| Boston cream doughnut | |
| Alternate Name: | Boston cream pie doughnut Boston cream pie donut |
| Country: | United States |
| Region: | New England |
| Type: | Doughnut |
| Main Ingredient: | Dough, chocolate icing, custard |
The Boston cream doughnut (or Boston cream pie doughnut, also spelled donut, or simply Boston Cream) is a round, solid, yeast-risen doughnut with chocolate frosting and a custard filling, resulting in a doughnut reminiscent of a miniature Boston cream pie.[1] [2]
The doughnut was inspired by the Boston cream pie[3] which was, in turn, created by chef M. Sanzian at Boston's Parker House Hotel in 1856. The cake consists of vanilla-flavored custard sandwiched between two-layers of sponge cake and topped with chocolate glaze, and has been popular in Massachusetts since its creation.[4] The doughnut adaptation of the pie is popular not only in Massachusetts but throughout the United States and Canada.[5] Also filled with the same cream, the Bavarian cream doughnut differs from the Boston cream doughnut in that, instead of a chocolate glaze topping, the Bavarian cream doughnut is tossed in powdered sugar.[6]
The Boston cream doughnut was designated the official doughnut of Massachusetts in 2003 (the Boston cream pie itself had already been chosen as the state dessert in 1996).[7] Although the doughnut's popularity made it the natural choice for the state, it is one of only two official state donuts—the only other one being the beignet, the state doughnut of Louisiana.[8] [9]