If you are looking for a dessert to wow everyone then you are going to love this Boston cream pie poke cake! Made with boxed cake mix, homemade creamy vanilla custard, and rich chocolate glaze! This easy poke cake recipe is perfect for a special occasion or anytime you want a delicious cake for dessert. This is the perfect dessert to make for someone who loves the original Boston cream pie.
Boston Cream Poke Cake Recipe
Boston cream donuts are my favorite donut. Boston Cream pie (while technically a cake) is my favorite cake and when I am wanting a quick and easy dessert neither one of those options is possible because they take time to make them. I needed a solution and came up with this delicious Boston cream poke cake. I get all the flavors of a Boston Cream pie that I love in a simple to make and delicious poke cake.
To start this cake I use a boxed cake mix, then I make homemade vanilla pudding custard that is poured on top of the cake and soaks into the cake. Then it is topped with homemade chocolate ganache glaze for an easy cake that is full of flavor and perfect for dessert!
This rich and decadent dessert is perfect for any occasion! If you love the classic dessert Boston cream pie then you are going to love this easy Boston cream poke cake!
Boston Cream Pie Recipes
What is a poke cake?
A poke cake is a baked cake that after being done has holes punctured in it. Those holes are then filled by pouring filling on top of the cake that goes into the holes making the cake have the flavor throughout the cake. It is then topped with frosting, whipped cream, or like in this cake recipe, homemade chocolate ganache.
Traditionally a poke cake is filled with Jello, however, we made a fun twist and filled it with vanilla custard and then topped it off with homemade chocolate ganache to satisfy the want of a Boston Cream pie without all of the work!
If you love poke cake recipes then you should totally try my Strawberry Poke cake and my Chocolate turtle poke cake, they are both always a crowd favorite too!
Variations of this recipe
Use boxed pudding mix. If you do not have time to make homemade vanilla custard you can use vanilla instant pudding mix and use that instead. You can also use homemade vanilla pudding. If you are using instant pudding mix then you will want to pour it over the cake before it starts to set so that it soaks into the cake.
Use chocolate frosting. If you are running short on time and still want to make this dessert, a tub of chocolate frosting or a batch of homemade chocolate frosting will also work for the chocolate layer.
Cake mix. You can use your favorite vanilla cake recipe or yellow homemade cake recipe if you want to. I like using a boxed cake mix for this recipe because I am spending the rest of my time making homemade custard and homemade chocolate glaze but you can use white cake mix or yellow cake mix to make the cake part of this recipe.
Use Homemade Bavarian Cream. If you want to use bavarian cream you totally can and I find it best to make homemade bavarian cream.
Use baking chocolate instead of Semi-Sweet morsals. You can use baking chocolate instead of semi-sweet chocolate chips if you want to. If you do not have semi-sweet then you can use milk chocolate chips in a pinch.
Tips for Making this recipe
Use a wooden spoon for poking holes in the cake. I find it best to use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke the holes in the cake.
Poke cake holes before the cake cool. I find it easiest to use the wooden spoon handle to poke the holes while the cake is still warm.
Allow custard and ganache to cool completely. It is important to make sure that the custard and the chocolate glaze are cooled completely before topping the baked cake with them.
Don’t poke thru the bottom of the cake. When you are making the holes with the back of the wooden spoon you do not want to go all the way thru the cake or the creamy vanilla custard will seep thru the bottom of the cake. You want to poke about 3/4ths of the way thru the cake.
What is the Difference Between Pudding and Boston Cream Custard?
Pudding is a type of custard, but it’s usually thicker. The Boston Cream Custard we use in this recipe is made with egg yolks, milk, and flour and it’s thinner than pudding.
Can I Make Pudding Instead of the Custard?
This custard is absolutely amazing. It is also extremely easy to make. I truly recommend making the custard. However, if you don’t have everything you need for the custard, you can use instant vanilla pudding mix instead or you can make homemade vanilla pudding.
What Do I Use to Poke Holes in Poke Cake?
I like to use a wooden spoon to poke the holes in my poke cake. I like a decent size hole and the wooden spoon created a nice circle. You can use a large oversize straw if you have to but I find the back of the spoon upside down using the handles makes for the best poke cake holes. Make sure the holes are poked all the way down in the cake so that the cream can soak into the cake.
What Kind of Chocolate is Best for the Ganache on Boston Cream Poke Cake
I prefer to use semi-sweet chocolate for the glaze on this cake. The cake is sweet, and the cream is sweet, so the semi-sweet chocolate complements the sweetness perfectly. When choosing your chocolate chips, make sure you are using a good quality chocolate brand like Ghirardelli chocolate chips. If you are in a pinch you can use milk chocolate chips as well.
How to Store Boston Cream Poke Cake
While doesn’t usually need to be stored in the refrigerator, the custard filling that you are adding to the holes of the poke cake needs to be refrigerated because it is milk-based. Cover the cake with plastic wrap or tin foil and then place the cake in the refrigerator to store.
Can I Freeze Boston Cream Poke Cake
I love freezing cakes, but you do not want to freeze the completed poke cake. You can freeze the baked cake. However, do not freeze the cake once you have added the filling and the ganache.
