know they’ll be looking for it.
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Boston Cream Pie Cocktail At The Last Hurrah
If youd prefer to sip your Boston cream pie, guess what, thats a thing you can do! The Last Hurrah in the Omni Parker House serves a Boston cream pie martini with vanilla vodka, Godiva chocolate liqueur, Kerry Gold Irish cream, and a chocolate rim. We cant even handle how delicious this is. Its hard to only have one, they go down far too easy, but were not complaining about it.
How To Make Sponge Cake
Sponge Cakes rely on whipped eggs to give them lift and structure. The cakes are perfect for this Boston Cream Pie recipe. You will need two, 8-inch round cake pans that have been sprayed with nonstick spray or prepared with GOOP. In addition, line the bottoms of the pans with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together both kinds of flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. Next, in a microwave-safe bowl, add the milk and butter. Heat until the butter has melted , and then add the vanilla. Cover the bowl to keep warm.
Meanwhile, separate three eggs. To the bowl of a stand mixer, add the three egg whites only. To the bowl of just egg yolks, add the other two whole eggs. Set that bowl aside. At low speed, beat the egg whites until foamy. Increase the speed to medium and gradually add 6 tablespoons of sugar, beating until soft peaks form. Transfer the beaten eggs to a large bowl.
Now, it is the egg yolks with whole eggs mixture to be mixed in the bowl of the stand mixer. So, add the eggs to the stand mixer, along with the remaining 6 tablespoons of sugar. Mix on medium-high speed until the eggs are thick . Add these eggs to the bowl with the beaten egg whites mixture.
Sprinkle the flour mixture over the egg mixture. Gently fold in the flour mixture about 12 times with a rubber spatula, or until mostly combined. Make a well in the batter. Pour the melted butter and milk mixture into the well. Gently fold with the spatula until no trace of flour is remaining.
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Boston Cream Pie History:
Cooks in New England and Pennsylvania Dutch regions were known for their cakes and pies and the dividing line between them was very thin. This cake was probably called a pie because in the mid-nineteenth century, pie tins were more common than cake pans. The first versions might have been baked in pie tins. Boston Cream Pie is a remake of the early AmericanPudding-cake pie.
1856 The Parker House Hotel , claims to have served Boston cream pies since their opening in 1856. French chef Sanzian, who was hired for the opening of the hotel, is credited with creating Boston cream pie. This cake was originally served at the hotel with the names Chocolate Cream Pie or Parker House Chocolate Cream Pie. This was the first hotel in Boston to have hot-and-cold running water, and the first to have an elevator.
1879 In the cookbook, Housekeeping in Old Virginia, by Marion Cabell Tyree, has the following recipe for Boston Cream Cakes:Boston Cream Cakes:1 1/2 cups of water1 cup butter5 eggs
Boil the butter and water together, stir in the flour while boiling after it is cool, add the eggs, well beaten. Put a large spoonful in muffin rings, and bake twenty minutes in a hot oven.
The cream for them is made as follows: Put over the fire one cup of milk and not quite a cup of sugar, one egg, mixed with three teaspoonfuls of corn starch and one tablespoonful of butter. Boil a few moments only. When cool, add vanilla to the taste.
Open the cakes and fill them with this cream.
Bovas Bakery Is One Of The Best Sweet Shops In Boston
Located in the North End, Bovas Bakery is known for its traditional Italian baked goods, including Sicilian cannolis, tiramisu, cookies, breads, and pies. They also offer other specialty desserts, including Sfogliatelle, Éclairs, Crème Brule, lobster tails, and more.
Bovas Bakery has been making homemade Italian pastries, cookies, and breads for over 80 years. Its become a staple amongst Bostonians and New Englanders alike, who flock here to enjoy some of the finest Italian treats around. Its no wonder, then, that Bovas has some of Boston best dessert.
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Parkers Restaurant Has The Best Dessert In Boston
All visitors of Boston ought to try the citys most famous dessert, the Boston cream pie. And what better place to try it than at the Boston dessert restaurant where it all began?
Located inside the historic Omni Parker House, Parkers Restaurant is the birthplace of this classic cake . Boston cream pies are a type of sponge cake filled with cream and topped with chocolate. This New England classic is fluffy, soft, and buttery the perfect combination for a dessert course.
In addition to Parkers Restaurant, you can find delicious Boston cream pies at Mikes Pastry, Flour Bakery & Café, and Bovas Bakery. Though if youre looking for a top Boston dessert restaurant, this is it!