Lemon Ice Box Pie Recipe (2024)

Lemon Ice Box Pie

March 10, 2013|15 comments

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

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.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

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

15 Comments / Leave a Comment »

Lemon Ice Box Pie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is lemon icebox pie made of? ›

This No-Bake Lemon Icebox Pie is made with sweetened condensed milk, cream cheese and fresh lemons. It's a delicious, make-ahead dessert that takes less than 10 minutes to put together. The perfect pie for lemon lovers and lazy bakers!

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.

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.

Do you refrigerate lemon meringue pie after baking? ›

Yes, lemon meringue pie should be refrigerated. To prevent foodborne illness, never let it sit at room temperature for more than two hours. To store lemon meringue pie without messing up the meringue, place two toothpicks in the pie. Loosely cover it with storage wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to two days.

Why does lemon pie get watery? ›

The watery layer between the meringue and the filling (weeping) is usually caused by undercooking. This is where it is important to put your meringue onto hot filling so it can begin cooking right away.

What is funeral pie made of? ›

Vintage Funeral Pie Recipe is an old-fashioned dessert that is made from raisins, spices, and walnuts. It was traditionally made by the Amish, but this sugary pie fits right into a Southern cook's recipe box.

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

Water seeping from meringue is practically always coming from the egg whites. There are a few standard things you can do to reduce it. First, do not overbeat. For some reason, recipes love to direct people to beat egg whites "to stiff peaks".

Why is my lemon meringue pie juicy? ›

If the meringue is swirled onto a cool filling and baked, steam in the reheating filling just reaches the meringue. As the pie cools, the steam condenses to form the sweet weeping (sometimes a pool) under the meringue.

Why is my lemon meringue pie sticky? ›

Humid weather or a rainy day can cause the sugar in the meringue to absorb extra moisture in the air and turn sticky or form small, syrupy beads. If you can, choose a dry, sunny day to make a meringue. Let it cool completely before slicing and serving.

What pie is Minnesota known for? ›

Fruit pies taste bright and clean, sweet without being sugary, with real fruit flavor shining through. But the star may be the Minnesota Maple, featuring a gooey base of maple syrup and oatmeal, topped and baked with toasted coconut.

Where did icebox ice come from? ›

Many items donated to the museum – including the icebox, which dates to the days of ice harvesting – have a great story and rich history behind them. The New England ice trade, developed by Frederick Tudor, would cut ice from local ponds and rivers to be stored in underground ice pits and ice houses.

What does icebox mean in baking? ›

noun. a confection made from such prepared ingredients as cookies or whipped cream that requires no additional baking but is chilled in a refrigerator before serving.

Can I leave lemon meringue pie on the counter 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 lemon meringue pie from getting soggy? ›

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.

Can you eat lemon meringue pie the next day? ›

Lemon meringue pie is best made and served on the same day.

What are McDonald's pies made out of? ›

Ingredients: EITHER: Water, Apple (23%), WHEAT Flour (contains Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin), Vegetable Oils (Palm Oil, Rapeseed Oil), Sugar, Modified Corn Starch, Dextrose, Salt, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Spices (Cinnamon, Nutmeg), Flavourings, Cassia Extract.

What pastry is lemon meringue pie made of? ›

You will love this gorgeous homemade lemon meringue pie, made from scratch. With a crisp and buttery shortcrust pastry base, a smooth and creamy lemon filling and clouds of fluffy Italian meringue, it is sweet, zingy and impossible to resist!

What is the top of lemon meringue pie made of? ›

This meringue pie topping, known as a French or common meringue, is a simple combination of egg whites whipped with sugar.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Otha Schamberger

Last Updated:

Views: 5673

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (55 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Otha Schamberger

Birthday: 1999-08-15

Address: Suite 490 606 Hammes Ferry, Carterhaven, IL 62290

Phone: +8557035444877

Job: Forward IT Agent

Hobby: Fishing, Flying, Jewelry making, Digital arts, Sand art, Parkour, tabletop games

Introduction: My name is Otha Schamberger, I am a vast, good, healthy, cheerful, energetic, gorgeous, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.