Boston Cream Poke Cake Recipe
- Boxed Vanilla cake mix or Boxed Yellow Cake mix
- Eggs and oil according to the package
Boston Cream Pie Custard Ingredients
- 6 large egg yolks
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 4 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
Boston Cream Pie Chocolate Glaze Ingredients
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or 8 oz of baking chocolate
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
How to Make Boston Cream Poke Cake Recipe
Start with making the Boston cream custard filling, you will need to have that set in the fridge for about 2 hours so it is best to make that first.
While the custard is setting in the fridge bake the cake.
Bake the cake mix according to package instructions. Remove the cake from the oven and use the back side of the wooden spoon to poke holes into the cake. I like to do 6 rows of 4 across.
Allow the cake to cool completely.
While the cake is cooling, make the chocolate ganache.
How to Make Vanilla custard for Homemade Boston Cream Pie
In a medium bowl, whisk together the yolks, sugar, and the cornstarch.
In a medium saucepan on medium-low heat, bring the milk and cream to just barely a boil, being careful not to let it boil over.
Remove the milk mixture from the heat and add 1/3 of the milk mixture into the yolk mixture to temper the eggs.
Add egg mixture to the remaining milk mixture and mix together. Return the entire mixture to the saucepan and place on medium-high heat.
Bring to a boil for 1 minute and whisk constantly. Remove the pan from the heat and continue whisking until smooth.
Add the butter whisking until melted.
Using a fine-mesh sieve, strain the mixture into a medium sized bowl.
Add in the vanilla extract and mix till combined.
Cover the surface of the custard with plastic wrap and let cool to room temperature. Refrigerate for two hours, or until well chilled.
Chocolate Glaze for Homemade Boston Cream Pie
In a small saucepan, heat the cream until just about to boil.
Remove from the heat and add the chocolate chips to the pan.
Stir until the chocolate is completely melted and the glaze is smooth.
Add in the vanilla extract. Transfer the glaze to a small bowl.
Lay a piece of plastic wrap on the glaze and cool for 10 minutes prior to using.
How to Assemble Boston Cream Pike Cake
Once your cake, custard, and glaze have cooled, pour the custard on top of the cake and spread evenly across the top using a spatula.
Next pour the chocolate glaze on top of the baked cake and use a rubber spatula to spread the chocolate frosting on top of the whole cake.
Let the cake sit for at least 30 minutes in the fridge to set and for the custard to be absorbed by the cake before serving.
Yummy Cakes Recipes
- Samoa Mini Cakes
- How to Make a boxed cake taste homemade
- Homemade Ice Cream Cake
- Easter Bunny Cake
- Thin Mint Cake
- S’Mores Cake
- Caramel Turtle Cake
- Spiderman Cake
- American Flag Cake
Boston Cream Poke Cake
Ingredients
- 1 box Yellow or vanilla Cake plus cake box ingredients
Boston Cream Pie Custard Filling
- 6 large egg yolks
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 4 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 cup milk
- 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
Boston Cream Pie Chocolate Glaze Ingredients:
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or 8 oz of baking chocolate
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Vanilla Cake:
- Prepare according to the box instructions
- Bake in a greased 9 x 13 baking dish
- When baked, poke holes with a round stem of a wooden spoon while still warm. I like to do 6 rows of 4 across.
Vanilla custard for Homemade Boston Cream Pie
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the yolks, sugar and the cornstarch.
- In a medium saucepan on medium-low heat, bring the milk and cream to just barely a boil, being careful not to let it boil over.
- Remove the milk mixture from the heat and add a 1/3 of the milk mixture into the yolk mixture to temper the eggs.
- Add egg mixture to the remaining milk mixture and mix together.
- Return the entire mixture to the saucepan and place on medium-high heat.
- Bring to a boil for 1 minute and whisk constantly. Remove the pan from the heat and continue whisking until smooth.
- Add the butter whisking until melted.Using a fine-mesh sieve, strain mixture into a medium sized bowl.
- Add in the vanilla extract and mix till combined.
- Cover the surface of the custard with plastic wrap and let cool to room temperature. Refrigerate for two hours, or until well chilled.
Chocolate Glaze for Homemade Boston Cream Pie
- In a small saucepan, heat the cream until just about to boil.
- Remove from the heat and add the chocolate chips to the pan.
- Stir until the chocolate is completely melted and the glaze is smooth.
- Add in the vanilla extract.
- Transfer the glaze to a small bowl.
- Lay a piece of plastic wrap on the glaze and cool for 10 minutes prior to using.
Assembly:
- Once your cake, custard and glaze have cooled, pour the cream on top of the cake and spread evenly across the top.
- Next, pour the glaze across the top of the cream in a line down the center.
- Then using a rubber spatula, spread from the middle out to the edge of the pan for a nice even glaze.
- Let cream and glaze set for 30 minutes in the fridge before serving.
Follow Us For More!
Be sure to share your review in the comments below and follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram or Tiktok for even more food + family fun!