Check out my recipe for making Lemon Meringue Pie!
One of my greatest food-related memories as a kid was having lemon meringue pie for every holiday at my grandma Grace’s house. She made the BEST lemon meringue pie ever!! My love for lemon meringue (lemon anything, really) has only grown over the years. There’s not a holiday that goes by that I don’t make a lemon meringue pie!
Lemon meringue pie consists of a tart lemon filling, similar to lemon curd, a meringue topping, and a traditional pie crust. While it may look complicated to make, it’s really not that hard and the results are AMAZING!!
For me, one of the most important things that go into making the perfect lemon meringue pie is the filling-to-meringue ratio. If you don’t have enough meringue, the pie just isn’t quite as good. So, my recipe makes a lot (it looks like it’s too much but it’s not, trust me!) of meringue. I like a 3 or 4 inch deep meringue topping on the lemon pie!
Obviously, the lemon pie filling is VERY important! You don’t want to have a lemon filling that is too tart or too sweet. Adding in just the right amount of sugar helps with this. Also, adding in the fresh lemon zest helps to add a little extra flavor, but also adds a wonderful texture! Be sure to add the lemon zest, you’ll be surprised by what a difference it makes!
Tips for making Lemon Meringue Pie
Lemon meringue pie filling is very similar to lemon curd. The thick lemon filling is made by combining water, sugar, cornstarch, egg yolks, lemon juice and zest, and butter together. The filling is similar to that of jelly. While there is no dairy in the pie filling, it does take on an almost creamy texture.
Yes. Refrigerating lemon meringue pie will help it keep the right consistency. The filling will stay thicker and the meringue will keep it’s shape more.
To prevent lemon meringue pie from weeping or becoming watery, fill the pie and add the meringue while the pie shell and filling are still warm. Doing so creates a bond or seal between the different parts of the pie and helps to reduce the weeping. Be sure to fully cook the filling and bake the meringue long enough.
Let the egg whites get to room temperature before beating them. Very cold eggs will not make as stiff of a meringue. Be sure not to get any of the egg yolks into the whites. To help with this, I always crack and separate each egg yolk in a small bowl instead of in the main bowl. That way if a yolk breaks, it hasn’t gotten into the big bowl of whites. Instead, the yolk is confined to just one egg white, which can be discarded. Keep an eye on the egg whites and check for peaks frequently. You want the egg whites to be beaten into stiff peaks, but you don’t want to over beat them or the texture will be off.
Yes. Meringue needs to be cooked as it is made up of raw eggs. Cooking the meringue (on the pie) for 20-25 minutes or until it has reached a temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit will ensure that the meringue is safe to eat.
Looking for more Dessert Recipes? Check out all of our dessert recipes here!
Instant Pot Lemon Meringue Cheesecake
Ingredient substitutions and tips for making Lemon Meringue Pie:
The full ingredient list is found at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.
Sugar– White sugar is needed for this recipe.
Cornstarch– No substitute. Corn starch is needed to help thicken the pie filling.
Lemons– You will be using the juice and the zest from the lemon. You can use bottled lemon juice but will need fresh lemons for the zest. So, best to just use fresh lemons for this recipe.
Eggs- I use large, white eggs. You will need to separate the egg yolks from the egg whites and will use both for different parts of the pie. Make sure that you don’t get any of the yolk mixed in with the whites when you separate them.
Butter-I prefer to use salted butter. But if you wish, you can use unsalted butter. If you do, you will want to add a pinch of salt to the pie filling while cooking.
Cream of Tartar– No substitute. Cream of tartar is needed to help stabilize the meringue.
Pie Crust– Pre-made or homemade. Prepare in advance by pricking the sides and bottom with a fork and then partially cooking.
Steps for making Lemon Meringue Pie:
Directions for making Lemon Meringue Pie:
Pie Crust:
1. Using a fork, prick the bottom and sides of the pie crust throughout and then partially bake the pie crust according to the directions on the package or based on the homemade pie crust recipe that you are using.
2. The crust should still be a little warm when you add in the pie filling in the next steps, so if you have pre-made the pie crust, stick it back in the oven for a few minutes to warm it up, before adding the pie filling.
Pie Filling:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, whisk the water, sugar, corn starch, and salt together.
3. Once combined, add the lemon juice and lemon zest and stir for about 5 minutes until the mixture starts to thicken. Turn the heat down to low.
