Lemon Cream Cheese Pie Recipe
Overview:
Lemon Cream Cheese Pie is a delightful dessert that strikes the perfect balance between tartness and sweetness. This recipe, born out of a culinary journey of experimentation, promises a creamy texture with a burst of citrus flavor in every bite. Ideal for those craving a refreshing treat that’s quick to prepare and guaranteed to impress.
- Preparation Time: 15 minutes
- Cooking Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 1 9-inch pie
Ingredients:
| Quantity | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 1 cup | Sugar |
| 1/3 cup | Cornstarch |
| 1/2 teaspoon | Salt |
| 1 1/2 cups | Cold Water |
| 4 tablespoons | Butter |
| 1 tablespoon | Bottled Lemon Juice |
| 1 lemon, zest of | Lemons, zest of |
| 2 packages (8 ounces each) | Cream Cheese |
| 1 Graham Cracker Pie Crust | |
| 1/2 cup | Graham Crackers |
| 1 cup | Confectioners’ Sugar |
| 1/4 teaspoon | Cream of Tartar |
| 2 teaspoons | Vanilla Extract |
Instructions:
- In a heavy saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch, and salt.
- Gradually add cold water, stirring constantly.
- Cook over medium-high heat until the mixture begins to thicken, then reduce the heat to low.
- Temper the beaten egg yolks by adding a little of the hot mixture to them, then add the yolks to the filling in the saucepan.
- Continue to cook over low heat until the mixture thickens further, approximately 1-2 minutes.
- Remove the saucepan from heat and add cream cheese, bottled lemon juice, lemon zest, and butter. Mix well until smooth.
- Pour the filling into a prepared graham cracker pie crust or layer it over graham crackers in a 9 x 9-inch pan, covering the bottom and sides.
- Prepare the meringue topping:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a small bowl, mix sugar and confectioners’ sugar.
- In a separate mixing bowl, beat egg whites until frothy, then add cream of tartar.
- Beat on medium-high speed until soft peaks form, gradually adding the sugar mixture.
- Once the sugar is fully incorporated, add vanilla extract and continue beating until the meringue is glossy.
- Gently spread the meringue over the pie filling, ensuring to seal the edges and create decorative swirls and peaks.
- Bake the pie in the preheated oven until the meringue is lightly golden, watching closely after the first 5 minutes.
- Allow the pie to cool completely before serving.
Nutritional Information (per serving):
- Calories: 3600.7
- Fat: 165.5g
- Saturated Fat: 69.4g
- Cholesterol: 944.5mg
- Sodium: 3638.8mg
- Carbohydrates: 494g
- Fiber: 4.3g
- Sugar: 383.7g
- Protein: 48g
Tips:
- For a tangier flavor, you can increase the amount of lemon juice or zest according to your preference.
- Ensure the meringue is spread evenly over the pie filling to achieve a beautiful presentation.
- To prevent the meringue from weeping, make sure the pie is cooled completely before serving.
- Serve chilled for a refreshing dessert experience.
Enjoy your Lemon Cream Cheese Pie! 🍋✨
