Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes with vanilla pudding centers are mini, individual servings of Boston Cream Pie. These easy-to-make cupcakes are decadent, delicious, and always a crowd-pleaser!
These mini Boston cream pies are filled with a thicker than normal instant pudding and pie filling, as opposed to a traditional pastry cream. You're going to appreciate how quickly these cupcakes are to make, and how much everyone loves them!
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Table of Contents Found Here
- Ingredients for making Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes:
- How this recipe came to be (excerpt from 2014):
- How many cream filled cupcakes does this recipe make?
- Can these cupcakes be frozen?
- Kitchen equipment needed:
- Conventional vs Convection Oven Baking Times:
- Modifications and substitutions:
- Unsalted or salted butter in baked goods:
- The step-by-step photo instructions:
- Additional Cupcake Recipes you'll also enjoy:
- Printable Recipe Card
- Please comment if you've made this recipe.
I originally shared this recipe in 2014. I've recently updated this post with additional information, including a recipe card (complete with nutritional information), and a video of how these individual mini Boston cream pies are made.
I've changed this recipe only slightly with the addition of a vanilla pudding center, and not a pastry cream, as originally shared in 2014.
Ingredients for making Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes:
How this recipe came to be (excerpt from 2014):
I had the idea several months ago to make a Boston Cream Pie and it swirled around and around in my head for all that time before I actually got my ingredients together, and was ready to roll.
After months and months of thought, my idea for Boston Cream Pie had magically morphed into Boston Cream Cupcakes, with the same great taste but in a new mini-self-serve size!
The recipe guide I decided to use was a Martha Stewart recipe I'd found on the web for Boston Cream Pie. After all, who better to go to than Martha, when it comes to baking, right?
Well....at least that's what I had hoped for, but I needed to adjust!
The recipe I'm sharing with you today is my adaptation of Martha's recipe in which I had to play with her ingredient quantities for successful results.
My experience with Martha's written recipe was disappointing for me, but I know that if you follow my changes and adaptions, you'll be highly successful, and that you'll have delicious Boston Cream Cupcakes you'll be proud to serve (not that I'm dissing Martha, mind you).
How many cream filled cupcakes does this recipe make?
As written this recipe makes 18 large cream filled Boston Cream Cupcakes so be advised that you'll need two standard-sized muffin tins. That said, one will still work, but you'll have to bake the cupcakes in two batches.
Can these cupcakes be frozen?
They can, but I would recommend freezing the baked cupcake portion only, and before filling and frosting.
Since the pudding center and the ganache topping only take moments to make this recipe will still be quite speedy to make should you decided to freeze the baked cupcakes in advance as a time-saver.
Kitchen equipment needed:
These cupcakes don't especially require any special baking equipment. As long as you have mixing bowls of all sizes, measuring cups and spoons, a hand mixer or stand mixer, a whisk and a spatula you're off to a good start.
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Two standard-size muffin tins will also come in handy, but one will work in a pinch. I like to use the microwave-safe bowl to heat the heavy cream for making the chocolate ganache frosting, and you'll also require a small saucepan (or a second microwave-safe bowl) for heating the butter and milk for the cupcake batter.
A kitchen timer is always a baking essential, as is a cooling rack, toothpicks or a cake tester, and pot holders or oven mitts for retrieving the baked cupcakes from the oven.
You'll appreciate having a serrated knife on hand for when it's time to cut the cupcakes in half, and lastly a piping bag or large zip-top bag works well for adding the pudding filling neatly onto the cupcakes.
Conventional vs Convection Oven Baking Times:
If you're baking in a conventional oven, go with the time that is written in the recipe card. 25-30 minutes at 350-degrees Fahrenheit.
If you're baking in a convection oven, cut the bake time down by approximately 5 minutes.
You're looking for the cupcakes to be golden brown in color and for a toothpick or cake tester to come out clean when inserted into the center of a baked cupcake.
Modifications and substitutions:
The day I remade this recipe and decided to go with a pudding center instead of the standard pastry cream, I also realized that I didn't have any heavy cream in the refrigerator for making the chocolate ganache frosting.
Instead of running out to the store for heavy cream I decided to swap out some flavored coffee creamer I'd been using (it was Almond Joy flavor), and the result was an especially delicious chocolate ganache with very light hint of coconut.
Of course you could potentially use whatever flavor of liquid coffee creamer you happen to have (if you're looking to flavor your ganache), or use the heavy cream as stated in the recipe.
In that same vein, the choice of an instant pudding flavor for the filling can also be swapped for your favorite.
The only thing you'll want to make certain of is that you use less milk than what the large box (5.1 ounces) of instant pudding instruction calls for. You'll only use 2 cups of milk. This way the filling will get nice and thick so it will stay in the center of the cupcakes without oozing out all over the place.
Unsalted or salted butter in baked goods:
I definitely go against the norm on this as I always use salted butter in my baking.
My feelings are that unless you know for a fact that your store-bought salted butter is unusually salty, you'll never detect an overly salty flavor in your baked good by using salted butter.
However, if you're one of the people to profess "I want to control how much salt is in my baked goods!" feel free to use unsalted butter. It's completely a personal preference.
The step-by-step photo instructions:
Additional Cupcake Recipes you'll also enjoy:
When you make today's recipe (and I hope that you will), I'd appreciate it if you'd take the time to come back and give it a star rating along with a comment on why you rated as you did.