4. In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks until well combined.
5. Add 3 tablespoons of the hot lemon pie filling to the whisked egg yolks and continue to whisk until well combined. The pie filling will temper the egg yolks so that when you add them to the rest of the hot pie filling the egg yolks won’t scramble.
6. Slowly pour the egg yolk mixture into the pie filling and whisk continuously. Turn the heat back up to medium. Continue to whisk the mixture together for about 5 minutes. Once the mixture has thickened and is bubbling or starts to boil, remove the pan from the heat.
7. Add the butter and whisk in the butter.
8. Pour the hot lemon mixture into the prepared pie crust and set aside.
Meringue Topping:
1. Using an electric mixer or stand mixer and the whisk attachment, pour the egg whites into the bowl of a stand mixer and beat the egg whites until they start to get very bubbly and almost start to form soft peaks. I usually start on medium speed and then turn it up to high speed after about a minute.
2. Pour in the sugar and add the cream of tartar and beat on high speed until stiff peaks form.
3. Scoop out the meringue and top the warm pie filling with the meringue. It’s going to look like you have too much meringue, but you don’t. Add all of the meringue. Be sure to seel the edges of the pie with the meringue so that it is touching the crust and you cannot see the filling. Form a bit of dome with the meringue so that it is deeper in the middle than it is on the sides of the pie.
4. Using the tines of a fork or the back of a spoon, gently touch the meringue and pull upwards to form lots of little peaks in the meringue. All of these little peaks will get extra color when it gets baked.
Bake the pie at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes, or until the meringue is starting to turn golden brown. If the meringue is getting too dark, cover it loosely with foil and continue to bake.
Refrigerate the pie for several hours before serving. If you serve right away, the filling will not be set and you will have a runny pie. To prevent the meringue from sticking to foil or plastic wrap, you can stick toothpicks in the meringue topping and have the foil or plastic touch the toothpicks instead of the meringue.
Pin Lemon Meringue Pie on Pinterest:
Recipe
Lemon Meringue Pie
Rate this Recipe Print Recipe Pin RecipeEquipment
Ingredients
Pie Filling
- 1⅓ Cup (315.45 g) Water
- ¾ Cup (150 g) Sugar
- ¼ Cup (32 g) Corn Starch
- 2 (2) Lemons (Juice and Zest)
- 8 (8) Egg Yolks
- 4 Tablespoons (3.94 Tablespoons) Butter (Salted)
Meringue
- 8 (8) Egg whites
- ½ Cup (100 g) Sugar
- ½ Teaspoon (0.49 Teaspoon) Cream of Tartar
Pie Crust
- 1 (1) Pie Crust (Premade or homemade- 10 inch)
Instructions
Pie Crust:
- Using a fork, prick the bottom and sides of the pie crust throughout and then partially bake the pie crust according to the directions on the package or based on the homemade pie crust recipe that you are using. The crust should still be a little warm when you add in the pie filling in the next steps, so if you have pre-made the pie crust, stick it back in the oven for a few minutes to warm it up, before adding the pie filling.
Pie Filling:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, whisk the water, sugar, corn starch, and salt together.
- Once combined, add the lemon juice and lemon zest and stir for about 5 minutes until the mixture starts to thicken. Turn the heat down to low.
- In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks until well combined.
- Add 3 tablespoons of the hot lemon pie filling to the whisked egg yolks and continue to whisk until well combined. The pie filling will temper the egg yolks so that when you add them to the rest of the hot pie filling the egg yolks won't scramble.
- Add the butter and whisk in the butter.
- Pour the hot lemon mixture into the prepared pie crust and set aside.
Meringue Topping:
- Using an electric mixer or stand mixer and the whisk attachment, pour the egg whites into the bowl of a stand mixer and beat the egg whites until they start to get very bubbly and almost start to form soft peaks. I usually start on medium speed and then turn it up to high speed after about a minute.
- Pour in the sugar and add the cream of tartar and beat on high speed until stiff peaks form.
- Scoop out the meringue and top the warm pie filling with the meringue. It's going to look like you have too much meringue, but you don't. Add all of the meringue. Be sure to seel the edges of the pie with the meringue so that it is touching the crust and you cannot see the filling. Form a bit of dome with the meringue so that it is deeper in the middle than it is on the sides of the pie.
