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Boston Cream Pie Cheesecake

Boston Cream Pie Cheesecake is a combination of two classic desserts! Made with a creamy cheesecake on top of a moist layer of cake topped with delicious chocolate ganache.

Crave-Worthy Boston Cream Cheesecake

So I have a confession to make. I, a baker and food blogger by trade, do not love custard. I know, I said it! This is why the Boston Cream donut is something I’ve always really, really wanted to love for all its chocolatey, donut-y aspects. But the thought of the custardy mess? It’s a no from me.

What I do love is cheesecake. But this is no ordinary cheesecake, it’s Boston Cream Pie Cheesecake! And it’s perfect because this recipe is blissfully custard-free (sorry, Boston cream lovers everywhere!). But you’ve got a layer of moist vanilla cake, a layer of rich and creamy cheesecake and a decadent chocolate ganache topping. What more do you need?

Boston Cream Pie cheesecake with slices missing to reveal the cake layers.

What Exactly is Boston Cream?

Boston cream, or Boston crème, is a custard-like pastry cream (“crème patisserie” in French, if we’re being technical), that’s made with egg yolks, milk, and sugar, flavored with vanilla. 

You may recognize it from a traditional Boston cream pie – which isn’t really a pie, mind you, but more of a cake filled with custard, often topped with chocolate glaze. Boston cream is also the filling in Boston cream donuts! 

This recipe for Boston cream pie cheesecake infuses the flavors of Boston cream into a rich, decadent cheesecake layer instead.

The ingredients for the vanilla cake layer.

Recipe Ingredients

Here’s a little overview of what you’ll need for the different cake layers. Be sure to check the recipe card later on in the post for the full amounts required!

For the Cake Layer

  • Flour: All-purpose flour bakes up consistently for a fluffy vanilla cake.
  • Baking Powder: For a little bit of lift.
  • Butter: Remember to take your butter out of the fridge before you plan to use it, so that it has a chance to reach room temperature. Room temperature butter is better for mixing, and for baking evenly.
  • Sugar: Regular granulated sugar is the most consistent when it comes to baking.
  • Egg: Egg acts to bind everything together and adds richness.
  • Vanilla: For the best flavor, use pure vanilla extract.
  • Milk
  • Salt

For the Cheesecake Layer

  • Cream Cheese: Like the butter for the cake layer, remember to take your cream cheese out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature, too. For the same reason, it makes it way easier to combine!
  • Sugar: Again, I like to stick with white granulated sugar.
  • Vanilla
  • Eggs
  • Sour Cream: The addition of sour cream in the cheesecake layer makes it extra creamy! Trust me on this one.

For the Chocolate Ganache

  • Heavy Cream: Melting the heavy cream with chocolate makes it silky and spreadable.
  • Chocolate Chips: Semi-sweet chocolate chips are the easiest for melting. Semi-sweet baker’s chocolate will also work.
  • Butter: Again at room temperature.
A slice of Boston Cream Pie cheesecake on a plate, with a coffee mug and the remaining cake in the background.

How to Make Boston Cream Pie Cheesecake

This recipe has it all. Cake, cheesecake, and chocolate. And it’s crazy simple! The vanilla cake in this recipe is easy enough to make from scratch, but you could even sub in half a box of cake mix if you prefer.

Make the Cake: Start by preparing your cake layer. Sift together the dry ingredients and combine the wet ingredients separately. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, pour the batter into a springform pan, and then bake.

Make the Cheesecake: While your cake is in the oven, beat together the ingredients for the cheesecake layer. Whisk and add the eggs separately and then stir in the sour cream, before spreading it over top of the baked cake. Pop the now two-layer cake back into the oven until the edges are set.

The baked Boston Cream Pie cheesecake released from the pan, on a plate.

Chill: Once your cheesecake layer is baked and set, loosen the cake from the pan using a butter knife, then cover and leave the cake to cool completely. You’ll need to chill the cake for at least 4 hours before finishing it with the ganache!

Make the Chocolate Layer: Fast forward, and you’ll have a chilled cake that’s ready for its chocolate topping! Heat up the heavy cream, melt in the chocolate and butter, and then let the ganache chill and thicken a bit before spreading it over the cake.

Top view of a Boston Cream Pie cheesecake with two slices cut from it, next to plates and forks.

Tips for Success

Make the most of this Boston cream pie cheesecake recipe with these helpful tips:

  • If You Use a Boxed Cake Mix: If you’re making your cake layer using a boxed cake mix, divide the recipe in half and then bake per the instructions on the box. You can also always bake both layers, and save one for another day!
  • Measure the Flour Correctly: If you’re making this cake from scratch, be sure to measure your flour correctly! If you don’t have a kitchen scale, the best way to do this is with the spoon and sweep method. Use a spoon to scoop the flour into the measuring cup, and then level it off with the back of a knife (as opposed to scooping the flour straight from the bag using the cup, which can result in too much flour). 
  • Warm the Knife: Warm the knife before slicing your cake! This is an easy hack that helps with nice, clean cuts. 
A slice of Boston Cream Pie cheesecake on a plate, laying on its side next to a fork.

