Divine Boston Cream Cake Recipe

Golden Boston Cream Cake Recipe for Sweet Smiles

Sweet dreams come alive with this irresistible Boston cream delight cake that combines silky smooth pastry cream and rich chocolate glaze.

Layers of tender vanilla sponge cake embrace a luscious custard filling that melts in your mouth.

Every forkful promises pure indulgence and a classic dessert experience.

The delicate balance of creamy textures and decadent flavors makes this cake a showstopper at any gathering.

Home bakers can easily recreate this bakery-style treat with simple ingredients and straightforward techniques.

Each slice promises a symphony of flavors that dance between soft cake, velvety cream, and glossy chocolate.

Dive into this delectable dessert and experience a slice of pure comfort and joy.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Calories: 230 kcal

Servings: 13

Boston Cream Cake Ingredient Guide

For Cake Base:
  • Yellow Butter Cake Mix: Provides the soft, golden foundation that cradles the creamy filling.
  • Wooden Spoon: Essential tool for creating perfect pudding-trapping holes in the warm cake.
For Creamy Filling:
  • Vanilla Instant Pudding: Delivers luscious, silky texture and classic vanilla sweetness.
  • Milk: Helps create smooth, velvety pudding consistency for cake filling.
For Decadent Topping:
  • Chocolate Chips: Offers rich, deep chocolate flavor for homemade ganache.
  • Heavy Whipping Cream: Creates luxurious, glossy ganache with perfect pour-able consistency.
  • Pre-Made Chocolate Frosting: Convenient alternative for quick and easy cake topping.

Tools That Make Boston Cream Cake Easy

Equipment & Tools:
  • 9×13 baking pan: Essential for baking the cake to the perfect size and shape.
  • Wooden spoon: Ideal for creating evenly spaced holes in the warm cake.
  • Microwave-safe bowl: Perfect for melting chocolate or heating frosting smoothly.
  • Whisk: Great for mixing ganache to a silky, lump-free consistency.
  • Measuring cups: Necessary for accurate pudding and ingredient measurements.
  • Spatula: Helpful for spreading pudding and frosting evenly across the cake.

Steps to Assemble Boston Cream Cake

  • Cake Base

Whip up a delightful yellow butter cake in a 9×13 pan, following the package directions. Aim for a golden, perfectly baked treat that’s moist and inviting.

  • Pudding Magic

After the cake emerges from the oven, grab a wooden spoon and create a landscape of little holes across the warm surface. Gently cascade vanilla pudding into these pockets, letting it seep deep into the cake’s core.

  • Chilling Interlude

Slide the pudding-covered cake into the refrigerator. Let it rest and cool for a couple of hours, allowing the creamy layers to set and mingle.

  • Chocolate Crown

Craft a luxurious chocolate topping. Melt chocolate chips with heavy cream, whisking until silky smooth. Once slightly cooled, drizzle this decadent ganache over the chilled pudding layer, creating a glossy chocolate blanket.

  • Final Rest

Return the cake to the refrigerator for a few more hours. This waiting period lets the flavors marry and the textures harmonize, transforming your creation into a truly irresistible dessert.

Tips for Rich Custard in Cream Cake

  • Pudding Perfection Tip: Maximize flavor by using whole milk when preparing instant pudding for a richer, creamier texture that complements the cake beautifully.
  • Hole-Poking Hack: Create smaller, more frequent holes for better pudding distribution, ensuring every bite is moist and packed with creamy goodness.
  • Ganache Game Changer: Experiment with different chocolate types like dark, milk, or semi-sweet to customize the cake's chocolate intensity and match your taste preferences.
  • Make-Ahead Magic: This cake actually tastes better when allowed to sit overnight, giving the flavors time to meld and become more pronounced, making it an ideal dessert for advance preparation.
  • Decoration Delight: Sprinkle some chocolate shavings, fresh berries, or a light dusting of powdered sugar on top to elevate the cake's visual appeal and add an extra layer of taste complexity.

Serving Boston Cream Cake Gracefully

  • Sweet Party Centerpiece: Wow guests by presenting this cake as the star dessert at birthdays, potlucks, or family gatherings – its layers and creamy texture make it a total showstopper.
  • Decadent Dessert Pairing: Serve chilled slices alongside a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a warm cup of coffee to enhance the cake's rich chocolate and vanilla flavors.
  • Elegant Slice and Share: Cut precise, clean squares to highlight the beautiful pudding and chocolate layers, making each serving look professionally prepared and Instagram-worthy.
  • Make-Ahead Meal Finale: Prepare this cake the night before an event, letting it chill overnight to develop deeper, more integrated flavors that will impress everyone at the table.