- Using the tines of a fork or the back of a spoon, gently touch the meringue and pull upwards to form lots of little peaks in the meringue. All of these little peaks will get extra color when it gets baked.
- Bake the pie at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes, or until the meringue is starting to turn golden brown. If the meringue is getting too dark, cover it loosely with foil and continue to bake.
- Refrigerate the pie for several hours before serving. If you serve right away, the filling will not be set and you will have a runny pie. To prevent the meringue from sticking to foil or plastic wrap, you can stick toothpicks in the meringue topping and have the foil or plastic touch the toothpicks instead of the meringue.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only.
Leave a comment and rate this recipe!
Keep scrolling to see my newest recipes!
Ninja Creami Chocolate Covered Strawberry Protein Ice Cream
Do you like chocolate covered strawberries? I do! I love them! Well, have you ever thought about making chocolate covered strawberry protein packed ice cream using your Ninja Creami ice cream machine? I’ll show you how to get all of the flavors of chocolate covered strawberries in ice cream form without using pudding mix or premade protein shakes. This recipe comes in at 262 calories, 27 grams of protein, 3 grams of sugar, 12 grams of fat, 49 carbs, 29 net carbs (total carbs-allulose) for the ENTIRE pint. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all […]
Ninja Creami Honeydew Sorbet-Low Calorie
Ninja Creami honeydew sorbet is sweet, refreshing, and so easy to make. With just 4 simple ingredients, you can make a healthy sweet treat that’s not only delicious, but low in calories, sugar, and fat. I’ll show you how to make this delicious homemade sorbet using the Ninja Creami machine. This recipe comes in at 164 calories, 2 grams of protein, 37 grams of sugar, 1 gram of fat, 91 carbs, 41 net carbs (total carbs-allulose) for the ENTIRE pint. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all nutrition facts. The most important ingredient in this […]
Ninja Creami Cantaloupe Frozen Yogurt (Low-Calorie)
If you love the flavor of fresh cantaloupe, then you are going to love my recipe for Cantaloupe Frozen Yogurt, using the Ninja Creami machine. The sweetness of the ripe cantaloupe mixed with the tanginess of the yogurt, makes the perfect treat. I’ll show you how to take just a few simple ingredients and turn them into a low calorie cantaloupe frozen yogurt that’s the perfect snack or dessert! This recipe comes in at 163 calories, 11 grams of protein, 25 grams of sugar, 1 gram of fat, 80 carbs, 30 net carbs (total carbs-allulose) for the ENTIRE pint. See […]
Ninja Creami Pina Colada Protein Ice Cream
Pineapple and coconut go together soooo well! While I do love piña coladas, sometimes you just want the pineapple and coconut flavors and not the actual (delicious) drink. I’ll show you how to make the perfect piña colada ice cream recipe with added protein, using the Ninja Creami ice cream maker. It’s the perfect tropical treat! This recipe comes in at 237 calories, 25 grams of protein, 14 grams of sugar, 6 grams of fat, 47 carbs, 27 net carbs (total carbs-allulose) for the ENTIRE pint. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all nutrition facts. Traditionally, […]
Ninja Creami Watermelon Sorbet (Low Calorie)
Watermelon is one of my favorite fruits. It’s so sweet and delicious, I just can’t get enough. I love using fresh watermelon in Ninja Creami recipes! The texture is great and the sorbet is super light and refreshing! I’ll show you how to use simple ingredients to make the perfect frozen treat! This recipe comes in at 137 calories, 3 grams of protein, 28 grams of sugar, 1 gram of fat, 55 carbs, 35 net carbs (total carbs-allulose) for the ENTIRE pint. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all nutrition facts. You can make so many […]
Ninja Creami Blueberry Protein Ice Cream
If you love blueberries as much as I do, then you’re going to love my recipe for making a protein packed blueberry ice cream in the Ninja Creami ice cream maker. There’s lots of flavor, added protein (using unflavored protein powder),no pudding mix, and a super creamy texture! This recipe comes in at 230 calories, 26 grams of protein, 14 grams of sugar, 73 carbs, 23 grams of net carbs and 4 grams fat for the entire pint. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all nutrition facts. For this recipe, I chose to use unflavored whey […]
Ninja Creami Strawberry Lemonade Sherbet
