This classic lemon meringue pie recipe yields a perfectly set filling and billowy meringue that won’t weep–every single time! It’s made 100% from scratch with just 10 ingredients. Recipe includes a how-to video!
Perfect Lemon Meringue Pie Recipe
If you’ve ever struggled with making lemon meringue pie–whether it’s a filling that’s too runny or a meringue that’s too watery–today’s recipe is for you!
Honestly, I avoided this recipe for for too long. Like my red velvet cake (took me years to approach that one!), I neglected to develop a lemon meringue pie recipe simply because it was a dish that I just didn’t love. In my experience, this pie was never pleasant to eat; I disliked the loose, watery lemon filling and the weepy layer that always puddled between the meringue and the filling. The texture just threw everything off for me!
But, as with that red velvet cake, my sister insisted I needed to share a version. So I got to work, and in the trenches (no, seriously, it felt like we were in the trenches), I discovered solutions for the common problems that pop up making lemon meringue pie.
I now understand why the meringue is so often weepy–I can recall a particularly sad slice with a deflated, wet meringue that puddled all over the plate. Even Luke, typically aggressive with his dessert fork, wouldn’t dare touch this pie. “Mom, this is disgusting” he said. And he was right.
It took a lot of pies gone wrong, tried-and-true pie recipes, and even my grandmother’s pie recipe carved on her pie plate (I was SO SAD that one didn’t work out–I even tried it several times just to be sure!) in order to arrive where we are today. But wow, was it worth it!
What to expect from my perfected recipe:
- Flawless, tart, bright and easy filling with true, real lemon flavor (no box mixes). It’s firm enough to slice, but still soft enough to maintain that classic texture and melt in your mouth. Oh, and there’s no need to temper any eggs to make it!
- Plenty of meringue that billows beautifully over the pie layer. I designed my recipe to have a generous amount of meringue for making those gorgeous peaks and whorls over the pie, because what’s a lemon meringue pie without them?
- Absolutely no weepy meringue. This was so important to me with this recipe. Now you will have to roll up your sleeves and dirty an extra dish, but the payoff is worth it. It’s not ridiculous or complicated work, but it does require love. Good pies take some effort!
- Crisp, buttery crust. We can’t forget the crust! Blind baking the pie crust beforehand means there will be no soggy bottoms here, thank goodness.
Let’s get baking!
What You Need
My lemon meringue recipe sticks with classic, basic ingredients. Here are the most important ones we’ll be using.
- Lemons. Fresh lemons are a must here–bottled lemon juice simply won’t cut it. Make sure you zest your lemons before juicing them.
- Eggs. We’ll be using 5 whole eggs in this lemon meringue pie recipe. The yolks will go in the lemon filling (it’s similar to lemon curd!) and the whites will go in the meringue topping (so no waste or leftovers!). Make sure when you separate them that you don’t let any yolk get into your whites, or you will have to start over. Also, using eggs that are at room temperature, as they tend to whip faster and higher than cold egg whites.
- Cornstarch. This works to help stabilize and thicken the base of the pie, keeping it from being too loose or runny.
- Cream of tartar. If you’ve made meringue cookies or macarons, you know how helpful cream of tartar can be for stabilizing egg whites. We’ll use it here for the exact same reason.
- Vanilla. Many recipes skip the vanilla in the meringue, but I think it adds an extra special, almost marshmallow-like touch.
- Pie dough. As always, I recommend making your own pie crust instead of using a store-bought crust. Even better, use my pie crust recipe! It’s not as easy as store-bought, but it’s so good and full of flavor. And it’s practically foolproof, since it comes together in the food processor.
SAM’S TIP: Even the tiniest drop of egg yolk can prevent your egg whites from whipping to stiff peaks, so be very careful when separating your eggs! Also, make sure the bowl and utensils you plan to use for your meringue are completely clean, dry, and grease-free.
Remember, this is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why. For the full recipe please scroll down to the end of the post!
How to Make Lemon Meringue Pie
Blind-Bake the Crust
- Roll out your chilled pie dough, then transfer it to a 9″ pie plate. Crimp or flute the edges, then place in the freezer for 15 minutes.
- Place your pie plate on a baking sheet and line with parchment. Fill with pie weights, then place in your preheated oven for 15 minutes.
- Egg wash: remove the crust from the oven, carefully lift out the parchment and pie weights, and set aside. Poke the bottom crust with a fork, then brush all over with egg wash (this helps keep the pie crust from becoming soggy).
- Bake for an additional 10-12 minutes or until the crust is beginning to turn golden brown, then let cool completely.
