Thursday, March 4, 2010

Deluxe Boston Cream Pie


I made this cake a really long time ago - like last summer for my birthday. I never posted about it because I didn't extremely love it. But photos of the cake have been sitting and waiting for their turn, and looking back on my recipe notes I see that I wrote that the vanilla diplomat cream filling was super yummy, and the cake overall was good - I'm just really nitpicky! I think I was disappointed because I didn't really like the buttermilk cake, but then it was the spongey kind and as I've said a million times, I prefer dense cakes. Though I think this style of cake is just the way it's supposed to be for a boston cream pie, because that's what it was like when I made one of my first Daring Bakers' challenges bostini cream pie. So maybe it's just me, and not the cake. I would make this cake again but with a different buttermilk cake, use less filling (it oozed out and the top layer of the cake slid off, yikes), and use less whipped cream frosting.

I haven't made anything else from Baking for All Occasions - any recommendations?

If this sounds good, you might also like:
Orange Chocolate Chunk Cake
Lemon Lust Cake
Strawberry Cream Cake
Tiramisu Cake

Deluxe Boston Cream Pie
Adapted from Baking for All Occasions

Buttermilk Cake
1 3/4 cups (200 grams) cake flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2/3 cup (165 mL) well-shaken buttermilk
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
5 1/2 ounces (1 1/3 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs, lightly beaten

Vanilla Diplomat Cream Filling
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 large egg yolks
3 tbsp all purpose flour
2 tbsp unsalted butter

2/3 cup heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp dark rum

Whipped Cream Frosting and Dark Chocolate Glaze
2 cups heavy cream
10 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

To make the buttermilk cake:
Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350F. Butter a 9 by 2 3/4-inch round springform pan, then flour it, tapping out the excess flour. Or, lightly coat with nonstick spray and flour the pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside. In a small bowl, stir together the buttermilk and vanilla; set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until it is lighter in color, cling sot the sides of the bowl, and has a satiny appearance, 30 to 45 seconds. Increase the speed to medium-high and add the sugar in a steady stream, stopping the mixer occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Continue to beat on medium speed until the mixture is lighter in colour and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes.

With the mixer on medium speed, add the eggs, 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time, beating after each addition until incorporated. If at any time the batter appears watery or shiny (signs of curdling), increase the speed to medium-high and beat until the batter is smooth again. Then return to medium speed and resume adding the eggs, beating until smooth, stopping the mixer as needed to scrape down the sides of the bowl.

On the lowest speed, add the flour mixture in three additions alternately with the buttermilk mixture in two additions, beginning and ending with the flour mixture and mixing only until incorporated after each addition. Stop the mixer after each addition to scrape down the sides of the bowl.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan. With the rubber spatula, spread the batter form the center outward, creating a slightly raised ridge around the outside rim.

Bake the cake until it springs back when lightly touche din the center, a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out free of cake, and the sides are beginning to come away form the pan, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool in the pan for 5 to 10 minutes.

Slip a small metal spatula between the still-warm cake and the pan and run the spatula carefully along the entire perimeter of the pan. Release the springform claps and remove the sides. Transfer cake to cooling rack. Let cool completely.

To make the vanilla diplomat cream filling:
Rest a fine-mesh sieve over a 1 quart bowl and set nearby for straining the pastry cream later. Pour the milk and 1/4 cup of the sugar into a 1 1/2 quart saucepan. Add the vanilla.

In a small bowl, whisk the egg yolks until blended, then whisk in the remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Add the flour and whisk to combine; set aside. Bring the milk mixture just to a boil over medium heat. Remove from the heat and pour half of the milk mixture into the yolk mixture while whisking constantly. Return the combined mixture to the saucepan and whisk to combine. Return to medium heat and heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture just comes to a boil, 1 to 2 minutes. It will have thickened at this point. Continue to stir and simmer until it is smooth and thick, about 1 minute more. Remove from the heat, add the butter, and stir until the butter is melted and incorporated. Pour through the sieve into the bowl. Set aside to cool for 15 to 20 minutes. (Once it has cooled, you can refrigerate it in a sealed container for up to 3 days.)

To assemble the dessert:
In a medium, deep bowl, using a whisk or a handheld mixer, whip the heavy cream until soft peaks form. Refrigerate briefly while splitting the cake.

Using a 12 inch serrated knife, split the cake in half horizontally. Place the bottom layer, cut side up, on your cake plate. Spoon about 1/2 cup of the whipped cream into a pastry bag fitted with a 5/16 inch plain open tip. Pipe a line of the whipped cream around the edge of the cake layer. Stir the vanilla and rum into the cold pastry cream until smooth. Then fold the remaining whipped cream into the pastry cream. Spoon the filling evenly over the cake layer. Using an offset spatula, spread it evenly just to the line of whipped cream. Center the other cake layer, cut side down, on top.