Who doesn’t love strawberry lemonade? Well, you know what makes it even better? Making sherbet that tastes like strawberry lemonade with the Ninja Creami ice cream maker! This recipe comes in at 114 calories, 5 gram of protein, 11 grams of sugar, 82 carbs, 15 grams of net carbs and 4 grams fat. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all nutrition facts. You can turn just about anything into the perfect treat with a creamy texture using the Ninja Creami ice cream machine. This is one of those Ninja Creami recipes that makes you go…huh? How […]
Ninja Creami Blueberry Sorbet
Oh, how I love blueberries! I’ve made a ton of Ninja Creami recipes with blueberries, but this is my first blueberry sorbet recipe. I’ll show you how to turn just a few ingredients into a super flavorful, dairy-free, healthy treat using the Ninja Creami ice cream maker! This recipe comes in at 130 calories, 2 gram of protein, 23 grams of sugar, 83 carbs, 33 grams of net carbs and 1 grams fat. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all nutrition facts. I’m a sucker for just about anything that has blueberries in it. I seem […]
Ninja Creami Strawberry Shortcake Protein Ice Cream
Have you ever had one of those strawberry shortcake ice cream bars from the freezer section at the grocery store? You know the ones…they have those little pink and white crunchy bits on the outside of the ice cream! Well, if you have ever had one and loved it, then you’re in luck! This recipe is my take on those ice cream bars made with added protein and made in the Ninja Creami ice cream maker! This recipe comes in at 379 calories, 29 grams of protein, 14 grams of sugar, 12 grams of fat, and 42 carbs for the ENTIRE […]
New! Ninja Swirl by Creami (Ninja Creami Swirl)
There’s a new Ninja Creami that’s just been released! It’s the Ninja Swirl by Creami! Find out about all of the features, where to buy it, and how it compares to the Ninja Creami 7-1, Ninja Creami Deluxe, and the Ninja Creami Breeze. The Ninja Creami is the most popular frozen treat maker on the planet! It’s been around for a few years, but now…there’s a New Ninja Creami…and it makes soft serve in addition to scoopable ice cream. The Ninja Swirl by Creami is available for purchase at the following retailers: You’re probably wondering what’s different about the Ninja […]
Ninja Creami Blueberry Coconut Frozen Yogurt
I LOVE blueberry and coconut flavored things! They are each really good on their own, but together they are the perfect combination of flavors. My recipe for Ninja Creami blueberry coconut frozen yogurt is the perfect combination of flavors with just the right amount of blueberries and shredded coconut added in for texture. This is a super easy recipe to make, thanks to flavored yogurts! The number of yogurt flavors readily available at the grocery store has skyrocketed in the past few years. Blueberry and coconut flavored yogurts make this a super easy recipe to make. The Ninja Creami ice […]
Ninja Creami Cranberry Orange Sorbet-Low Calorie
Did you know that you can make sorbet out of cranberry sauce in the Ninja Creami ice cream machine? Well, you can and it’s super easy to do and tastes amazing. I used canned cranberry sauce, but you could very easily use homemade cranberry sauce leftover from the holidays. This recipe comes in at 278 calories, 1 gram of protein, 56 grams of sugar, 120 carbs, 70 grams of net carbs and 0.2 grams fat. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all nutrition facts. You can’t have Thanksgiving dinner without cranberry sauce! Cranberry sauce is a […]
Ninja Creami Maple Bacon Protein Ice Cream
Bacon makes everything better! That goes for Ninja Creami ice cream too! If you love bacon as much as I do, you have to try my recipe for making Maple Bacon ice cream in the Ninja Creami ice cream maker! It’s sweet, it’s savory, it has a creamy texture, and it even has extra protein added in. This recipe comes in at 643 calories, 35 grams of protein, 61 grams of sugar, 21 grams of fat, 98 carbs, 88 net carbs (total carbs-allulose) for the ENTIRE pint. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all nutrition facts. […]
Ninja Creami Butterfinger Ice Cream
If you like Butterfingers, you’re going to love my recipe for making Butterfinger ice cream in the Ninja Creami ice cream maker. It’s super creamy with the perfect amount of crunch. The rich vanilla base goes really well with the peanut butter and chocolate flavored flaky, crunch, candy pieces. Why does everyone love Butterfinger candy bars so much? Yes, Butterfingers taste great. They combine the flavors of peanut butter and chocolate. You can’t go wrong with that flavor combination! But, I think the texture sets them apart from just about every other candy bar on the market. The texture is […]
