Lemon Ice Box Pie Recipe (2024)

Lemon Ice Box Pie

March 10, 2013|15 comments

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Lemon Ice Box Pie Recipe (1)

We’re fortunate to enjoy a winter harvest with the mild southern California weather. Our garden is full of winter vegetables such as bok choy and edible chrysanthemum, but the harvest we look forward most is our Meyer lemons. Our baby Meyer lemon tree only yielded 6 lemons last winter, but with more nurturing throughout the year, our tree more than tripled it’s bounty this winter. Thought to have been crossed from a Eureka lemon and a mandarin orange, we love Meyer lemons because it’s sweeter and more fragrant then a regular lemon, without the mouth puckering sourness. While juicing them for lemonade is perfectly acceptable, we’re always trying to find other ways to maximize our harvest and the unique flavors of Meyer lemons. That’s where the lemon ice box pie comes in. Sarah‘s versionof this classic southern pie at Hollywood’s newThe Hart and the Hunterrestaurant won us over with it’s silky smooth and tart bright flavors. Plus, the chilled texture of the pie was a pleasure to eat. We immediately went home to harvest our Meyer lemon tree and attempted to recreate the pie.

Lemon Ice Box Pie Recipe (2)

A lemon ice box pie differs from a classic lemon meringue pie in two key ways. First, you’re not cooking the lemon custard ahead of time and second, it’s a frozen pie, which sets the lemon filling and also a great way to enjoy the bright citrus flavors. There are many recipes on the internet, many using cream cheese and whipped cream topping. Our recipe is adapted from Food and Wine magazineand based on what we ate from Sarah’s creation. We didn’t grow up in the South eating grandma’s lemon ice box pie, but if you did and care to share, please do!
This is the perfect make ahead dessert as it requires freezing at least overnight. It also stores well, at least a week if well wrapped, perfect for a daily slice of heaven or unexpected guests.

Lemon Ice Box Pie Recipe (3)

Ingredients:

2 packets (14 crackers) graham crackers
6 tbs melted butter
1/2 cup sugar, divided in 1/4 portions
4 eggs, yolks and whites separated
2 cups fresh Meyer lemon juice (or any fresh lemon)
2 tbs lemon zest
2 cans condensed milk
9 inch spring form pan

Directions:

Preheat oven at 350. Process the graham crackers and 1/4 cup of sugar in a food processor until fine and add the melted butter and pulse until butter is incorporated. Pour into spring form pan and spread out the mixture evenly and 1/2 way up the sides to form the crust. Press a measuring cup against the side of the pan to even out the crust. Set aside.

In mixing bowl, whisk the condensed milk, lemon juice, zest, eggs until well incorporated. Poor mixture into the pan. Whip the meringue by combining remaining 1/4 sugar and egg whites until stiff peaks and spoon on top of the pie, spreading evenly to seal the pie. Bake for about 25 minutes or until top of meringue is golden brown, remove and allow to cool. Cover well with plastic wrap and place in the freezer overnight. To serve, do not defrost. Remove from freezer and run a knife around the edge pie to release the meringue and then release the spring form pan. Run knife in hot water, slice and serve.

Optional: torch the sides of the meringue of each slice before serving. The cake will last a week in the freezer if well wrapped.

Lemon Ice Box Pie Recipe (4)

Lemon Ice Box Pie Recipe (5)

Lemon Ice Box Pie

Lemon lovers who want a twist on the clasic lemon meringue pie will love this recipe.

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Calories: 1479kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 packets 14 crackers graham crackers
  • 6 tbs melted butter
  • 1/2 cup sugar divided in 1/4 portions
  • 4 eggs yolks and whites separated
  • 2 cups fresh Meyer lemon juice or any fresh lemon
  • 2 tbs lemon zest
  • 2 cans condensed milk
  • 9 inch spring form pan

Instructions

  • Preheat oven at 350. Process the graham crackers and 1/4 cup of sugar in a food processor until fine and add the melted butter and pulse until butter is incorporated. Pour into spring form pan and spread out the mixture evenly and 1/2 way up the sides to form the crust. Press a measuring cup against the side of the pan to even out the crust. Set aside.

  • In mixing bowl, whisk the condensed milk, lemon juice, zest, eggs until well incorporated. Poor mixture into the pan. Whip the meringue by combining remaining 1/4 sugar and egg whites until stiff peaks and spoon on top of the pie, spreading evenly to seal the pie. Bake for about 25 minutes or until top of meringue is golden brown, remove and allow to cool. Cover well with plastic wrap and place in the freezer overnight. To serve, do not defrost. Remove from freezer and run a knife around the edge pie to release the meringue and then release the spring form pan. Run knife in hot water, slice and serve.

Nutrition

Sodium: 1043mg | Calcium: 193mg | Vitamin C: 204mg | Vitamin A: 3090IU | Sugar: 121g | Fiber: 4g | Potassium: 844mg | Cholesterol: 836mg | Calories: 1479kcal | Trans Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 49g | Fat: 89g | Protein: 27g | Carbohydrates: 159g | Iron: 5mg

Tried this recipe?Share it with us on Instagram @ravenouscouple !

