Easy Lemon Meringue Pie

Easy Lemon Meringue Pie

delicious take on a classic

Recipe by
Reviewed by Arturs Arnicans
Prep Time: 7h 38m
Cook Time: 12m
Total Time: 50m
Temp.: 375 °F
Servings: 8
Difficulty: Easy
4.9 (19 Reviews)
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Ingredients

Adjust servings:

For Lemon Filling:

For Meringue Topping:

Nutritional Information

312
Calories
13.9g
Fat
44.7g
Carbohydrate
4.1g
Protein
124mg
Cholesterol
150mg
Sodium
Easy Lemon Meringue Pie

Recipe Description

I love this Easy Lemon Meringue Pie recipe! It is a simple take on an all-time classic and reminds me of summer days, even if I make it in the depths of winter! Meringue pies originated in France back in the 1800s, but without the pastry crust. That came later and we haven’t looked back since. It’s the combination of the crisp pastry shell with creamy lemon filling and sweet meringue that everyone loves!

What makes this pie so easy is that I use a pre-baked pie shell, so I don’t need to faff about with pastry. I simply prepare a lemon custard and pour it into the pie shell. Next, I make a stiff meringue from egg white, sugar, and cream of tartar. I pile this on top of the custard and bake in the oven until the meringue is golden. Yum!

To make my Easy Lemon Meringue Pie, you will need the following ingredients:

Ingredients for Easy Lemon Meringue Pie

Steps to make

  1. 1

    Whisk egg yolks

    3 min
    Step 1 - Easy Lemon Meringue Pie

    Place 4 egg yolks in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Whisk and set aside.

  2. 2

    Prepare custard mixture

    5 min
    Step 2 - Easy Lemon Meringue PieStep 2 - Easy Lemon Meringue Pie

    Combine ⅓ cup and 3 tablespoons of cornstarch with 1½ cups of water, 1⅓ cups of sugar, and ¼ teaspoon of salt in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk the mixture until fully combined and bring to a boil for 1 minute, stirring frequently.

  3. 3

    Add cornstarch to eggs

    3 min
    Step 3 - Easy Lemon Meringue Pie

    Remove the saucepan from the heat and add ½ a cup of the cornstarch mixture at a time to egg yolks. Make sure you whisk constantly at this step or the mixture might curdle.

  4. 4

    Heat custard

    1 min
    Step 4 - Easy Lemon Meringue Pie

    Return the egg yolk mixture to the saucepan over low heat. Cook while stirring constantly for 1 more minute.

  5. 5

    Add lemon and butter

    1 min
    Step 5 - Easy Lemon Meringue PieStep 5 - Easy Lemon Meringue Pie

    Remove the mixture from the heat and gently stir through 5 tablespoons of butter, ½ a cup of lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon of zest. Stir until fully combined.

  6. 6

    Cook until thickened

    8 min
    Step 6 - Easy Lemon Meringue Pie

    Turn the heat down to medium-low and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture comes to a boil.
    Cook for about six minutes until thickened.

  7. 7

    Transfer custard to pie shell

    1 min
    Step 7 - Easy Lemon Meringue Pie

    Pour the lemon custard mixture into the pre-baked pie shell.

  8. 8

    Whisk egg whites with cream of tartar

    5 min
    Step 8 - Easy Lemon Meringue PieStep 8 - Easy Lemon Meringue Pie

    Whisk 4 egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer until soft peaks form. Add a pinch of cream of tartar and beat for a few more minutes, until larger peaks form.

  9. 9

    Add sugar

    2 min
    Step 9 - Easy Lemon Meringue PieStep 9 - Easy Lemon Meringue Pie

    Gradually add 8 tablespoons of sugar and continue to beat for 1-2 minutes until stiff peaks form.

  10. 10

    Heat oven

    5 min
    Step 10 - Easy Lemon Meringue Pie

    Preheat the oven to 375 °F.

  11. 11

    Assemble the pie

    3 min
    Step 11 - Easy Lemon Meringue Pie

    While the filling is still hot, spoon the meringue on top and spread until it completely covers the lemon mixture.

  12. 12

    Bake

    12 min
    Step 12 - Easy Lemon Meringue Pie

    Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes until the meringue is golden at the edges.

  13. 13

    Cool

    7h
    Step 13 - Easy Lemon Meringue Pie

    Remove the pie from the oven and leave to cool completely on a wire rack. Then refrigerate it for up to six hours before serving.

  14. 14

    Serve

    Step 14 - Easy Lemon Meringue Pie

    Serve cold.

This Easy Lemon Meringue Pie is really simple to make and tastes absolutely delicious! Don’t forget to tag #CookMeRecipes if you try this sensational classic.

About the author

Lilly Mathuse

Lilly is an enthusiastic and cheerful young mom. She knows as well as any parent that children can be really picky when it comes to food. And she’s had plenty of experience trying to cook meals that are both tasty and nutritious, and able to satisfy the tastes of a fussy kid right away! To save you some precious time, Lilly's going to share with you all the tricks she learned the hard way, so you don’t have to! She has a wealth of recipes for quick and easy meals for kids and families on a budget.

Recipe Reviews

Have you made this recipe? Share your experience and help other cooks!

★★★★★
★★★★★
4.9 out of 5 (19 reviews)
Fiona
January 3, 2025
Verified

This pie got me feelin' all summery, even in winter! So easy.

Zesty
October 19, 2024
Verified

So easy, wow!

Grace Hanson
June 25, 2024
Verified

Simply delicious lemon!

Penny
January 22, 2024
Verified

Absolutely delicious pie! It reminds me of my childhood baking with mum. This recipe is so straightforward, even I can do it! I love the balance of tangy lemon and sweet meringue. It always wows my family, especially during our Sunday get-togethers.

Evan
January 5, 2024
Verified

This Easy Lemon Meringue Pie recipe is simply fantastic! I made it for my family gathering, and everyone loved it. It's so easy, just pour the lemon custard and top it with that fluffy meringue. It reminded me of summer picnics with my parents as a kid. Definitely a winner!

Quinn
November 30, 2023
Verified

Delicious!

Xena
October 17, 2023
Verified

So tangy, refreshing!

Isabella Johnson
October 15, 2023
Verified

Delicious! This Easy Lemon Meringue Pie recipe is a total winner! I made it for my husband's birthday, and he loved every bite. I never thought pie could be this easy! It brightened up our winter day, and now we can't stop making it! Thanks for sharing!

Hannah
October 10, 2023
Verified

OMG, this Lemon Meringue Pie is the bomb! Super easy to whip up. Made it for my hubby’s bday and it knocked his socks off! Total summer vibes, even in winter!

Victor Smith
October 5, 2023
Verified

Superb pie vibes! Made this killer Lemon Meringue Pie and wow! Reminds me of childhood summers with mom. Super easy too, no fuss! So delish it vanished in minutes! 🍰

Paul Johnson
October 3, 2023
Verified

Delicious!

Xena
September 21, 2023
Verified

OMG, this pie’s a summer throwback! It's so simple, love it!

Ursula
June 18, 2023
Verified

Epic!

Sarah Johnson
March 3, 2023
Verified

Simply the best

YummyMom
November 23, 2022
Verified

Delicious lemon joy! I made this pie for my kids on a rainy day, and their smiles were priceless. So easy to whip up with a pre-baked shell. It instantly brightened our mood. Will definitely be my go-to recipe!

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