Old-Fashioned Creamy Lemon Pie

Sometimes you want something pretty and fresh, but at the same time, you’d like it to be easy. Is that so much to ask? This old-fashioned creamy lemon pie is everything you’re looking for: delicious, gorgeous, and super easy to make. Finish it with whipped cream and fresh lemon slices for a beautifully classic look. One of our favorite desserts for spring.

This lemon pie is my go-to for anyone who loves a sweet-tart dessert. I use sweetened condensed milk, fresh lemon juice, and some sour cream for a smooth and cold filling. The graham cracker crust, with just a hint of cinnamon and butter, adds the perfect crunchy contrast to the creamy filling.

I make it for summer BBQs, Easter dinners, or any other occasion from March to July.

Ingredients and Tools You’ll Need

Make sure your eggs, sour cream, and lemon juice are room temperature (and not cold) before you mix them for the filling.  If they’re cold, they won’t mix well, and your pie might not come out right.

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If you’d like to double or triple this recipe, you can make adjustments in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Equipment

• 1 9-inch pie dish
• Mixing bowl
• food processor
• Whisk

Ingredients

Filling

• ¾ cup fresh lemon juice, room temperature
• 2 cans sweetened condensed milk (15-ounce cans)
• 2 tablespoons sour cream, room temperature
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest
• 2 egg yolks, room temperature

Crust

• 11 graham crackers
• 6 tablespoons butter (melted)
• ⅓ cup granulated sugar
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon

How to Make A Creamy Lemon Pie

This is pretty simple, but don’t skip the long chill time. It’s how you’ll get the best texture.

Step One: Make The Crust

Preheat your oven to 375°F with the rack positioned in the center. Then, crush the graham crackers into fine crumbs using a food processor. Pulse until smooth. Next, combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, sugar, and cinnamon in a mixing bowl.

If you don’t have a food processor, you can place the graham crackers in a zip-top bag and crush them with a rolling pin or the bottom of a heavy pan. Just make sure they’re finely crushed so your crust holds together.

Stir until the mixture resembles wet sand. After that, firmly press the crumb mixture evenly into the bottom and sides of a 9-inch pie plate to form the crust. Bake the crust for 7 minutes, making sure not to overbake, as this can make the crust too hard to slice. Allow the crust to cool completely at room temperature before adding the filling.

Step Two: Make The Filling

In a large mixing bowl, whisk the sweetened condensed milk, lemon juice, lemon zest, sour cream, and egg yolks until smooth and well combined. Lower the oven temperature to 350°F.

Step Three: Assemble And Bake

Pour the lemon filling into the cooled pie crust, using a spatula to spread it evenly. Bake the pie for 10 minutes to set the filling. When done, it will remain pale and jiggle slightly in the center. Remove the pie from the oven and allow it to cool at room temperature for about 1 hour. Once cooled, transfer the pie to the refrigerator and chill for at least 8 hours or overnight for the best texture.

Step Four: Garnish And Serve

Before serving, top the chilled pie with freshly whipped cream and garnish with thin slices of lemon for a bright, decorative touch. Slice and enjoy your creamy, tart lemon pie cold.

Storage Instructions

Cover tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. The pie will last for up to 5 days when stored properly in the fridge.

You can freeze the pie just fine, but skip the whipped topping and add that just before you serve.

You can also make just the crust ahead of time, a day or two before you make the filling. Keep it covered and stored at room temperature until you can fill and bake the pie.

More creamy Pie Recipes You’ll Love

• Once you try this key lime pie recipe given to me by a chef, you’ll never go back to the fake stuff again.
• Making this classic lemon pie filling is so worth it, and you can use it for pie, cake, or doughnuts!
• My no-bake vanilla cream pie is made just like this lemon pie.
• Everyone will love a chocolate ice cream pie!

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