Storage Advice for Cream-Filled Cake

  • Quick Chill Strategy: Refrigerate the cake immediately after adding pudding and topping to help layers set perfectly and enhance flavor melding.
  • Slice and Serve Trick: Cut clean cake slices by using a warm, clean knife wiped between each slice to prevent pudding from sticking and ensure beautiful presentation.
  • Freshness Window: Store the cake covered in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days, keeping it wrapped tightly with plastic wrap or in an airtight container to maintain moisture and prevent absorbing other refrigerator odors.
  • Freezing Friend: Wrap individual cake slices in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, and freeze for up to 2 weeks. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator for a make-ahead dessert option that maintains its delicious texture and taste.
Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Divine Boston Cream Cake Recipe

Divine Boston Cream Cake Recipe


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.7 from 27 reviews

  • Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
  • Yield: 13 1x

Description

Indulgent Boston cream delight cake blends creamy custard, silky chocolate ganache, and tender vanilla sponge for a classic American dessert. Sweet layers meld perfectly, promising a luxurious experience that delights taste buds from first bite to last.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 box yellow butter recipe cake mix
  • 2 small boxes French Vanilla instant pudding
  • 1 cup (240 ml) heavy whipping cream
  • 8 oz (226 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 12 oz (340 g) chopped chocolate bar
  • 1 tub premade chocolate frosting
  • Ingredients required by cake mix box
  • Ingredients required by pudding mix box

Instructions

  1. Cake Preparation: Activate the oven and meticulously craft the yellow butter cake mix according to package specifications, utilizing a 9×13 inch pan. Ensure uniform baking with a radiant golden-brown exterior.
  2. Pudding Integration: Fabricate the vanilla pudding per package guidelines, maintaining an ideal creamy consistency. While the cake remains warm, systematically perforate the surface with a wooden spoon handle, creating strategic pathways for pudding absorption.
  3. Pudding Infusion: Delicately pour the prepared pudding into the cake’s perforations, allowing deep penetration. Distribute the remaining pudding across the entire cake surface, creating a luscious, saturated layer.
  4. Preliminary Chilling: Refrigerate the pudding-infused cake for 1.5 to 2 hours, enabling complete pudding stabilization and flavor melding.
  5. Chocolate Topping Creation: Select between pre-made chocolate frosting or artisanal ganache. For store-bought frosting, gently microwave in brief intervals, stirring to achieve a fluid consistency. Alternatively, craft homemade ganache by melting chocolate chips with heavy whipping cream, whisking until achieving a luxurious, silky texture.
  6. Topping Application: Carefully drape the chosen chocolate topping over the chilled pudding layer, ensuring comprehensive and uniform coverage.
  7. Final Chilling: Return the cake to the refrigerator, allowing a minimum of 4 hours or preferably overnight for complete layer integration and topping solidification.

Notes

  • Cake Consistency Check: Ensure the yellow butter cake is baked evenly, with a golden-brown surface to provide the perfect base for the pudding and ganache layers.
  • Pudding Perfection: Create systematic holes across the warm cake to allow maximum pudding absorption, ensuring a rich, creamy texture throughout each slice.
  • Ganache Genius: When making homemade ganache, heat chocolate and cream carefully to prevent burning, whisking until achieving a silky smooth consistency.
  • Chill and Settle: Allow the cake to rest in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight, enabling the layers to meld and develop a harmonious, decadent flavor profile.
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 13
  • Calories: 230
  • Sugar: 20 g
  • Sodium: 250 mg
  • Fat: 10 g
  • Saturated Fat: 5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 32 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 3 g
  • Cholesterol: 30 mg
Jessica Martin

Jessica Martin

Recipe Developer & Food Writer

Expertise

Recipe Development, Food Styling and Photography​, Seasonal and Local Ingredients​, Vegetarian and Vegan Cuisine​, Culinary Education​

Education

Portland Community College

  • Degree: Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Comprehensive training in culinary techniques, kitchen management, and food safety. Gained hands-on experience in preparing diverse cuisines and understanding flavor profiles

Oregon Culinary Institute

  • Program: Baking and Pastry Certificate
  • Focus: Specialized education in baking fundamentals, pastry arts, and dessert presentation. Emphasized creativity and precision in crafting baked goods.​

Jessica Martin is a talented food writer and recipe creator who specializes in seasonal cooking and approachable home baking. 

Educated at Portland Community College with additional pastry training from Oregon Culinary Institute, Jessica’s culinary journey spans nearly a decade of creating and sharing flavorful recipes. 

Her deep appreciation for local ingredients shapes each of her recipes, making them both accessible and inspiring. At Beard and Bonnet, Jessica uses her cheerful, down-to-earth writing to help readers effortlessly bring new tastes and creative dishes into their daily routines.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star