Posted In baking, desserts, Recipes

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Lemon Ice Box Pie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a million dollar pie made of? ›

Million dollar pie is a classic icebox pie made with pecans, coconut, and pineapple in a whipped cream filling spread over a crumbly graham cracker crust. Put it all together and it's rich, creamy, tangy, and nutty.

Do I have to refrigerate lemon meringue pie? ›

Refrigeration makes meringue weep more quickly, so let the pie stand at room temperature in a draft-free spot before serving it. After a few hours, however, it will need to be refrigerated. ''If the meringue is cooked before being added to the pie, it will be more stable and less likely to weep.

What pastry is lemon meringue pie made of? ›

Try this delicious lemon meringue pie recipe for a tasty treat. Made with Jus-Rol all butter shortcrust pastry and ready in 30 minutes.

What is lemon pie filling made of? ›

Gather all ingredients and preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (162 degrees C). To make the filling: Whisk 1 cup sugar, flour, cornstarch, and salt together in a medium saucepan; stir in water, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until mixture comes to a boil. Stir in butter.

Why does lemon pie get watery? ›

The watery layer between the meringue and the filling (weeping) is usually caused by undercooking.

What is the number 1 pie in America? ›

The clear winner for the United States as a whole was (not surprisingly) apple pie with more than 27% of sales going to the traditional flavor.

What is massachusetts pie? ›

Upon the announcement of the official state dessert of Massachusetts, the Boston Cream Pie was proclaimed on December 12, 1996. The pie defeated candidates such as the toll house cookie and Indian pudding. Not only that, but chocolate chip cookies were also invented in Massachusetts!

What is the most expensive pie to make? ›

The $25,000 Apple Pie
  1. 6 large apples, Braeburn.
  2. 5 Medjool Dates, pitted and chopped.
  3. 1/2 cup chopped walnuts.
  4. 1/2 cup sugar.
  5. 1/4 cup flour, reserved.
  6. 1 lemon, juiced.
  7. 2 tablespoons lemon zest.
  8. 2 tablespoons flour.
Nov 11, 2023

Why is my lemon meringue pie weeping? ›

As the meringue is not baked for long the sugar in the meringue absorbs moisture, turns into syrup and tends to leak, or weep, out of the meringue. Beading can sometimes be caused by the meringue being overcooked, so you may need to reduce the oven temperature.

Can you eat lemon meringue pie left out overnight? ›

Avoid storing the pie outside of the refrigerator for more than 2 hours. Once you've served a few slices of the pie, return the remaining pieces to the refrigerator to prevent bacteria growth. Never leave the pie sitting at room temperature for long periods of time.

How do you keep the crust from getting soggy in a lemon meringue pie? ›

Brush the Bottom with Corn Syrup or Egg White

Coating the inside surface of the bottom crust will create a barrier to prevent sogginess.

What is the liquid at the bottom of the lemon meringue pie? ›

What is the best way to prevent having liquid at the bottom of a lemon meringue pie? Don't over bake your meringue! Overbaking causes the egg whites to shrink and squeeze out small droplets of moisture. Always make sure to check on your pie at the minimum baking time.

Does cream of tartar keep meringue from weeping? ›

The bottom line: For smooth, stiff beaten egg whites that keep their shape, don't skip the cream of tartar. If you don't have cream of tartar, substituting 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice or white vinegar per egg white works almost as well. To avoid meringues that weep, don't skip the cream of tartar...

What is a substitute for lemon juice in meringue? ›

Cream of tartar is similar to both vinegar and lemon juice in its acidity, and each of them will work in its place, in a pinch.

Why is it called icebox pie? ›

Icebox pies were originally kept cool in an icebox, used to store perishables when most farming households in the United States had neither electricity nor refrigeration. Because they required no baking they were popular during the summer when it was too hot to bake.

What's the difference between lemon icebox and lemon meringue? ›

Lemon icebox pie filling is a creamy custard concoction whereas the filling of a lemon meringue pie is more of a lemon curd and while lemon icebox pie is made in a graham cracker crust, lemon meringue pies call for classic pie crust.

What is lemon square made of? ›

Ingredients. Recipes vary slightly, but lemon bar recipes call for lemon juice, and many suggest fresh squeezed. Other ingredients include butter, white sugar, flour, eggs, and salt. Many recipes also list confectioners sugar, also called powdered sugar, for dusting on the top after the bars are baked.

What are McDonald's pies made out of? ›

Ingredients: Apples (apples, Ascorbic Acid, Salt, Citric Acid), Enriched Flour (bleached Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Sugar, Palm Oil, Water, Apple Juice Concentrate, Modified Food Starch, Invert Syrup, Contains 2% Or Less: Yeast, Salt, Cinnamon, Sunflower Lecithin, ...

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