Search engines such as Google appreciate comments and ratings and, in turn, will show my recipes to more people. Please look for the pink star rating box within the printable recipe card. Thank you!!
Printable Recipe Card
Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes
Equipment
- hand mixer or stand mixer
- stand mixer or hand mixer
- cake tester optional
Ingredients
For the cupcakes:
- 1¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 egg yolks
- 2 eggs
- ¾ cup milk
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1¼ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
For the filling:
- 1 box (5.1 ounces) instant vanilla pudding and pie filling
- 2 cups milk
For the chocolate ganache:
- 8 ounces chopped semi-sweet chocolate
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ½ cup heavy cream
Instructions
To make the cupcakes:
- Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit
- Spray cupcake tins (18 wells) with baking spray. Set aside.
- Blend together the 2 egg yolks, 2 whole eggs, and the sugar in a large bowl until very pale yellow in color. This will take approximately 4-5 minutes.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Meanwhile, in a saucepan heat the milk and butter to a low simmer to melt the butter, but do not boil. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Cool slightly if the mixture is more than warm to the touch.
- Very slowly pour a stream of the warm (not hot) milk mixture into the mixing bowl with the eggs and sugar while beating continually.
- In increments, add the ⅓ of the flour mixture at a time to the mixing bowl beating lightly after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula as needed.
- Once the batter is thoroughly blended, fill 18 cupcake wells ¾'s full with the batter.
- Bake in a preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until golden and a cake tester (or toothpick) inserted into the center of the cupcakes comes out clean.
- Remove to a cooling rack and cool completely.
- Once completely cooled, remove the baked cupcakes from the tin and use a serrated knife to slice each cupcake in half horizontally.
To make the vanilla pudding filling:
- Add 2 cups of cold milk to a medium-size bowl. Add the pudding mix packet to the milk and whisk until the pudding is thick, and doesn't drip off the whisk. This will take approximately 3-4 minutes. Cover and chill until ready to use.
- When ready to use, use a spatula to transfer the pudding to a large piping bag or gallon-sized zip-top bag. If using a zip-top bag, use scissors to snip a hole in the bottom corner of the bag for piping.
To make the chocolate ganache frosting:
- Add the chopped chocolate (chocolate chips will also work) to a medium-size bowl. Heat the heavy cream and butter in a microwave until hot but not boiling.
- Pour half of the hot cream over the chocolate and stir continually until the chocolate melts. Pour in additional cream (as needed) until you come to the desired consistency. Thick, and not too drippy.
To assemble the Boston Cream Cupcakes:
- Pipe approximately 1-1½ tablespoons of pudding filling on to the bottom half of each cupcake. Replace the tops to the cupcakes, pressing lightly.
- Spoon the prepared chocolate ganache over each cupcake and serve immediately, or refrigerate until ready to serve.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
I sincerely hope you'll enjoy this easy and delicious recipe for filled Boston Cream Cupcakes as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you!
Should you have any questions or comments regarding anything you've seen on my site, please don't hesitate to reach out to contact me. It is always my distinct pleasure to get back with you just as soon as I possibly can!
Thank you so much for visiting me today in my Kudos Kitchen. I hope you found something you'll love and that you will come back and visit me often. Please know that there is always room for you around my kitchen table!
Until we eat again, I hope you have a delicious day!
Liz says
Boston Cream pie is my dads favorite so I'm going to make him these cupcakes! I know they'll be a winner for him, too!
Renée says
I have no doubt, Liz.
Enjoy!
Renee
Natalie says
Well, this is delicious! Made it for my kids party. They weren`t as beautiful as yours, but surely tasteful, thanks!
Renée says
It's always about the taste, first and foremost.
I'm glad this recipe was a hit.
Thanks, Natalie!
Take good care,
Renee
Paula says
What a deliciously cute idea! I'm a big fan of anything Boston Cream and of single serving desserts.
Nutmeg Nanny says
These cupcakes look amazing! I wish I had one right now 🙂
Angela {Mind Over Batter} says
Oh, snap! I'm down with the single serve deal. I would, of course, eat this whole batch!
Elizabeth says
These look so, so good! I am drooling!!
Susan says
Your cupcakes look like donuts cut in half and stuffed with serious pastry cream! Looks amazing!
Lauren says
Boston cream donuts are the best donuts, so Boston cream cupcakes must be the best cupcakes!
Brenda@Sugar-Free Mom says
I love when a thought of a recipe then transforms into something a little different once you make it. I think these cupcakes are much better than a pie any day. Love the portion sizes!
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes says
Boston Cream is my dad's fave - he would love these!
The Food Hunter says
My husband is going to love these.
Paula-bell'alimento says
Holy moly. Drooling.
Angie says
These donuts look out of this world!
Amanda @TheKitcheneer says
I love this idea for Boston Cream Cupcakes! And your pictures look gorgeous as always 🙂
Back for Seconds says
Looks so good! Boston Cream anything is my favorite!!
Rebecca {foodie with family} says
Boston Cream Pie is one of my all-time fave desserts, and I'm CERTAIN these would be awesome because they're INDIVIDUAL SIZED!
Ginny McMeans says
These look like they cost a million bucks!
samantha says
I love the way you did this cupcake so you cut the cupcake and then reassemble. So cute!