Classic Lemon Meringue Pie Recipe
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4.8
63 reviews
Excellent
Classic Lemon Meringue Pie Recipe
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Classic Lemon Meringue Pie features a flaky, buttery crust filled with a bright, tart lemon custard made with fresh lemon juice and zest. The pie is topped with a fluffy meringue made of whipped egg whites, sugar, and cream of tartar, creating a contrast between the creamy filling and light topping. The crust is rolled thin for a crisp base that supports the filling and meringue layers.
Description
This recipe begins with a pastry crust created by cutting cold unsalted butter into a dry mixture of flour, sugar, and salt, then adding just enough ice water to bring the dough together. The dough is rolled out evenly, transferred to a pie plate, and chilled before baking or filling. The crust forms a crisp and tender shell once baked.
The filling is crafted from egg yolks, fresh lemon juice and zest, sugar, cornstarch as a thickener, and water. The mixture is cooked until thick and smooth, and butter is added for richness. This lemon custard has a bright, tangy flavor balanced by the sweetness of sugar and the silkiness of butter.
The meringue topping consists of egg whites whipped with cream of tartar, vanilla, salt, and sugar until stiff peaks form. This light, marshmallow-like layer is spread over the warm lemon filling and baked to develop a delicate golden crust. The pie is typically served chilled and eaten within a day for best texture, with leftovers kept refrigerated. Alternate crust options and equipment suggestions are provided in the notes for flexibility.
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Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 1¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup butter cubed and very cold, unsalted
- 2 to 4 tablespoons water ice
For the Filling:
- 5 egg egg yolk
- 1½ cups water
- 1¼ cups granulated sugar
- 5 tablespoons cornstarch beaten
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup lemon juice fresh
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons butter unsalted
For the Meringue:
- 5 egg room temperature, white
- ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch salt
- ½ cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Make the Pie Crust: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt.
- Add the butter and, using a pastry blender or two forks, quickly cut it into the flour until large pea-sizes bits remain.
- Add 2 tablespoons of the ice water and use a rubber spatula to stir it into the dough, pressing it together. If it still seems dry, add more water a little at a time until it is cohesive.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and bring it together with your hands, pressing it into a 6-inch round. Lightly flour the top and gently and quickly roll it out to a 13-inch circle, picking it up and doing a quarter turn after every couple of rolls to keep it from sticking.
- Transfer the dough to a 9-inch pie plate and gently press it into the bottom and up the sides. Trim the dough to 1 inch beyond the lip of the pie plate, then tuck it under itself so it is flush with the edge of the pie plate. Flute the edges or press with the tines of a fork, then refrigerate the dough-lined plate for at least 2 hours.
- Partially Bake the Crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Remove the chilled dough-lined pie plate from the refrigerator. Line with a large piece of aluminum foil, pressing it firmly into the edges of the pie dough and over the edges of the crust. Fill the now foil-lined pie plate with granulated sugar (you could also use beans or pie weights, but sugar is the best!). Bake for 45 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes, then carefully remove the foil and sugar (you can pour the sugar into a container to use again).
- Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
- Make the Filling: In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks together; set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, whisk together the water, sugar, cornstarch, salt, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Set over medium heat and cook, whisking occasionally, until it is bubbly and thickened, 4 to 6 minutes. Reduce the temperature to low.
- Very gradually, whisk about half of the hot lemon mixture into the beaten egg yolks, then scrape the mixture back into the saucepan. Increase the heat back to medium and cook until the mixture is thick and large bubbles are breaking on the surface, 1 or 2 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the butter until melted.
- Pour the filling into the pie crust and smooth into an even layer. Place a piece of plastic wrap against the surface of the filling to keep it warm and prevent a film from forming while you prepare the meringue.
- Make the Meringue: Using an electric mixer with the whisk attachment (or a hand mixer), beat the egg whites on medium speed until frothy, then add the cream of tartar, salt, and vanilla extract. Increase the mixer speed to medium-high and beat to soft peaks. While continuing to beat the egg whites, gradually add the granulated sugar and beat until glossy and stiff peaks form.
- Remove the plastic wrap from the top of the filling and spread the meringue on top. Be sure that the meringue is touching the crust the entire way around to prevent the meringue from weeping. You can make decorative swirls with the back of a spoon, if you’d like.
- Bake until the meringue is golden brown on top, 18 to 22 minutes. Remove from the oven and place on a wire rack. Cool for 1 hour, then place in the refrigerator and chill for at least 4 hours before serving.
Notes
- You can use either a butter/shortening crust or a graham cracker crust as alternatives for the pie base.
- Essential equipment includes a pie plate, pastry blender, food processor, rolling pin, and citrus zester to prepare the crust and filling.
- The lemon juice needed typically comes from 2 to 4 fresh lemons, depending on size and juice content.
- The crust can be made ahead of time and refrigerated for up to one day before blind baking.
- Store leftover pie in the refrigerator covered with plastic wrap; the pie is best eaten within one day and does not freeze well.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Calories
406kcal
(20%)
Carbohydrates
65g
(22%)
Protein
4g
(8%)
Fat
15g
(23%)
Saturated Fat
9g
(45%)
Cholesterol
45mg
(15%)
Sodium
255mg
(11%)
Potassium
98mg
(2%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
45g
(90%)
Vitamin A
451IU
(9%)
Vitamin C
7mg
(8%)
Calcium
9mg
(1%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 406 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 406kcal | 20% |
| Carbohydrates | 65g | 22% |
| Protein | 4g | 8% |
| Fat | 15g | 23% |
| Saturated Fat | 9g | 45% |
| Cholesterol | 45mg | 15% |
| Sodium | 255mg | 11% |
| Potassium | 98mg | 2% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 45g | 90% |
| Vitamin A | 451IU | 9% |
| Vitamin C | 7mg | 8% |
| Calcium | 9mg | 1% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.8
63 reviews
Excellent
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