Make the Lemon Filling
Since I made the meringue a tad more complicated, I wanted to find other ways to simplify the pie, and I was able to do this in the filling. My version comes together with no need to temper eggs (this method is similar to what I use for my pastry cream, and it works like a dream!)
- Whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a medium saucepan, then drizzle in the lemon juice while whisking. Keep whisking until the mixture is smooth and combined.
- Whisk in the egg yolks and lemon zest, then drizzle in the water.
- Cook just below medium heat while whisking constantly. Once the mixture thickens, remove it from the heat.
- Pour the curd through a fine mesh strainer and into a heatproof bowl. A fine mesh strainer is critical here, if any bits of egg cooked or any lumps formed while cooking, the strainer will catch them so your filling will be completely smooth.
- Add the butter and whisk until smooth and fully incorporated.
- Pour the filling into your cooled crust and set aside. I like to tent mine with foil so the filling stays warm–this helps the filling and meringue stick together and avoids that slippery, weepy layer that no one wants to find in their pie.
Make the Meringue
To prevent the meringue from weeping and to help it hold its shape, we’re technically using a Swiss meringue (whereas most lemon meringue pies use French meringue like you’d find in my macarons or meringues).
If you’ve made my marshmallow frosting or Swiss meringue buttercream, you’ve done this before; it’s not complicated and is a great way to stabilize the meringue so you don’t have to worry about undercooking it in the oven (a big weeping culprit). Swiss meringue also stands up better to humidity and other issues that trigger weeping!
- Whisk together the cream of tartar, sugar, and salt in a clean, dry, grease-free bowl. Add the egg whites and whisk until incorporated, then place over a double boiler that’s simmering on medium-low heat (the bottom of your bowl should not touch the water!).
- Whisk constantly until the sugar dissolves; test this by carefully rubbing a small drop of the mixture between your fingers (it’ll be hot, be careful and let it cool first!) — you shouldn’t feel any grit from the sugar granules!
- Remove the bowl from the heat, dry it off, then place in a stand mixer. Beat on medium high speed until the meringue reaches thick, stiff, and glossy peaks. Add the vanilla extract and stir until combined.
- Gently scoop the meringue over the pie filling and use the back of a spoon or spatula to create peaks. Bake for an additional 10-12 minutes or until the peaks are beginning to turn a nice brown color. Let the pie cool to room temperature for an hour, then place in the fridge to chill for about 4 hours before slicing and serving.
SAM’S TIP: Make sure the bottom of your bowl doesn’t touch the water when place in your double boiler; it should stay suspended! I often use my stand mixer bowl and a medium saucepan, then I can just dry off the bottom of the bowl and place it on my stand mixer with the whisk attachment to easily make my meringue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Even though we are cooking the meringue portion of this pie, the custard base still requires refrigeration. It will be fine to sit at room temperature for a few hours, but after that I recommend covering it well and placing in the fridge.
This pie will last up to four days; however, it tastes best when enjoyed within the first day or two. Because of this, lemon meringue pie is not the best pie to make when you need to bake your dessert far in advance (try my pumpkin cheesecake pie or chocolate pie instead).
I do not recommend it. The meringue will not thaw nicely and you will likely have a weepy topping, which is the exact opposite of what we’re going for here. If you’re looking for a lemon pie that you can freeze, try my lemon pie or lemon tart.
There are so many causes: humidity, under or overcooking the meringue, using old eggs, and refrigeration (a necessary evil) just to name a few. Luckily, cooking the meringue first before adding it to the pie does wonders for preventing weeping, which is why I prepare my pie this way. It’s not 100% foolproof, but so long as you follow the steps (watch the video if you are a beginner) I’m confident you will have success, and no weeping!
I know many of you have been looking forward to this recipe, and I can’t wait to hear how you like it!
Enjoy!
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Lemon Meringue Pie
Ingredients
Pie Crust
- 1 pie dough click the link to use my recommended homemade recipe
- 1 egg for egg wash
- 1 teaspoon water for egg wash
Lemon Filling
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 5 egg yolks save the whites for the meringue!
- 1 Tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 ¼ cup water
- 3 Tablespoons salted butter
Meringue
- ⅔ cup (113 g) granulated sugar
- ¾ teaspoon cream of tartar
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 5 large egg whites
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Recommended Equipment
- 9” pie plate
- Pie weights (recommended, may substitute dry beans)
- Saucepan non-reactive material such as stainless steel or enameled
- Stand mixer or electric mixer
Instructions
- Prepare and chill pie dough according to recipe instructions.1 pie dough
- Roll out chilled pie dough on a lightly floured surface into a 12” circle. Transfer to a 9” pie plate and crimp or flute the edges of the crust. Place in the freezer to chill for 15 minutes, and meanwhile preheat your oven to 375F (190C).
