This lemon meringue pie recipe is a cooked lemon curd topped with meringue. Lemon bars are the shortbread squares on this site. This URL is the pie.
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Lemon Meringue Pie
- Total Time: 4 hours
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Description
Lemon meringue pie with toasted meringue. From Alissa at Yummy Dishes.
Ingredients
- 1 prebaked 9-inch pie crust
- 1 1/2 cups (300g) sugar, divided
- 1/3 cup (42g) cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups (360ml) water
- 4 egg yolks
- 1/2 cup (120ml) lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 4 egg whites
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
Instructions
- Whisk 1 cup sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Whisk in water. Cook until thick and bubbling 1 minute. Temper in the yolks. Return to the heat 1 minute. Off heat, stir in lemon juice, zest, and butter.
- Pour the hot curd into the crust.
- Beat whites and cream of tartar to soft peaks. Beat in the remaining 1/2 cup sugar until glossy. Spread over the hot curd, sealing to the crust.
- Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 10 to 12 minutes until the meringue is browned. Cool, then chill at least 3 hours.
Notes
Spread meringue on hot filling so the bottom cooks and weeps less. Seal it to the crust edge so it does not shrink.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Pie, not lemon bars
Lemon bars are a shortbread slab. This is curd and meringue in a crust.
Substitutions
Bottled lemon juice is sharper and flatter. Fresh juice is the filling.
Mistakes to avoid
A cold filling under the meringue weeps. Keep the curd hot.
Storage
Refrigerate 3 days. The meringue softens. Do not freeze.
Nutrition (estimated)
About 340 calories per slice. Estimate only, not a lab test.
FAQ
Why did the meringue weep?
The filling was cool, or the sugar was not fully dissolved in the whites.
Why did it shrink?
It was not sealed to the crust, or the oven was too hot.
Italian meringue?
A cooked sugar syrup makes a sturdier top. This page uses the simpler baked meringue.
How tart?
Half a cup of juice is bright. Add a tablespoon more only if your lemons are mild.