This easy Boston Cream Pie recipe is semi-homemade dessert with a cream filling covered in a chocolate ganache but tastes like you spent all day making it. This is the best recipe out there. Is it a pie or is it a cake? It’s both. You can even make Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes instead of a cake.

Boston Cream Pie - easy and impressive. {The Girl Who Ate Everything}

I may earn commissions for purchases made through links on this post.

BOSTON CREAM PIE

This Boston Cream Pie is the perfect dessert for you because it’s a semi-homemade dessert that looks impressive but really is a cinch.

Usually I think from scratch recipes taste way better than the semi-homemade option but this is one of those that you really cannot tell the difference.

Creamy custard mix is sandwiched between fluffy cake layers and topped with a decadent chocolate sauce. The original Boston Cream Pie cake is made with an airy sponge cake and homemade pastry cream. This versions is way easier!

The middle kind of reminds me of this Banana Pudding. Equally as decadent.

This dessert comes from my friend Bridian who shares the same love for food and baking that I do.

When I first moved to Florida I had just my oldest son and had never used a babysitter besides my family. I was super anxious when my husband had a work function and  I needed a sitter.

Bridian came to my rescue. She was 14 years old at the time but was used to tending and cooking for her family of eight.

I called her probably five times to check on him in the two hours we were gone but of course, he was fine.

Seven years later, Bridian’s off experiencing college life. We’ve recently been bonded by some of the same life experiences. She has quite the story. 

She’s one of those people that just has a way with words and I can’t stop reading. Thanks Bridian for this recipe.

 

  Yes, it tastes as good as it looks.
 custard
 
You can make this as easy or as hard as you want. You could use Cool Whip but since we’re already using a boxed cake mix I thought why not use homemade whipped cream.
 
It might seem like a lot of filling and you may feel entitled to eat it all but trust me, you’re going to want all that filling in there. This isn’t the rich pastry cream that often Boston Cream cake has but this version is lighter.
 
Gently fold it in and spread over the bottom cake layer then place the top layer on top and press down slightly.
 
glaze
 
 
Pour the warm chocolate frosting over the top and slightly spread it to the edges and let it drip down the side of the cake. Hurry, because it cools quickly.
 
I’m a chocolate girl so I might make 1.5x the rich chocolate ganache next time just to make sure I have enough. Some versions use corn syrup in the chocolate fondant but I like this version better.
 
Boston Cream Pie - easy and impressive. {The Girl Who Ate Everything}

OTHER CAKE RECIPES:

Boston Cream Pie - easy and impressive. {The Girl Who Ate Everything}

Boston Cream Pie

4.63 from 69 votes
This easy Boston Cream Pie recipe is semi-homemade with a custard filling made with instant pudding but tastes like you spent all day making it. This is the best recipe out there with a homemade chocolate glaze.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

For the cake:

  • 1 yellow cake mix, (and ingredients called for on the package)

Filling:

  • 1 cup cold milk
  • 1 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding
  • 1 1/2 cups Cool Whip or homemade whipped cream

Chocolate Glaze: (If you want a thicker layer you could double this)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven and prepare cake mix according to package directions. Line two 9-inch round pans with parchment paper or spray thoroughly with cooking spray. The only way you can mess up this cake is if your cake sticks to the pans so make sure that doesn't happen. Bake cake according to package directions; until golden brown and center passes the toothpick test. Once done, let cakes cool and invert on a wire rack to cool further.
  • Beat 1 cup of milk and pudding mix  in a medium bowl with a whisk or mixer for 2 minutes. Gently fold in whipped cream. Let stand 5 minutes. Stack cake layers on serving plate, spreading pudding mixture between the first and second cake layer.
  • For the glaze: Microwave chocolate and butter on high for one minute in a small microwave safe bowl. Stir until chocolate is melted. Add powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons milk; mix well until smooth. Spread over the top of the cake immediately letting drip down the sides of the cake. Refrigerate at least one hour before serving.

Notes

from my friend Bridian
Cuisine: American
Course: Dessert
boston cream pie
This easy Boston Cream Pie recipe is semi-homemade with a cream filling but tastes like you spent all day making it. This is the best recipe out there.

 

 
author avatar
Christy Denney
Christy is the voice behind The Girl Who Who Ate Everything! She is no stranger to making meals that kids and adults will love. She grew up in Mesa, Arizona as the youngest of ten kids. She can always be found in her kitchen with music playing and cooking with her kids. She published her first cookbook in 2014. She loves party food that gets the conversations going!