- Remove pie plate from freezer and place on a baking sheet (to easily remove from the oven without damaging the crust). Line the pie crust with parchment paper and fill with pie weights.
- Bake on the center rack of 375F (190C) oven for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare egg wash by whisking together egg and water.1 egg, 1 teaspoon water
- Remove pie plate from oven and carefully remove the parchment paper and pie weights. Pierce the bottom of the pie plate repeatedly with a fork and use a pastry brush to lightly brush the pie crust all over with prepared egg wash. Return to oven (without pie weights or paper) for 10-12 minutes, until crust is beginning to turn light golden brown.
- Allow crust to cool completely before filling.
For the lemon filling
- In a medium-sized, non-reactive saucepan (see note), whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, and salt, then drizzle in lemon juice while whisking. Whisk until smooth.1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar, ⅓ cup cornstarch, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
- Add egg yolks and lemon zest and whisk until well-combined.5 egg yolks, 1 Tablespoon lemon zest
- Gradually drizzle in water, stirring until incorporated.1 ¼ cup water
- Turn stovetop heat just below medium and whisk constantly until mixture begins to thicken (the whisk will leave trails in the mixture, and if you dip a spoon in the lemon mixture will coat the back of the spoon).
- Remove from heat and pour through a fine mesh strainer into a heatproof bowl.
- Immediately add butter, whisking in until completely incorporated.3 Tablespoons salted butter
- Pour filling into cooled pie crust and set aside while you make your meringue, it’s best if the meringue is added while the filling is still warm, so I’ll usually lightly tent the pie with foil to help keep the warmth from escaping. Note that your oven should still be preheated to 375F/190C, as you will need it to toast the meringue in the next step.
For the meringue
- Prepare a double boiler. I like to use my stainless steel KitchenAid mixing bowl and a medium-sized saucepan that is large enough to suspend the bowl without it touching the bottom of the pan. Make sure that the bowl is completely clean, dry, and grease-free.
- In the bowl of the double boiler, whisk together sugar, cream of tartar, and salt.⅔ cup (113 g) granulated sugar, ¾ teaspoon cream of tartar, ⅛ teaspoon salt
- Add egg whites and whisk until completely combined.5 large egg whites
- Fill the bottom of the double boiler with about 1 ½ inches of water and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Rest the bowl of your mixer over the simmering water (it should not be touching the water).
- Whisk mixture constantly until the sugar is dissolved. You can test this by carefully (it’s hot!) rubbing a small bit between your fingers, it should be smooth and not gritty. Continue whisking until mixture reaches 160F (70C).
- Remove mixing bowl from heat and dry the bottom of your bowl. Fit bowl into your stand mixer (if using a stand mixer, otherwise use an electric hand mixer for the next step).
- Use the whisk attachment on medium-high speed to beat the egg white mixture to stiff peaks. Meringue should be thick, billowy, and glossy. This typically takes around 10 minutes.
- Stir in vanilla extract until combined.½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Immediately, gently scoop meringue over pie filling. Use your spatula or the back of a spoon to create peaks from the meringue. Place on a baking sheet and transfer to the center rack of 375F (190C) oven for 10-12 minutes, until peaks of meringue are browning.
- Allow pie to cool at room temperature for at least an hour before transferring to the refrigerator to cool completely (about 4 hours) before slicing and serving. This pie is best served the day it is made or next day.
Notes
Lemons
Fresh lemons are best, bottled lemon juice will yield a subpar filling and I don’t recommend it. Strongly.Saucepan
Use a non-reactive pan, such as stainless steel, glass, or enameled cast iron. Avoid using aluminum, copper, or iron (such as non-enameled cast iron) pans, which can react with the lemon and cause a metallic taste.Storing
Lemon meringue pie simply doesn’t keep very well and should ideally be enjoyed within 48 hours but will keep for up to 4 days. I do not recommend freezing this pie.Make ahead tips
The pie dough can be prepared and even baked up to several days in advance.Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
LuAnn Mason
I just made two of these this morning, and they are perfect. Absolutely perfect. I used my late Mother In Law’s meringue trick with powdered sugar instead of granulated, but the lemon filling was all yours. Good thing my head wouldn’t fit in the pot to lick it clean!
