Description
A delightful and tangy lemon meringue pie that is sure to brighten your day with its zesty flavor and fluffy meringue topping.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup granulated sugar (for filling)
- ⅓ cup cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups water
- 4 large egg yolks, lightly beaten
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice (about 2–3 lemons)
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (for filling)
- 4 large egg whites
- ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
- ½ cup granulated sugar (for meringue)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a medium bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, ⅓ cup sugar, and melted butter. Mix until well combined.
- Press the mixture firmly into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie pan. Bake for 8-10 minutes until lightly golden. Remove from the oven and let cool.
- In a medium saucepan, whisk together 1 cup sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Gradually whisk in water until smooth. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens and comes to a boil. Remove from heat.
- In a small bowl, temper the egg yolks by adding a few spoonfuls of the hot mixture to the yolks, whisking constantly. Then, gradually whisk the yolk mixture back into the saucepan. Return to heat and cook for an additional 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice, lemon zest, and 2 tablespoons of butter until melted and smooth.
- Pour the lemon filling into the cooled crust.
- In a clean mixing bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar with an electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add ½ cup sugar, continuing to beat until stiff peaks form and the mixture is glossy.
- Spread the meringue over the lemon filling, sealing the edges to prevent shrinking.
- Bake the pie in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the meringue is golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool at room temperature for at least 1 hour before serving.
Notes
- This pie serves 8.
- For a lighter version, you can use a pre-made pie crust or a reduced-fat graham cracker crust.
- To enhance the flavor, consider adding a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the lemon filling or topping the pie with fresh berries before serving.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 100mg