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Home / Latest Posts / Recipes / Course / Dessert / Pie / Lemon Meringue Pie

Lemon Meringue Pie

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By: Leigh Anne WilkesPosted: 1/25/21Updated: 12/22/23

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure policy here.

A classic lemon meringue pie with a tart and smooth lemon filling topped with a light and fluffy meringue.

lemon meringue pie on a cooling rack
lemon meringue pie

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

For Christmas this year my mother gave me a cookbook.  This wasn’t one of the newest cookbooks on the bookstore shelves.  This cookbook was over 60 years old.  It was given to my mother when she was 20 years old by her grandmother –  my Great Grandmother Mary Calista Welles Schenck  (I love the fact that she spelled my mother’s name wrong.  There is an E on her Anne!)

old family cookbook

I was thrilled to receive this cookbook.  My mother had included a note in the cookbook that read:

 “The first thing I made from this cookbook was the butterscotch chiffon cake on page 159.  It was delicious!  I baked it as dessert for the first meal I ever cooked – it was for a boyfriend but I never made it again because my father had a heart attack later that night!    The most used recipe is the lemon meringue pie (most stained page in the book!) 

My grandmother was a woman ahead of her time.  She ruled her household, was very vocal about women’s rights and very active in her community.  She was certainly influential in my life!  I pass this book on to you with much love and pride of the woman you have become.  With much love – Mom“

lemon meringue pie on a pie stand

Old Family Recipes

That messy page #317 tells a story.   I know there are many stories between those pages.  Stories of family dinners, parties and holidays when she probably made and served that pie.

Have you ever wished that a cookbook could talk?   That it could tell the stories of the people that made the recipes, the people that enjoyed the food. Where they served it and to who. I do.  I wonder, if my recipes could talk, what would they say about me?  What stories would they have to tell.

I am grateful now that some of my spills are now part of her spills, part of those pages.  That my story is now between the pages of that cookbook along with my mothers.

old family cookbook open

Ingredients Needed

  •  10″ baked pie crust. Can use a store-bought pie dough or make a homemade crust. You will need a baked pie crust.
  • Sugar
  • Cornstarch
  • Hot water
  • Eggs 
  • Butter, I use salted butter
  • Lemons. Always use fresh lemon juice.
  • Cream of Tartar
pie next to a cookbook

How to Make Lemon Meringue Pie Filling

  • Make pie crust using this tutorial and use a 9-inch pie dish for crust. Bake pie crust using directions on store bought pie crust or use blind bake instructions in pie crust tutorial post.
  • Mix together sugar and cornstarch in a medium saucepan and add in water, stir until mixed.
  • Cook sugar mixture over medium-high heat, stirring constantly until mixture thickens and boils. Low boil for one minute.
  • Add a little of the hot mixture into your 3 large egg yolks.
  • Pour that hot egg yolk mixture into the pan with the rest of the hot mixture and stir. This prevents the hot mixture from cooking the eggs.
  • Boil one minute longer, stirring constantly.
  • Remove from heat. Continue stirring until smooth.
  • Add in butter, lemon juice and lemon rind.
  • Pour mixture into pie crust.
lemon pie filling in crust

Tips for Perfect Meringue

  • It is important that you don’t get any egg yolk into the egg white as this can prevent them from whipping properly.
  • Eggs separate easier when chilled. Allow them to come to room temperature after separating as they will whip faster and with more volume than chilled egg whites.
  • Make sure your bowl and beaters are clean.
  • Using a chilled bowl and beaters will speed up the process
foamy egg whites

How to Make Meringue

  • Beat egg whites until foamy with whisk attachment in the bowl of a stand mixer at medium-high speed.
  • Add in cream of tartar. This is a stabilizer.
  • Pour in sugar a tablespoon at a time and then beat until it turns glossy and a stiff peak forms.
pouring sugar into egg whites
  • Fill the pie crust with your filling and add spoonfuls of the meringue onto the top of the pie.
spooning meringue on a lemon pie
  • Spread the meringue over the top of the filling, being sure to totally seal the edges.  You don’t want any holes or openings.  Be sure the meringue comes all the way to the edge of the pie crust.
  • Use the back of your spoon to form decorative peaks across the top of the pie and to make sure the meringue covers the whole surface.  Be careful to seal the meringue onto the edge of the crust to prevent shrinkage.  If the filling is exposed to the heat it may “weep.”
smoothing meringue on a pie
  • Bake at 400 degrees F for 10-12 minutes, just until the meringue toppings begins to turn golden brown.
  • Allow to cool.

How to Serve Lemon Meringue Pie:

  • Allow pie to cool completely on a wire rack at room temperature before serving. If the pie is warm, the lemon filing will be runny when you cut into it. You can chill it for 2-3 hours before serving also if desired.
  • Cut the cooled pie with a wet knife to prevent the meringue from sticking to it.
meringue ready to bake

Frequently Asked Questions

Does lemon meringue pie need to be refrigerated?

Yes, keep leftover pie in the refrigerator, loosely covered with plastic wrap. Don’t let the pie sit out at room temperature for more than a couple of hours. It will last for 2-3 days in the refrigerator but will begin to “weep” the longer it is in the fridge.

Why is my meringue “weeping?”

