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    Home » Recipes » Dessert » Cakes

    Boston Cream Cupcakes

    Published by Melissa on March 5, 2022 | Updated June 10, 2022 | 24 Comments

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    Boston Cream Cupcakes are filled with luscious pastry cream and topped with rich chocolate ganache: a fun and fabulous homemade dessert for birthdays or any celebration.

    boston cream cupcakes with ganache frosting

    ❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe: These chocolate-topped, cream-filled cupcakes go the extra mile. The cake is dense and moist with a sweet pastry cream filling. And the ganache on top is simple, but so elegant!

    Update: We make these Boston Cream Cupcakes for St. Patrick’s Day every year. This year, I’ve updated the recipe with new tips and photos. 

    pinterest button for boston cream cupcakes

    How to Make Boston Cream Cupcakes

    To make the moist chocolate cupcakes, you only need a hand whisk and a mixing bowl. Feel free to use a mixer if you like but it’s not necessary.

    This cupcake recipe is a bit different from your classic recipe, however. The first step is to add boiling water to your chocolate and cocoa in a mixing bowl to melt the chocolate and dissolve the cocoa powder. Whisk well, and then be sure to refrigerate the mixture for 20 minutes. The mixture has to cool before you add the eggs, or you risk cooking them!

    making pastry cream steps

    Pastry Cream Tips

    If you haven’t made pastry cream before, it’s eaiser than you think and so delicious. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when making the cream filling for your Boston Cream Cupcakes:

    • Once the milk mixture starts to boil it will start to thicken quickly, so keep an eye on your pot as you’re making the pastry cream. 
    • When you add ¼ cup of the hot milk mixture to your eggs, you are “tempering” the mixture. This just means getting your eggs yolks warmed up so they don’t cook when added to the pan of hot milk.
    • When adding your tempered egg yolks to the hot milk, continually whisk so that the egg yolks keep moving and don’t cook or scramble.
    • When adding the butter and vanilla, whisk well until fully incorporated.
    • It’s important to cover the pastry cream with plastic wrap for storage. To do so, place the plastic wrap directly on the surface of the cream. This will help avoid a skin from forming on the surface of the pudding.
    • When making whipped cream, you only need to whip it into soft peaks. This means the whipped cream will be soft and pillowy. It will hold up and keep its shape without spreading out, but doesn’t need to be super stiff. 
    • The final step is to gently fold the whipped cream into the pudding mixture. The mixture is fully mixed once all of the white streaks of whipped cream have disappeared and the mixture is a uniform light yellow color.
    making chocolate ganache frosting

    Chocolate Ganache

    Chocolate ganache is a great back-pocket recipe for decorating cakes, cupcakes and cookies. It’s very fast and easy to make! Here are a few tips to help perfect your ganache:

    • Once you heat the cream and pour it over the chocolate in a heat-proof bowl, let sit for 1-2 minutes. This will allow the hot cream to soften the chocolate prior to stirring. 
    • Then, when you stir, start in the center and stir in very small circular motions. As ganache starts to come together you can make larger circles. Mix until the ganache is smooth and uniform.
    • Before you decorate the cupcakes, the ganache should be at room temperature, but no cooler. 
    • Note that when you start to whip your ganache it will lighten a bit in color, this is normal.
    filling chocoalte cupcakes with patry cream

    Assembly Instructions

    When your pastry cream, cupcakes and chocolate ganache are ready, you’re all set to assemble the cupcakes. Here’s how to do it:

    1. Using a cupcake plunger or a knife, core out a cavity in each cupcake. Keep the piece of cupcake you cored out. Don’t cut through the bottom of the cupcake if using a knife.
    2. Fill each cavity with pastry cream. I like to use a piping bag, but you can use a ziplock bag (cut the corner open). Or a spoon.
    3. Place the cored piece of cupcake on top of the pastry cream.
    4. Pipe whipped ganache onto each cupcake. Ganache is a tad thicker than buttercream so you may need to apply a bit more pressure when piping.
    putting cupcake batter into a muffin tin

    How to Store Letftover Cupcakes

    Store leftover cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days. You can also freeze unfrosted, fully cooled treats in a freezer-safe container for up to six months. Defrost the cupcakes at room temperature for a few hours, then frost and enjoy!