Ninja Creami White Chocolate Peppermint Low Calorie Ice Cream
White chocolate peppermint ice cream makes me think of the colder winter months….but it can be eaten all year round! To add to the peppermint flavor and provide a bunch of little crunchy bits, I used starlight mints. But, if you want to make it a little more festive, use candy canes during the winter holidays. This recipe comes in at 285 calories, 9 grams of protein, 29 grams of sugar, 96 carbs, 46 grams of net carbs and 7 grams fat. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all nutrition facts. Making low calorie Ninja Creami […]
The BEST Ninja Creami LOW CALORIE Recipes
Check out my favorite LOW CALORIE Ninja Creami Ice Cream Recipes! If you’re new to the Ninja Creami ice cream maker, or craving something new, I’ve got you covered! Eating low calorie doesn’t have to be hard. The good news is you can still have delicious, creamy, thick ice cream, while sticking to a low calorie diet. I’ve perfected some basic recipes like vanilla and chocolate low calorie ice cream but have also created more complex recipes like chocolate brownie, birthday cake, pumpkin pecan, peanut banana crunch, blueberry cheesecake frozen yogurt, and cherry almond ice cream. Making low calorie ice […]
Ninja Creami Jamoca Almond Fudge Protein Ice Cream
Jamoca Almond Fudge is a really popular ice cream from Baskin Robbins. It’s basically a coffee flavored ice cream with ribbons of fudge and pieces of almonds, mixed throughout. Even though you can’t really make fudge ribbons, you can make something pretty similar at home, using your Ninja Creami ice cream machine. This recipe comes in at 340 calories, 32 grams of protein, 1 gram of sugar, 37 carbs, and 18 fat. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all nutrition facts. Jamoca Almond Fudge ice cream is the perfect combination of coffee, chocolate, and nut flavors. Thanks […]
Ninja Creami Blueberries and Sweet Cream Ice Cream
I absolutely LOVE all things blueberry! I can’t get enough of them. I find myself coming up with new Ninja Creami ice cream maker blueberry recipes all the time! My Ninja Creami blueberries and sweet cream recipe is super easy to make, doesn’t have a bunch of ingredients, and is so delicious! Blueberry ice cream isn’t super popular at the grocery store, but you can make it at home using the Ninja Creami. The flavor is great, and the texture is so so smooth and creamy! I make blueberry ice cream all the time. I have some recipes where I […]
Ninja Creami Chocolate Sorbet-Low Calorie
Have you ever had chocolate sorbet? It’s super thick, super creamy, and super chocolatey, dairy-free, sugar-free, and fantastic tasting! You can even make it in your Ninja Creami ice cream maker! With just 4 simple ingredients (plus water), you’ll be adding this recipe to your regular rotation in no time! This recipe comes in at 55 calories, 20 sugar, 117 carbs, and 17 net carbs (total carbs-allulose) for the ENTIRE pint. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all nutrition facts. While I’d like to say that I created the idea for chocolate sorbet all on my […]
Ninja Creami Rocky Road Protein Ice Cream
I absolutely love rocky road ice cream! But, the chocolate ice cream has to be super chocolatey! I made the perfect, super chocolatey, rocky road protein ice cream using my Ninja Creami ice cream maker. It’s soooo good! This recipe comes in at 342 calories, 30 grams of protein, 18 grams of sugar, 64 carbs, and 12 fat. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all nutrition facts. Adding protein to Ninja Creami ice cream isn’t hard. You can use protein powder (in this case, I used unflavored Whey protein powder) or protein shakes. The trickiest part […]
Ninja Creami Pumpkin Pecan Ice Cream-Low Calorie
If you love pumpkin spice flavored things, you’ve got to try my recipe for making a low calorie treat in the Ninja Creami ice cream maker! Since the recipe doesn’t actually use pumpkin pie, the ingredients are easy to find year round (not just during the Fall season), which means you can have pumpkin pecan ice cream anytime you want to! This recipe comes in at 265 calories, 12 protein, 20 sugar, 77 carbs, and 27 net carbs (total carbs-allulose). See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all nutrition facts. This pumpkin pie ice cream recipe […]
Comments
No Comments