Desserts
Boston Cream Pie | Recipe with a History
How Boston cream pie — a French-inspired cake — became New England’s favorite pie. Well, sort of …

Coffee By Design | Portland, Maine
Photo Credit : Katherine KeenanHow Boston cream pie — a French-inspired cake — became New England’s favorite pie. Well, sort of …
Coffee By Design | Portland, Maine
Photo Credit : Katherine Keenan
This was my husband’s favorite cake. I still honor his memory on his birthday by making or buying it.
We all love it.
I have always LOVED this and would make it for my family. It became my oldest daughter’s favorite. Every birthday cake had to be this. We even brought one to her at college…5 hours away! To this day when she’s home I make it for her (and us!)
I have a lot of respect for Shirin Platt remarks very nice. P.S. I love Boston Cream Pie.
What happened to the ability to Send to Pinterest?
Hi Coralie,
The Pinterest button should appear directly above the photo. If you’re not seeing it, please let us know which browser you are using, so that our Web team can look into it.
Mom used to make that for my birthday. Dad got a cake with marshmallows covered in chocolate and sister got strawberry shortcake
Another interesting article by Aimee Seavey. Boston Cream Pie is one my favorites. I love that maybe it is, or, maybe it isn’t – a pie.
Where is the “Print” button? Love this cake, want to make it today, but need to print it.
Hi Donna. If you visit the recipe page, it’ll give you an easy print option. https://newengland.com/today/food/boston-cream-pie-6/
Where is the Betty Crocker Boston Creme Pie Cake Mix? – It was the best and I cannot find it anywhere now.
Elizabeth, I googled Betty Crocker Boston Creme Pie and it came up! I am not sure if I can leave a link so I thought I’d just tell you. I had an old Betty Crocker recipe I had lost out of my book. A girl from Ebay was kind enough to email me a copy. You can bet I now have many of those copies scattered so as to not loose it again. That was from my first ever cookbook back in 1973! Hope you find which one you’re looking for. If not shoot me an email if it was in an older book I may have it. Angel Blessings, Kim
While visiting Prince Edward Island we came upon Seaweed Pie Cafe in Miminegash. Seaweed Pie must be a cousin to Boston Cream Pie as it is very similar. It is two layers of cake with a seaweed filling and dusted with powered sugar.
My mother used to make a fabulous Boston Cream Pie and never had a better one.
Had it at The Parker House..wonderful.
I remember my mom telling me ever so proudly that when she attended Girls High School in the 1940’s, she got to make a Boston Cream Pie for being on the Honor Roll…
Dear Yankee Magazine — As the House Historian of the Omni Parker House in Boston, I couldn’t help but notice that lovely as it always is to see stories about Boston Cream Pie, your article is out of date. In the past few years we have discovered that there never was a chef named Sanzian. Instead, the actual famous French chef at the Parker House was named Augustine Anezin, and he worked there from 1865 until his death in 1881. Based on those dates, the fact that Boston Cream Pie was invented there in 1856 is simply impossible! So we generally say it occurred during the period of Anezin’s reign … sometime after 1865!
If you want to know more, I’ll happily share more stories with you.
Best, Susan Wilson
Thanks. Very informative.
My mother was raised by Nun from Boston as were some of the other nuns where she was brought up. The treat they made for the girls was boston cream pie. Sr. Paraclete was like a grandmother to me and the biggest treat we ever got was Boston Cream Pie ala Sister Paraclete. I’m 87 years old & I still love that “pie” made in a pie tin.
Now residing in Southern California, but originally from Everett, MA, I have spread the glory of Boston Cream Pie to places far and wide, including my tour of duty the Vietnam War with the Air Force to France, Spain, Morocco, Libya and Germany. Although never in-country during the war, my tour and my baking Boston Cream Pie and serving it to the servicemen and women and locals was legendary. Sure made friends for our American military wherever I travelled.
Still love it today!
I live in SoCal now too, but I will always be from Watertown MA. I have a deep seeded love for Boston Cream Pie, nothing beats it.
Chaplain DOV Cohen – Boston Cream Pie Veteran
My grandmother used to make Boston Cream Pie. We lived in PA and when I turned 18 I moved to New England. Best “Pie” ever and there is absolutely nothing better than New England Seafood. And of course Sam Adams. Beer. Pie. Seafood. What more does one need???