    sliced in half cream-filled cupcake

    More Cupcake Recipes

    Try these other hand-held desserts for St. Patrick’s Day or any day:

    • German Chocolate Cupcakes with Coconut Almond Frosting are super decadent and topped with a nutty icing.
    • Coconut Cream Cupcakes with Toasted Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting have a delicious tropical flavor.
    • Orange Creamsicle Cupcakes are light, refreshing and perfect for a summer birthday.
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    Boston Cream Cupcakes

    Boston Cream Cupcakes with pastry cream and chocolate ganache are the perfect sweet treats for Saint Patrick's Day.
    Prep Time30 mins
    Cook Time19 mins
    Additional Time1 hr
    Total Time1 hr 49 mins
    Course: Cakes
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 12 cupcakes
    Calories: 401kcal
    Author: Barbara Schieving
    Prevent your screen from going to sleep

    Equipment

    • Fox Run Cupcake Corer, Plastic
    • If You Care Unbleached Large Baking Cups, 60 ct, 3 pk
    • USA Pan Bakeware Cupcake and Muffin Pan, Nonstick Quick Release Coating, 12-Well, Aluminized Steel

    Ingredients

    Cupcakes

    • 3 ounces semi-sweet chocolate finely chopped
    • ⅓ cup Dutch-processed cocoa
    • ¾ cup boiling water
    • ¾ cup bread flour
    • ¾ cup granulated sugar*
    • ½ teaspoon table salt
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • 6 tablespoons vegetable oil*
    • 2 large eggs
    • 2 teaspoons white vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    Pastry Cream

    • ½ cup granulated sugar
    • 2 tablespoons flour
    • ⅛ teaspoon salt
    • 1 ⅓ cups milk
    • 2 egg yolks beaten
    • 1 tablespoons butter
    • 1 teaspoons vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
    • ¼ cup whipping cream

    Chocolate Ganache

    • 6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate finely chopped
    • ¾ cup cream

    Instructions

    • Cupcakes
    • Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350°F. Line standard-size muffin pan with baking-cup liners. Place chocolate and cocoa in medium bowl. Pour boiling water over mixture and whisk until smooth. Set in refrigerator to cool completely, about 20 minutes.
    • Whisk flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda together in medium bowl; set aside. Whisk oil, eggs, vinegar, and vanilla into cooled chocolate-cocoa mixture until smooth. Add flour mixture and whisk until smooth.
    • Divide batter evenly among muffin pan cups. Bake until cupcakes are set and just firm to touch, 17 to 19 minutes. Cool cupcakes in muffin pan on wire rack until cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes. Carefully lift each cupcake from muffin pan and set on wire rack. Cool to room temperature before frosting, about 1 hour.
    • Pastry Cream
    • In a medium saucepan combine the sugar, flour and salt. Gradually whisk in milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture starts to boil. Cook for 2 minutes until thickened.
    • Remove from stove. Whisk ¼ cup of the hot mixture into the beaten egg yolks, and immediately add egg yolk mixture to the hot mixture in the saucepan. Cook for 2 more minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add butter and vanilla. Transfer pudding mixture to a medium bowl. Cover with plastic; refrigerate until well chilled, about 1 hour or overnight.
    • When pudding is chilled, whip cream to form soft peaks and gentle fold in to pudding. Keep covered and chilled until ready to use.
    • Chocolate Ganache
    • Place half of the chocolate in a small mixing bowl. Heat heavy cream on medium high heat until it comes to a boil. Remove from heat and immediately pour cream over chocolate and stir until chocolate is completely melted. Add remain chocolate and stir until chocolate is completely melted.
    • Let ganache cool to room temperature, stirring often, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Beat it with a mixer on medium-high speed until thick and fluffy, 2 to 4 minutes.

    Notes

    Adapted from Cooks Illustrated Ultimate Chocolate Cupcake.
    *I made the following high altitude adjustments: ⅔ cups granulated sugar and ⅓ cup + 2 tablespoons vegetable oil.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 401kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 89mg | Sodium: 204mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 35g
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    About Melissa & Barbara

    As of June 2022 Melissa Griffiths now is the one adding recipes. So think of it as Barbara Bakes, and Melissa too! Melissa and Barbara have been blogging friends for over 10 years and when Barbara was ready to retire and spend more time with her family, Melissa took over the site. Read more...