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, LuAnn! 🙂
Val Burtenshaw
I lost my lemon meringue recipe and came across yours. Never done the meringue like yous before but it will be made like this from now on. Delicious and recipe saved.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We’re so happy you gave it a try, Val! 🥰
Jean
This is the absolute best recipe! Tart delicious and it seems foolproof! I love the ease of making the lemon filling…no tempering the eggs.I also appreciate that the egg whites are heated/cooked. The best part is the taste. Thanks for this recipe!
Sam
You’re welcome, Jean! I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much! 🙂
Jessica
what would you suggest?for me to be able to fill a 10″ pie pan. I’m afraid to double the recipe 😬
Sam
Hi Jessica! I haven’t tried it. I’m not sure exactly how to scale it up. I would probably increase it by about 50%.
Jessica Mcqueary
Sam, I went ahead and doubled it ecept i cut sugar back to 1.5c.It set perfectly and still tasted delicious. Thank you
Carole Weston
I want to take my pie to my family on Christmas Day so can I finish it completely the day before and keep in the fridge overnight. When I made my usual recipe the day before, I put it in a cake box (not the fridge as I didn’t have room) and it ended up in a pool of liquid. I now know why. Thanks.
Alice
What should I do if my filling isn’t set with the meringue on top of it already baked?
Sam
Hi Alice! Unfortunately at this point there isn’t much that can be done. 🙁
Jesa
I’m curious, do you think the lemon curd could be prepared a couple days and kept in the fridge before assembly the day of?
Sam
Hi Jesa! I would advise against it. It’s best to add your meringue to the lemon portion when the lemon is still warm. 🙁
Angela
If I don’t plan on adding meringue, does the filling still need to be baked in the pie crust for the 10-15 minutes when the meringue would be browning? TIA!
Sam
Hi Angela! I would still bake the filling in the pie crust after pouring into the pie crust. 🙂
Clayton Morrow
Perfect Lemon Meringue Pie! it turned out exactly how I was hoping it would! and tasted even better! thank you for the recipe!
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Clayton! 🙂
Clayton Morrow
Also you have the best recipe website I have been on! The applicable measurements under the different steps is perfect!!
Sam
I’m glad it’s helpful. I appreciate the feedback. 🙂
Angela
This filling was amazing! Sooo smooth and just the right amount of lemon. The crust to my memory was good too. I had some imperfect meringue, but not to the recipes fault probably.
Do you think this filling would work set in a tart crust?
Also, swapping for lime or other citrus juices, thoughts?
Thanks!
Sam
Hi Angela! It will work in a tart pan as long as it all fits. I haven’t tried using other citrus juices but I think it will work just fine. 🙂
Shoshana
After the pie has been cooled watery liquid came out of it, is it possible and why?
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Oh no! It sounds like your pie may have weeped 🙁 We talk about a few reasons for why this happens in the FAQ section of the post. Hopefully it still tasted good!
Carol
Lemon Meringue Pie perfection! Thank you!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We’re so happy you enjoyed it Carol! ❤️
Paula Ann Thessen
my new go to lemon meringue pie recipe, delicious 😋 💕 thank you!
Sam
I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed the pie so much, Paula! 🙂
Laura
Easy to make
Looks good eating tonight!
Sam
Wonderful! Please let me know how everyone enjoyed it, Laura! 🙂
Donna
Can I make a graham cracker crust
Sam
Hi Donna! I think that could work. 🙂
Sarah
I used only the filling recipe for a lemon dump cake, so I can’t comment on the crust or meringue.This lemon pie filling is absolutely delicious, and so easy to make- no tempering of the egg yolks required!
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Sarah! 🙂
Janet
I had planned on making a lemon pie using boxed pudding but at the last moment realized I did not have any. So I went in search of a homemade lemon pudding recipe and came across this one. I, nor my family, were disappointed. I don’t like to read reviews that change the recipe without trying the original first but in this case I did not have fresh lemons so I used 1/2 cup of lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon of lemon extract, the pie came out delicious. I will make this again and will use ingredients that the recipe calls for. Thanks for a great recipe.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Thanks for letting us know how it went for you, Janet! We’re happy you were able to make it work with what you had 😊
Carole
Doubled your recipe, all tasted good, however, after cooling and refrigerated was watery. Not sure what I did wrong.any ideas?
Sam
Hi Carole! One thing I love about this recipe is that it is pretty “weep-proof”. I do have a section in the post that may answer some questions as to why it is weeping. If that doesn’t help, the video may be able to help as well. I’m so glad you still enjoyed it. 🙂