Lemon meringue pie recipe

This lemon meringue pie is easy to make with just five ingredients. It’s on the table in around an hour and is perfect for dinner parties. 

This is a classic dessert for a reason. The combination of sweet pastry with a rich curd and crisp meringue is hard to beat. Our recipe uses ready-made pastry but if you want to go the extra mile, making your own is easy and leftovers can be frozen for future baking adventures.

Ingredients

• 200g sweet shortcrust pastry

For the filling:

• 397g can condensed milk
• 2 medium egg yolks
• Finely grated zest and juice of 2 lemons

For the meringue:

• 2 egg whites
• 125g caster sugar

Method

1. Set the oven to 220C (200C fan, Gas 7). Put a baking sheet in the oven to heat up.
2. Roll the pastry out and line a 24cm pie dish. Prick the base and pinch the edges to pattern them. Chill for 10-15 minutes.
3. To make the filling: Mix together the condensed milk, egg yolks, lemon rind and juice. Pour the mixture into the pastry case.
4. To make the meringue: Whisk the egg whites until stiff, then gradually whisk in the sugar. Spoon the meringue on top of the pie, either leaving it just in the centre or covering the top of the pie completely.
5. Place the pie on the hot baking sheet and turn the oven temperature down to 190C (170C fan, Gas 5) and bake for 30-35 minutes, until the meringue has turned a light golden colour and the pastry is cooked.
6. Remove the pie from the oven and serve warm or at room temperature.

Top tips for making lemon meringue pie

For the best lemon flavour, buy the best quality lemon curd you can afford. Cheaper jars are often not made with fresh lemons and can be very sweet. Alternatively you could make your own. For more tips on how to upgrade this recipe, read our tips below. 

We cook this recipe in an enamel pie tin. It’s a timeless dish which can be used when making savoury pies and lots of other recipes. 

Traditional Circular Round 24cm Falcon White Enamel Pie Dish - View at Amazon

Freezer-safe and oven-safe, this circular pie dish has a timeless design which will showcase your lemon meringue pie perfectly. You can use it as a normal baking tray or to finish off a cauliflower cheese. 

If you love the flavours of this dessert but want an afternoon bake, try our lemon meringue cake. It’s a twist on our classic lemon drizzle cake. Alternatively, for more dessert options, check our our lemon creams or lemon pudding.