Lemon Meringue Pie
This classic Lemon Meringue Pie is just like the one my grandma used to make. No lemon pie filling mixes here. From scratch lemony goodness that is light and lemony with a flaky homemade pastry crust.
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Lemon Meringue Pie Recipe – A Classic!
My Grandma was the baker in the family. That is the Grandma on my mom’s side. The other Grandma… not so much. My mom’s mom made the absolute best shortbread, pastry and Christmas Pudding ever along with a killer Lemon Pie. Oh and butter tarts!
She was an excellent baker all round. Since she has passed my mom has tried to make her recipe but like many of my grandma’s recipes, she had her tricks. I was fortunate to make a date one day with her and she shared many of her tricks like how to make her pastry but lemon pie didn’t get covered on that day. So I have been on the hunt for a great lemon meringue pie recipe ever since.
Lemon pie is in my humble opinion a little complicated. Each element is easy enough to make but I am not going to lie timing is everything and be prepared to use a tonne of bowls!
Timing is everything and 3 elements need to be perfectly balanced. Flaky pie crust, a thick lemony centre and a light fluffy meringue topping. Not an easy feat but I have provided tips and all the steps to get you to the finish line!
I will say that when I made this recipe based on the instructions my kitchen blew up. I think I must have used 3 pots, 3 bowls and a million spoons etc. to do this and was racing around like a madwoman. So I have modified the instructions a bit to make this recipe flow a little more to the order I am used to doing things.
How to Make Fresh Pastry Like a Champ!
First, you need to make the pie crust or if you would rather you can always buy ready-made pie crust but remember you are forsaking one of the most important layers if you do this. The flaky pastry is just as important as the fluffy meringue and store-bought crusts just don’t cut the mustard.
I promise once you see how easy it is you will never buy store bought crust again.
- Fill a large cup with 1 cup of cold water and 1 tbsp of white vinegar. Drop one large egg into vinegar water and lightly beat.
- In a large bowl add 6 cups of pastry flour, 1 tbsp of salt and 1 lb of lard/shortening cut into pieces. I use Tenderflake and think it works best.
- Use a pastry knife or two knives held in one hand to cut the lard into the flour in little pieces. The texture is like coarse oatmeal with a few larger pieces of lard interspersed. These little chunks of lard are what give the pastry it’s flakiness. Over mixing will create a tough pastry.
- Then gradually pour the egg mixture into the bowl of flour and lard and gently mix to combine with a fork. Press the dough together with the palms of your hands to form the dough into 6 equal balls. Cover with saran wrap to keep moist until ready to roll out.
- Store unused pastry tightly wrapped with saran in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw when ready to use.
For the full instructions and helpful tips check out this post on how to make Easy Pie Crust
Here are some more pies to try using this simple pie crust recipe:
Recipe Tips…
- Make sure the eggs have been separated, the lemons juices and zested before starting this recipe because this recipe, in my opinion, requires a little speed to make sure the layers are brought together when warm. Timing is everything and you don’t want to be zesting a lemon last minute.
- When separating egg yolks for lemon filling reserve the egg whites in a separate bowl to use later for the meringue
- For the meringue transfer the thickened and clear cornstarch to a small bowl and put for a short while in the freezer to quickly cool while you beat the egg white and sugar
- When par-baking the pie crust use pie weights or beans to hold the raw pie crust down on the bottom of the pie plate to reduce shrinking.
Should Lemon Pie Be Refrigerated?
Yes! Lemon Pie is made with eggs and while they are cooked eggs this recipe is very egg heavy so it is recommended that a lemon meringue pie once cooled not be left out on the counter more than 2 hours. Longer and sorry folks but you need to trash it! Store in the fridge covered for up to 3 days if it hangs around that long.
Tips For Preventing A Soggy Lemon Pie
- Blind or Par-bake the pie crust. That means to bake the pie crust fully before putting the filling in. The crust should be slightly golden and firm to the touch when fully cooked.
- Add the lemon pie filling when the crust is still hot/warm to avoid steam which may cause condensation between the filling and the crust
- Make sure the meringue goes edge to edge of the crust creating a seal between the lemon filling and the meringue. Again keeping any moisture out.
- Ensure the lemon curd in the centre is completely cooked.
- The lemon filling must be thick and not watery. This recipe uses cornstarch as a thickener.
- Store in the fridge to keep the meringue from getting soggy.
