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My childhood favorite Lemon Meringue Pie recipe has a delicious fresh lemon flavor with the perfect fluffy meringue topping.
Do you love pie recipes? Try this No-Bake Cheesecake, Banana Cream Pie, Key Lime Pie, or Chess Pie!
I should be sick of Lemon Meringue Pie.
I should be sick of Lemon Meringue Pie.It was one of your family's favorites when I was young and our home turned into a mini hunger games whenever mom made it. You literally had to get a piece and hide it or you'd be out of luck. It's one of my brother's all time favorite desserts, he he would even request it as his birthday “cake”. The tart, creamy pie filling mixed with a billowing meringue is just irresistible! And to make it a real star it needs our easy homemade pie crust! .
I have two other favorite Lemons pies you cant miss: Lemon Chiffon Pie, and Lemon Cream Pie.
How to make Lemon Meringue Pie:
Make Meringue: In a small saucepan, whisk together cornstarch and water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thickens. Remove from heat. In a small bowl, stir together cream of tartar and sugar. In a large bowl, beat the egg whites with electric mixers until frothy. With the mixer running, add sugar mixture a spoonful at a time, until fully incorporated. Continue beating until soft peaks. Add thickened cornstarch mixture, beating in a spoonful at a time. Mix until stiff peaks form, about 1-2 minutes. Set aside.
Heat Mixture: In a medium saucepan, whisk together 1 cup sugar, flour, cornstarch, and salt. Stir in water, lemon juice and lemon zest. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until mixture comes to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in butter.
Temper Eggs: In a small bowl, beat the egg yolks. Add a spoonful of the hot sugar mixture into bowl of beaten egg yolks and whisk. (This tempers the eggs slowly so the eggs don't scramble when added).
Finish Lemon Filling: Whisk the egg yolk mixture back into saucepan and bring to a low boil, stirring constantly, until thick. Remove from heat. Pour filling into baked pie shell.
Bake: Spread meringue over hot lemon filling, spreading all the way to the edge, making sure there are no gaps between the pie crust and the meringue, so it doesn't shrink away while baking. Use the back of your spoon to create decorative peaks in the meringue. Bake for 10 minutes or until the meringue is lightly golden. Transfer to a wire rack and cool to room temperature before serving. This pie is best served the same day.
Tips for the Perfect Lemon Meringue Pie:
A Hot Pie: First, and most importantly, the pie filling should be hot when you spoon the meringue on top. The hot filling will help bake the meringue, instead of just stopping at the surface and “weeping”, causing your meringue to slide off when the pie is sliced. It also helps to avoid baking on super humid days.
Cornstarch and Cream of Tartar: My last tip for a fool-proof meringue is using a little bit of cornstarch and cream of tarter in the meringue to give it a stronger structure when baking.
My Favorite Lemon Recipes:
- Lemon Bars
- Lemon Cake
- Lemon Poppyseed Bread
- Lemon Mousse
- Lemon Ricotta Pancakes
- Homemade Lemonade
- Lemon Chicken Pasta
Lemon Meringue Pie
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 9-inch pre-baked pie crust
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 1 Tablespoon lemon zest, (about 1 large lemon)
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 large egg yolks, , separated
Meringue:
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/3 cup water
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 4 large egg whites , , room temperature (fresh eggs work best)
Instructions
- Grab 4 eggs and separate the egg yolks from the egg whites and set aside.
Meringue:
- In a small saucepan, whisk together cornstarch and water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thickened. Remove from heat and set aside.
- In a small bowl, stir together cream of tartar and sugar. In a large bowl, beat the egg whites with electric mixers until frothy.
- With the mixers running, add the sugar mixture, a spoonful at a time, until fully incorporated. Continue beating until soft peaks. Add the thickened cornstarch mixture while beating, a spoonful at a time. Mix until stiff peaks form, about 1-2 minutes. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Lemon Filling:
- In a medium saucepan, whisk together 1 cup sugar, flour, cornstarch, and salt. Stir in water, lemon juice and lemon zest. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until mixture comes to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in butter.
- Beat the egg yolks with a fork. Add a spoonful of the hot saucepan mixture into the egg yolk mixture and whisk together to temper the eggs (gradually warm them). Repeat, with a few more spoonfuls. Whisk the egg yolk mixture back into remaining sugar mixture in the pot.
- Bring to a gently boil and continue to cook while stirring constantly, until thick. Remove from heat.
Assemble:
- Pour hot lemon filling into baked pie shell. Immediately add meringue on top, covering every surface, spreading it around all the way to the edge of the pie so there are not gaps between the pie crust and meringue. Use the back of your spoon to create decorative peaks in the meringue.
- Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes or until the meringue is lightly browned.
- Transfer to a wire rack and cool to room temperature, about 2 hours. This pie is best served the same day.
- Store leftover lemon meringue pie covered in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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*I originally shared this recipe March 2015. Updated February 2019 and November 2024.
Recipe originally adapted from All Recipes
I made this for Thanksgiving and it was excellent. The texture and taste was very good. Lots of compliments.
Where does it say to add in the unsalted butter for making the lemon filling? I keep re-reading it, and not seeing it.
See step 3. Enjoy!
This is an amazing recipe! The pie itself tastes divine and the recipe was very detailed and easy to follow if you take your time and read thoroughly.
This was my first attempt at a lemon meringue. I wanted to try making my fiancée’s favorite desert for his birthday. I’m so thrilled with the outcome and an hour out of the oven half the pie is gone so I KNOW he loves it too.
Thankyou!
This recipe is different from any lemon meringue pie I’ve ever made, but it was worth the extra effort. The lemon filling is delicious and the meringue is outstanding. I’ll definitely be making this again!
Thanks Terre, I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
This recipe sounds delicious and easy. I would like to try it with homemade crust. Do I bake the crust first before adding the filling?
Yes, pre-bake crust. I would suggest reading and following the tips on my Perfect Pie Crust Recipe.
This was probably the best lemon meringue pie I’ve ever made or tasted. Easy to make and looks beautiful. I had a lot of lemons…I may have use a bit more fresh squeezed lemon juice and zest. I like a tart and sweet lemon pie. I was most impressed with the meringue! Never seen a recipe like yours. I wasn’t going to use it, but because it was just for my family I thought I’d try it out. Best meringue ever! It was beautiful and tasted great. I’ve book marked this recipe.
Thank you so much Victoria. I’m so glad you trusted the recipe and gave it a try! This one had been a family treasure for generations :).
Do you have to bake the pie crust before filling? I just made the whole thing and realized I didnt bake it first.
Yes, the pie crust needs to be pre-baked.
What do I do if I don’t have creme of tartar?
Hi Judy,
I don’t think there is a great substitute for the meringue. I would leave the cream of tartar out of the meringue and it should still turn out fine.
Absolutely delicious! My first time making this on my own and it came together beautifully! My daughter and boyfriend said it was fabulous!!! I did not eat any, however am making for Easter dessert. I sweated this out let me tell you, afraid if curdling, afraid the merangue would fall flat, but it came together just like your directions and pictures showed. Thank you
Can the recipe be doubled
Sure–to make two pies?
When you make 2, can I have one? 😉
How should you cook the pie crust beforehand?
It needs to be completely blind baked/pre-baked. I have step by step directions and photos for “blind baking” a pie crust at the bottom of this recipe: https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/perfect-pie-crust/