To make the whipped cream frosting and dark chocolate glaze:
In a medium deep bowl, using a whisk or handheld mixer, whip 1 cup of the cream until soft peaks form. Using a metal icing spatula, frost the top and sides of the cake with the whipped cream. Place the cake uncovered in the freezer for 40 minutes only (this is just enough time to chill the whipped cream frosting.)

While the cake is in the freezer, prepare the chocolate glaze. Put the chocolate in a medium bowl. In a small, heavy saucepan, bring the remaining 1 cup cream just to a boil over medium-low heat. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate, let stand for about 20 seconds, and then whisk until smooth and shiny. Set aside to cool to body temperature.

Take the cake out of the freezer. Pour the chocolate glaze over the cake to cover the top and sides, using the metal icing spatula to assist in spreading the glaze over the top and down the sides. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.

To serve, dip the blade in hot water and wipe dry with a towel before each cut.

21 comments:

Renai said...

I just ate a very bland and boring bowl of cereal for breakfast- and this is the first thing I look at afterward. Ouch! Despite the spongy cake- it still looks and sounds DELICOUS!

Anonymous said...

I have actually never had Boston Cream Pie before. Your sure looks good though!

I hate when you put some kind of frosting or filling between cake and it kind of just oozes out. I never figured out how to fix that problem. I guess all that matters though is how it tastes, not how it looks.

Cookie baker Lynn said...

I made Silver Cake (without the poppy seeds) as part of my Valentine's Checkerboard Cake. It turned out really nicely.

It's so disappointing when things don't turn out well. I think your cake looks delicious. I particularly like the oozing filling.

Ricki said...

Oooh, decadence to the nth degree! It's just that oozing, slipping cream/chocolate/cake part that caught my eye! ;)

Amanda said...

I have had a hard time with that book. Everything is so unique and specialized. Nothing sounds like an everyday treat, you know?

Jacqueline Meldrum said...

Well is certainly looks amazing! I want to sink a fork into it! Mmmmmmmm :)

Snooky doodle said...

I think it looks divine :) pity you didn t like it much

Rachael said...

That looks HEAVENLY! So decadent!

Edana said...

Kiersten said it--taste is way more important! I made your Orange Chocolate Chunk Bundt and it fell apart out of the pan, but the ganache actually covered it and it was so good I didn't care. I bet I wouldn't care if this one were slippery and oozing. I bet it's wonderful. (Now I need an excuse to make a cake!)

http://edanacooks.blogspot.com/

nycstylelittlecannoli said...

looks wonderful! boston creme cake is really, really good stuff !!! thanx for making my mouth water!!


http://nycstylecannoli.blogspot.com

Usha said...

That looks just fabulous !

Deborah said...

I love Boston cream pie - too bad this one wasn't the best. I sure looks good, though!

grace said...

the filling and frosting would be my favorite parts, even if they caused the cake to slide all over the place. it's a good-looking creation even if it wasn't the best boston cream pie of all time. :)

Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets said...

Sorry this wasn't quite to your liking. It's looks great, though! If you're ever looking to change it up. Switching out the chocolate glaze with a penuche frosting is pretty dynamite.

crunchyveganwifelife said...

I love love love your blog!!!!
I am vegan, and I love to look at beautiful pictures of food!!!
Thank you sincerely!!!!
I can't wait to see what you make next!!!!

Dana said...

It's hard for me to believe but I have never had a Boston Cream Pie let alone made one. It looks like you did a terrific job here! I've had hit and miss luck with that book, but the eggnog cake (which is on the cover) was incredibly delicious. Don't you hate how it is laid out? I think I would use it more often if it had more traditional table of contents.

Chef Aimee said...

I love Boston Cream Pie and this recipe made my day!

Lot-O-Choc said...

Oooh wow this looks good to me, I've never had Boston Creme Pie before, it looks good!! Shame you didn't think it was all that amazing :(.

Hannah said...

Oh yum, that just looks amazing. I've never made a traditional Boston creme pie... Another thing to put on my baking list, I suppose. :)

Chef Fresco said...

Yeah, I hate when you invest a bunch of time back or something then it turns out sub-par. The main thing is that people are honest so no one gets disappointed. Looks great though!

kimberleyblue said...

I've never been a big fan of desserts of the boston cream variety, but this cake does look excellent (even if you weren't a big fan of it).

I'm happy you decided to post it. :)