Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes

Still filling the Dessert Club - "Cupcakes" recipe requests! So glad there were so many you liked.

Boston Cream Pie is one heck of a yummy dessert; Boston Cream donuts are always my first pick. So these single servings fit right in on Kari's YUMMO list. Tender vanilla cupcake, smooth homemade vanilla cream, and a dribbling crown of rich chocolate ganache. Cupcake night wouldn't have been the same without them!

Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes (print recipe)
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for tins
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup whole milk
3 oz. (6 T) unsalted butter, softened, plus more for tins
3 large eggs
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Vanilla Cream (recipe follows)
Chocolate Ganache Glaze (recipe follows)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour standard muffin tins. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl. Warm milk and butter in a saucepan over low heat.

2. Beat eggs and sugar with a mixer on high speed until thick and pale, about 5 minutes. Beat in dry ingredients.

3. Bring milk and butter to a boil. With mixer on low speed, add milk mixture to batter, and beat until smooth. Add vanilla. Divide batter among muffin cups, filling each halfway. Bake cupcakes until light gold, about 15 minutes. Let cool in tins for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks. Let cool.

4. Using a serrated knife, cut each in half horizontally. Spread 1 T vanilla cream on each cupcake bottom. Sandwich with top. Spoon glaze over each, and serve immediately. Makes 18 cupcakes

Vanilla Cream
2 large egg yolks
1/4 cup sugar
2 T plus 1/2 tsp cornstarch
Pinch of salt
1 cup whole milk
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1. Whisk yolks until smooth. Mix sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add milk in a slow, steady stream. Cook, stirring, until mixture begins to bubble and thicken, about 5 minutes.

2. Pour 1/3 of milk mixture into yolks, whisking constantly. Return mixture to saucepan, and cook over medium heat, stirring often, until thick, 2 to 4 mintues. Stir in vanilla.

3. Pass vanilla cream through a fine sieve into a bowl. Press plastic wrap directly on surface. Refrigerate until cold, at least 1 hour or up to 2 days.

Chocolate Ganache Glaze
2/3 cup heavy cream
6 oz. semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 T light corn syrup

Bring cream to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from heat, and add chocolate and corn syrup. Let stand for 5 minutes. Whisk until smooth. Transfer to a bowl, and let cool, stirring often. Use immediately.

Recipe from Martha Stewart Living Magazine, February 2009 via Dessert Club member S.S.