Boston Cream Cupcakes
Buttery yellow cupcakes filled with pastry cream and topped with a chocolate glaze.
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes
- 3 eggs
For the Chocolate Glaze
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup light corn syrup
- 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Cupcakes
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened but still cool, cut into 12 pieces
For the Pastry Cream
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
For the Cupcakes
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
For the Pastry Cream
- 1 1/3 cups heavy cream
- 3 egg yolks
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 4 teaspoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into 2 pieces
Instructions
Cupcakes
- Add the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl after each addition.
Assemble
- Using a paring knife, cut into the center of the cupcake at a 45-degree angle about 1/8-inch from the edge and cut all the way around.
- Remove the cone and cut away all but the top 1/4 inch, leaving a small disk of cake.
- Fill the inside of each cupcake with pastry cream and top with the disk of cake. Spoon the chocolate glaze over top of each cupcake, covering the top completely.
- Refrigerate the cupcakes until the glaze is set, about 10 minutes.
- The cupcakes can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 days; bring to room temperature before serving.
Glaze
- Combine the heavy cream, corn syrup, chocolate and vanilla in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly, until smooth.
- Set the glaze aside to cool and thicken at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Cupcakes
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Line a standard 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners and set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt on low speed.
- Add the butter one piece at time and mix until the mixture resembles coarse sand.
Pastry Cream
- Refrigerate until set, at least 2 hours or up to 2 days.
Cupcakes
- Add the milk and vanilla extract, increase the speed to medium, and mix until light and fluffy and no lumps remain, about 3 minutes, stopping to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl halfway through.
- Fill the muffin cups three-quarters full and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes.
- Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Pastry Cream
- Heat the heavy cream in a medium saucepan over medium heat until simmering, stirring occasionally.
- Meanwhile, whisk the egg yolks, sugar and salt together in a medium bowl.
- Add the cornstarch and whisk until the mixture is pale yellow and thick, about 15 seconds.
- When the cream reaches a full simmer, slowly whisk it into the yolk mixture.
- Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until thick and glossy, 1 to 2 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the butter and vanilla extract until the butter is completely melted.
- Transfer the pastry cream to a small bowl and press plastic wrap directly on the surface.
Notes