So there you have it! Lots of steps and I warned you tonnes of dishes to do but when you bite into this pie it will be 100% worth it! A luscious lemony filling set on a flake pie crust and topped with a pillow of meringue.
Lemon Meringue Pie – Just Like Grandmas!
Equipment
- 9" deep dish pie plate
- Large Bowl
- Pastry cutter
- Rolling Pin
- Medium bowl
- Small Bowl
- Medium Saucepan
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Electric Hand Mixer
- Spoon
- Lemon Zester
Ingredients
Pastry
- 1 cup water cold
- 1 tbsp white vinegar
- 1 large egg
- 6 cups pastry flour
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 lb lard
Lemon Pie Filling
- 1 ¼ cups sugar
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 ½ cups water
- 3 large egg yolks lightly beaten
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter melted
- 1 ½ tsp lemon zest grated
- ⅓ cup lemon juice
Meringue
- ½ cup sugar divided
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- ½ cup water cold
- 4 large egg whites
- ¾ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
Pastry
- Preheat oven to 425 F.
- In a large cup add cold water, vinegar and egg and beat lightly
- In a large bowl add pastry flour, salt and lard. Use pastry cutter or two knifes held in one hand to break up lard into flour to form an coarse oatmeal like texture but with a few larger pieces of lard here and there.
- Gradually add the egg mixture to flour and lard and gently mix with a fork until blended and flour is combined. You do not want flour mixture to be wet or pastry will turn out tough.
- Press the dough together to form 6 even balls. The heat from your hands will help it all come together and become smoother and less crumbly.
- On a flat surface scatter a little bit of flour and roll dough out to about a 1/2 inch thickness. The flour will help the pastry from sticking to the surface. Gently pick up rolled pastry and lay evenly across a 9″ pie plate. Gently presspastry into pan so that it flat on the bottom and sides. Trim to about t 1/2 inch on all sides beyond edge of plate. Flute edges of crust.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned and firm to the touch.
- Remove pie crust and reduce heat on oven to 350 F
Lemon Filling
- While pie crust is baking in a large saucepan combine sugar, cornstarch, flour and salt. Gradually stir in the water until most of the lumps are gone from the cornstarch. Cook on medium-high stirring often until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat and cook for 2 more minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in a small amount of the hot filling into egg yolks first and then add all of the egg yolks to the pan with the thickened cornstarch and bring to gentle boil and cook for 2 more minutes. Remove from heat and stir int he butter and lemon zest. Gently stir in the lemon juice until just combined and then pour into warm pie crust.
Meringue Topping
- In a large sauce pan combine 2 tablespoons of sugar and cornstarch. Gradually stir in the cold water to remove lumps. Cook over medium heat stirring gently until liquid is thickend and becomes clear.
- Remove thickened liquid and transfer to small bowl. Cool completely. To do this quickly put it in the freezer for a few minutes.
- In a large bowl beat egg white and vanilla on high until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in the remaining sugar. Beat in cooled thickened cornstarch until stiff glossy peaks form and all sugar is dissolved.
- Gently spoon or pour meringue over warm pie filling making sure that meringue is sealed around edge of pie crust.
- Bake at 350 F for 25 minutes or until meringue is golden brown. Cool on wire rack for 1 hour. Do not refrigerate until cool. Refrigerate for 3 hours before serving.
Nutrition
Notes
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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This was absolutely delicious and will definitely be my lemon pie recipe from now on. Was easy to make, not to sweet or tart, just right. It’s a winner.
I really don’t understand why you instruct people to make 6 crusts when the rest of it is just for one pie. It’s misleading.
The recipe for pastry I use makes enough pastry for six pie crusts. This recipe isn’t something I like to mess with as pastry can be very finicky so I apologize if my recipe makes more than you need for the lemon pie. The recipe uses 1 egg so it is not possible to cut the recipe in half. I always freeze my leftover pie crust so I can just pull it out and thaw for tarts, other pies etc. when I need it. If you do not want to make this pastry you can certainly substitute with a store-bought pie shell.
Absolutely Delicious
Thank you so much for posting this recipe.
I have NEVER made lemon meringue pie – the thought of it was INTIMIDATING.
I used this recipe and followed it to a ‘T’ – the pie turned out AMAZING.
Thank you so much!
This makes my day! I always thought a lemon pie was intimidating as well. There are a lot of steps but all easy steps. So glad I could be of help!
Alisa, this recipe looks amazing!! I love lemon in any dessert!! You need to make this for our next blogger get together 🙂