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      Recipe Rating




    1. angela@spinachtiger

      March 17, 2013 at 9:15 pm

      I have always wanted to make boston cream cupcakes. This looks pin worthy to me.

      Reply
    2. My Inner Chick

      March 17, 2013 at 2:01 pm

      Yummmmm.
      Just gained another pound.
      Thanks! Xx

      Reply
    3. Laura @ Lauras Sweet Spot

      March 17, 2013 at 1:42 pm

      I LOVE this recipe!! Still reigns as my favorite chocolate cupcake with moisture and deep chocolate flavor : )

      Reply
      • Barbara Schieving

        March 17, 2013 at 5:24 pm

        Thanks Laura for stopping by and sharing the chocolate cupcake recipe.

        Reply
    4. Maureen | Orgasmic Chef

      March 17, 2013 at 5:28 am

      This would be my favorite cupcake!

      Reply
    5. Angie@Angie's Recipes

      March 16, 2013 at 7:13 am

      These cupcakes are so pretty and perfect for the St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

      Reply
    6. Barbara

      March 16, 2013 at 5:34 am

      Those look so cute, Barbara! Perfect for St, Patrick’s Day.
      Never have seen the core/plunger. What a super idea and less messier than my currrent method. 🙂

      Reply
    7. Valérie (Franche-Comté)

      March 15, 2013 at 4:32 pm

      Je vais justement avoir besoin de recettes de ce type !! si je trouve tous les ingrédients
      je fais 😉
      Voilà qui est bien tentant
      Je te souhaite une agréable soirée
      Valérie

      Reply
    8. Carol

      March 15, 2013 at 3:51 pm

      Yummmmmmmm…..coming from the Boston area-these are singing my song. Cupcakes are great for portion control too. 😉 We love Boston Cream Pie-I’m sure these cupcakes will be a hit.

      Thank you Barbara.

      Carol

      Reply
    9. Cindy Harris

      March 15, 2013 at 2:34 pm

      This looks like the perfect cupcake. Love the filling and the wonderful Ganache topping. Yummy.

      Reply
    10. Rocky Mountain Woman

      March 15, 2013 at 12:20 pm

      perfect thing for St. Paddy’s Day. My son loves Boston Cream Pie but I don’t make it often because it is a lot of work, these look so simple and perfect!

      Reply
    11. Jersey Girl Cooks

      March 15, 2013 at 10:02 am

      Cute cupcakes and very decadent!

      Reply
    12. Cookin' Canuck

      March 15, 2013 at 9:22 am

      It’s always such a fun surprise to bite into a cupcake and find a creamy filling inside. Fun cupcakes, Barbara!

      Reply
    13. Asiya @ Chocolate and Chillies

      March 15, 2013 at 8:03 am

      Boston Cream is one of my favorites….I’ve been dying to try to make filled cupcakes for a long time too!

      Reply
    14. Amanda

      March 15, 2013 at 7:46 am

      So fun! These look great 🙂

      Reply
    15. Rosa

      March 15, 2013 at 7:19 am

      Pretty and extremely tempting!

      Cheers,

      Rosa

      Reply
    16. Traci

      March 15, 2013 at 7:00 am

      Barbara, these turned out perfect! They look amazing and I love those cupcake wrappers. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!

      Reply
    17. Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar

      March 15, 2013 at 6:54 am

      These are just so fabulous!! Yum!

      Reply
    18. RavieNomNoms

      March 15, 2013 at 6:53 am

      Oh wow, these are amazing. They look so good!

      Reply
    19. Averie @ Averie Cooks

      March 15, 2013 at 6:52 am

      So glad that link helped you! Yay for that! And I’ve often wondered what to do about choc cupcakes b/c they tend to be so dry and can be so finicky but leave it to CI to have the winning recipe! Good to know -not surprising though. You just nailed these, Barbara. So pretty looking and no doubt taste delish!

      Reply
    20. Terra

      March 15, 2013 at 6:39 am

      I didn’t know there was a cupcake corer, that is awesome!!! Your cupcakes sound and look beautiful! Hugs, Terra

      Reply
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