Little drops of moisture or condensation may form on your meringue and make it look like it’s crying. This is caused by touching the meringue. If you are covering the pie with plastic wrap be sure to insert some toothpicks into the pie to keep the plastic wrap from touching the meringue. The plastic wrap will cause the meringue to release moisture and look like it’s weeping.

slice of lemon meringue pie

Try some of these other delicious recipes:

  • Grandma’s Chocolate Meringue Pie
  • Paper Rosettes
  • Raspberry Cream Meringue Pie
  • Meringue Cookies
  • Lemon Meringue Ice Cream

Be sure and follow me over on You Tube for weekly cooking demos.

5 from 4 votes
LEMON MERINGUE PIE ON A COOLIGN RACK

Lemon Meringue Pie

Recipe From: Leigh Anne Wilkes
A classic lemon meringue pie with a tart and smooth lemon filling topped with a light and fluffy meringue.
serves: 12 servings
Prep:45 minutes minutes
Cook:0 minutes minutes
Chill Time:2 hours hours
Total:2 hours hours 45 minutes minutes
Rate Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 pie crust 10″ baked pie crust
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1/3 cup cornstarch
  • 1 1/2 cup hot water
  • 3 egg yolks slightly beaten
  • 3 Tbsp butter
  • 4 Tbsp lemon juice or more to taste
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp lemon zest

Meringue

  • 3 egg whites
  • 1/4 tsp cream of tartar
  • 6 Tbsp sugar

Instructions

  • Mix together sugar and cornstarch.
  • Add in water and stir until mixed.
  • Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture thickens and boils. Boil for one minute
  • Add a little of the hot mixture into your 3 egg yolks. Then pour the hot mixture into the pan with the rest of the hot mixture and stir. This prevents the hot mixture from cooking the egg.
  • Boil one minute longer, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and continue to stir until smooth.
  • Add in butter, lemon juice and lemon rind and pour into baked pie shell
  • Cover with meringue. Making sure it covers the whole service of the pie.
  • Bake until a light golden brown at 400 degrees for about 10-12 minutes.
  • Cool and serve.

Meringue

  • Beat egg whites and cream of tartar until foamy.
  • Add in sugar one tablespoon at a time until stiff and glossy
  • Pile meringue onto pie filling
  • Be sure and seal the meringue onto the edge of crust to prevent shrinking.
  • if the filling is exposed to heat it will "weep"
  • Swirl the meringue with the bottom of a spoon for a decorative top.
  • Bake until lightly golden brown. Cool gradually, away from drafts

Tips & Notes:

    • Allow pie to cool completely on a wire rack at room temperature before serving. If the pie is warm, the lemon filing will be runny when you cut into it. You can chill it for 2-3 hours before serving also if desired.
    • Cut the cooled pie with a wet knife to prevent the meringue from sticking to it.
    • Yes, keep leftover pie in the refrigerator, loosely covered with plastic wrap. Don’t let the pie sit out at room temperature for more than a couple of hours. It will last for 2-3 days in the refrigerator but will begin to “weep” the longer it is in the fridge.

Recommended Products

Pie Plate (9in)
Measuring Cups
Measuring Spoons

Nutrition Facts:

Serving: 1g Calories: 243kcal (12%) Carbohydrates: 41g (14%) Protein: 2g (4%) Fat: 7g (11%) Saturated Fat: 3g (19%) Cholesterol: 56mg (19%) Sodium: 100mg (4%) Potassium: 46mg (1%) Sugar: 31g (34%) Vitamin A: 155IU (3%) Vitamin C: 2.9mg (4%) Calcium: 11mg (1%) Iron: 0.5mg (3%)
* Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Read full disclosure here.
Course:Dessert
Cuisine:American
LEMON MERINGUE PIE ON A COOLIGN RACK
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Originally post June, 2013

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5 from 4 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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  1. Janice Laws says

    Posted on 3/30 at 10:39 am

    Have used this recipe several times.It is my favorite for lemon pie.Thank you.

    Reply
  2. Dee McHose says

    Posted on 1/17 at 11:02 am

    My mom gave me the same cook book in 1962 when I was married. I used it faithfully almost daily for the first 2-3 years. By then I had memorized most of my go-to recipes. My most favorite recipe was and still is the vegetable beef soup. I now live in Southern California and have a wonderful Meyer lemon tree in my yard. I use the fruit to make all sorts of lemon desserts. I will try your lemon meringue pie recipe for sure.
    I enjoy all of your recipes and try at least to make one of the recipes that same day I read your blog. I’m going to tackle the 30 minute rolls for supper tonight! 😉

    Reply
    • Leigh Anne says

      Posted on 1/17 at 12:21 pm

      My mom received it in 1959. I haven’t tried the vegetable beef soup but I will!
      So glad you enjoy the blog and the recipes!

      Reply
  3. Meghan says

    Posted on 6/22 at 8:33 am

    This was my first attempt at Lemon Meringue Pie and it turned out great. This recipe was easy to follow and delicious. I was a little concerned about taking on meringue, however, it was easier than I expected! Your Chocolate Meringue Pie is on the list for my next pie!

    Reply
    • Leigh Anne says

      Posted on 6/22 at 8:44 am

      Meghan, So glad it was a success! Thanks for letting me know.

      Reply
  4. Chandra@The Plaid and Paisley Kitchen says

    Posted on 1/28 at 1:25 pm

    What a sweet story! That pie looks amazing! Thanks for sharing at Show Me Your Plaid Monday’s!

    Reply
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