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Lemon Meringue Pie

This Lemon Meringue Pie recipe is cool, creamy, and tangy with a perfect cloud of toasted meringue on top!

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Additional Time
8 hrs
Total Time
8 hrs 50 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 467 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

For the Crust
  • 1 ¼ cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup cold butter cut into cubes
  • 3-4 tablespoons cold water
For the Lemon Filling
  • 2 lemons divided
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • ½ cup cornstarch
  • 1 ½ cups water
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
For the Meringue Topping
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 4 egg whites
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • pinch salt
  • ½ cup granulated sugar

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Zest both lemons. Juice ¼ cup of juice, about 1 lemon. Set aside.
For the Crust
    Cup of Yum
  1. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, and salt. Use a pastry cutter or fork to cut in chilled butter until it reaches pea-sized chunks.
  2. Gradually add in cold water, stirring each time until the dough can be pressed together. Form it into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or freeze for 30 minutes until chilled.
  3. Preheat oven to 425°F.
  4. Lightly flour the surface and use a rolling pin to roll a 12-inch circle. Line a 9-inch pie plate with the pastry.
  5. Gently press into the pie plate and over the sides. Trim the edges and crimp as desired. Poke the bottom and the sides with the tines of a fork all over to help prevent puffing (or line pie crust with parchment and use pie weights if you have them).
  6. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the pie crust is baked through and light golden brown. Set aside while you make the filling.
For the Filling
  1. In a medium saucepan, whisk together the sugar, water, corn starch, egg yolks, lemon juice and lemon zest.
  2. Cook over medium to medium-high heat, whisking constantly until the mixture comes to a boil and thickens. It will be slightly thicker than pudding. This can take 10-15 minutes, but don't rush it. Once thickened, remove from heat and stir in butter.
  3. Pour hot filling into the pie crust, set aside and prepare the meringue.
For the Meringue
  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  2. In a small saucepan, whisk together the water and corn starch. Cook over medium heat until thickened and clear. Set aside but keep warm.
  3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, or a clean bowl with clean beaters, beat egg whites, vanilla and salt until soft peaks form.
  4. Gradually add in the sugar, beating until stiff glossy peaks form.
  5. Gradually add in the warm corn starch mixture, beating constantly, until completely incorporated and meringue is light and fluffy and holds stiff peaks.
  6. Spread meringue onto hot pie filling (it's important that the filling is still hot!) and spread right to the edge of the pie crust. The meringue must touch the edges all the way around.
  7. Bake at 375°F for 5-8 minutes or just until the tops of the meringue are light golden brown -- don't overbake.
  8. Let rest on the counter on a wire rack for 1-2 hours, then refrigerate for 5-6 hours until chilled, or overnight.
  9. Slice and serve.

Notes

  • Keep leftover lemon meringue pie covered in the fridge for up to 2 days. 
  • If using fresh lemons for juice; medium-sized lemons yield about 4 tablespoons of juice to equal ¼ cup (and 1 tablespoon of zest). When in doubt, get extra! The zest adds lots of lemon flavor so don't skip this part!

Nutrition Information

Calories 467 (23%) Carbohydrates 74g (25%) Protein 5g (10%) Fat 16g (25%) Saturated Fat 9g (45%) Cholesterol 135mg (45%) Sodium 306mg (13%) Potassium 63mg (2%) Sugar 50g (100%) Vitamin A 570IU (11%) Vitamin C 3mg (3%) Calcium 19mg (2%) Iron 1.2mg (7%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 467

% Daily Value*

Calories 467 23%
Carbohydrates 74g 25%
Protein 5g 10%
Fat 16g 25%
Saturated Fat 9g 45%
Cholesterol 135mg 45%
Sodium 306mg 13%
Potassium 63mg 1%
Sugar 50g 100%
Vitamin A 570IU 11%
Vitamin C 3mg 3%
Calcium 19mg 2%
Iron 1.2mg 7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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