Lemon Meringue Pie

How to Make Lemon Meringue Pie

Here’s the general instructions for making our best lemon meringue pie recipe. Follow the recipe for the more detailed directions that have been thoroughly tested in our Test Kitchens, for delicious results:

Making the Pie Crust

Pastry dough is made from mixing flour and salt and cutting in vegetable shortening until it’s dispersed throughout, the consistency of coarse crumbs. Water is then added to form the dough. The dough is chilled, rolled out, and eased into a pie plate. The edge of the dough is given a decorative edge before being baked.

Making the Lemon Filling

A custard-like lemon filling for lemon meringue pie is made by cooking sugar, water, and cornstarch until the mixture boils and thickens. Using a fork, beat your egg yolks and gradually add to the boiling mixture a little at a time. Stir in the butter, and both lemon juice and lemon zest. Remove from heat and cover the pan to keep the filling hot so that the meringue will stick to it.

Making the Meringue

Our easy meringue recipe for lemon meringue pie uses egg whites and cream of tartar beaten with a mixer until foamy. Sugar is added a tablespoon at a time, until glossy, stiff peaks form.

Putting It All Together

Spread the hot lemon filling in the baked crust. Immediately add the meringue over the lemon filling to seal it to the filling and keep it from weeping (moisture droplets from forming on the meringue) or shrinking during baking.

Baking the Pie

Bake the pie until the meringue top is browned, and the eggs reach 160°F to ensure they are cooked.

Serving Lemon Meringue Pie

For the best flavor and texture of this sensational lemon meringue pie filling recipe, don’t skip the four hours of refrigeration after it cools. It’s important to give this pie its full refrigeration time so the filling has time to properly set up. This will make serving nicely shaped pieces a breeze! With a long refrigeration time, this recipe can be made earlier in the day, to take the pressure off making the rest of the meal.

Lemon meringue pie is always enjoyed chilled, right from the refrigerator. Although making the meringue is relatively straightforward, it can be sensitive to temperature and humidity. Serving the pie cold not only preserves the ideal texture but also ensures that the egg whites in the meringue and the egg yolks in the filling stay at a safe temperature for food safety.

To cut beautifully shaped pieces, use a sharp knife with a smooth blade and cut through all the layers. Use a pie server (a triangle-shaped server) to lift the pieces out onto serving plates.

The light, airy texture of this pie makes it a great choice to serve after an indulgent, heavy meal or when you are looking for a lighter summertime dessert.

Storing and Reheating Lemon Meringue Pie

It’s best to make and serve lemon meringue pie on the same day, for the meringue to be at its very best. As it sits in the refrigerator, it can absorb moisture from the air, which deflates the meringue and causes it to weep (form tiny water droplets). If your pie was made on a humid day, the meringue may weep as you refrigerate it for serving. If it does weep, it’s ok to still eat it. If you have any leftover lemon meringue pie, store it loosely covered in the refrigerator up to 1 day.

Betty’s Best Pie Recipes

Betty Crocker has been perfecting pie recipes for generations! Once you know the techniques for making a flaky crust, you’ll want to experiment with many types and flavors of pie. It’s one of our favorite ways to show our love to family and friends. Try one of these favorites:

Summer Pies

Classic Blueberry Pie is another delicious fruit pie to make in the summer when the berries are at their peak of flavor.

Easy Key Lime Pie also has a sweet-tart flavor, in the same way lemon meringue pie does. It’s super-easy to make and can be made ahead, so it’s ready to eat when you are.

Fall Pies

Impossibly-Easy-Pumpkin-Pie is a great fall pie that doesn’t require making a crust! It magically forms its own crust by making a batter that starts with Bisquick™ mix.

Salted Caramel Apple Slab Pie is layered with autumnal flavors, like pumpkin pie, and perfect for any fall or winter gathering.

Holiday Pies

Decadent-Pecan-Pie is an easy, yet impressive pie, that’s perfect for your Thanksgiving or Christmas meal.

Chocolate-Cream-Pie has a chocolatey pudding-like filling, somewhat like the lemon custard filling in lemon meringue pie, but it’s made with melted marshmallows.

Browse more delicious pie recipes to suit every taste and every season—and every day of the year!