Storage Instructions

Store this Boston cream cake in an airtight container or covered with plastic wrap, in the fridge for up to 3 days. (This recipe should not be stored at room temperature due to the dairy and cheesecake).

Can I Freeze This?

Most cheesecake recipes can be frozen, and this one isn’t much different. The only suggestion I’d make is to not freeze it for too long. After a month in the freezer, the texture and taste of the cheesecake layer will start to degrade. 

Freeze your Boston cream pie cheesecake airtight either whole or in slices. Thaw the cake in the fridge when you’re ready to serve it.

A table spread with Boston Cream Pie cheesecake slices on plates, next to a cup of coffee and the remaining cake.

More Decadent Cheesecakes to Try

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A slice of Boston Cream Pie cheesecake on a plate next to a fork.

Boston Cream Pie Cheesecake

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  • Author: Cookies & Cups
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 80 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
  • Yield: serves 12 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American

Description

Boston Cream Pie Cheesecake is a combination of two classic desserts! Made with a creamy cheesecake on top of a moist layer of cake topped with delicious chocolate ganache.


Ingredients

Scale

Cake Layer

  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3/4 cup milk

Cheesecake layer

  • 3 (8- ounce packages) cream cheese, room temperature
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup sour cream

Chocolate Layer

  • 3/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 2 tablespoons butter, room temperature

Instructions

  1. Cake Layer: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease the bottom and sides of a 9 or 10- inch springform pan, set aside.
  2. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt.
  3. In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment mix the butter and sugar on medium speed for 2 minutes until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla and continue mixing until smooth, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary.
  4. Turn the mixer to low and add in the flour mixture and milk in alternating additions, starting and ending with flour. Mix until just blended.
  5. Pour the batter into the prepared springform pan and bake for 25 minutes until center is set and toothpick comes out clean.
  6. Cheesecake Layer: Lower the oven temperature to 325°F.
  7. In the clean bowl of the stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment mix the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla together on medium speed until smooth.
  8. Separately whisk eggs with a fork in a small bowl, add the beaten eggs to cream cheese mixture on low until just combined. Stir in the sour cream, mixing until combined. Pour mixture over cake in the springform pan, spreading to cover.
  9. Bake for 45-50 minutes until the outside edges appear set when gently shaken. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes.
  10. Loosen the edges of cake from the pan by running a butter knife around the cake. Allow cake to cool completely. Cover cake and chill for at least 4 hours (I chilled mine overnight)
  11. Chocolate Layer: When the cheesecake is chilled, heat the heavy cream in a small saucepan until it almost comes to a boil. Remove from the heat and stir in chocolate chips until melted. Stir in butter until smooth.
  12. Chill for 15 minutes and then spread over top of cake.
  13. Chill until ready to serve.

Notes

If you choose to use a boxed cake for the cake layer, just divide the recipe in half, or bake both layers and save the extra layer for another day.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 797
  • Sugar: 52.1 g
  • Sodium: 390.6 mg
  • Fat: 53.2 g
  • Carbohydrates: 71.2 g
  • Protein: 13.1 g
  • Cholesterol: 202.3 mg

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55 comments on “Boston Cream Pie Cheesecake”

  1. Jennifer | Bake or Break

    This looks fantastic! I just made a cheesecake this weekend for the first time in ages. There’s nothing like them.

  2. Wow! That looks amazing!! I had Boston Cream Pie yogurt this morning for breakfast. (Slim and Fit version) Mysteriously, there was no chocolate in it. It sort of had the taste of the chocolate and custard and cake, but it was completely white. Kind of scary. I was afraid to look at the ingredients to see how they made it taste slightly chocolate-y without it being chocolate colored.
    Anyway…you and Kristan have both posted freaking awesome-looking cheesecake/cakes and I can’t decide which to make first!
    Thanks for being so inspiring!

  3. Belinda @themoonblushbaker

    Yes cheese cake own custard any day! Oh theb This is so perfect and smooth. Love the inspiration behind this cheese cake

  4. Jocelyn @BruCrew Life

    I have never understood the time change. And forget about getting an extra hour of sleep…the night owl in me sees it as a reason to stay up even later. Now this cheesecake…it could make me totally forget about all things sleep related right now. I love this!!!

  5. Ha! I could not agree more! I think the time change thing is pretty stupid and I need the light for photos!!
    This cheesecake is incredible! I like custard, but I am loving cheesecake a lot these days!

  6. Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust

    I didn’t mind the extra hour today, I kind of needed it. But, I’ll be singing a very different tune by Wednesday. We’ll all be cranky, tired, and leaving for afternoon activities in the dark. #ridiculous

    This cheesecake….no words. Really. Awesome!

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