Ultimate lemon meringue pie recipe

lemon meringue oie

Here’s a classic and reliable lemon meringue pie recipe using UK measurements:

Ingredients

For the pastry:

  • 175g plain flour
  • 100g unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
  • 25g icing sugar
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 2 tbsp cold water

For the lemon filling:

  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 200g caster sugar
  • 2 tbsp cornflour
  • 3 large lemons, zest and juice (approximately 150ml juice)
  • 50g unsalted butter

For the meringue:

  • 4 large egg whites
  • 200g caster sugar
  • 1 tsp cornflour

Method

1. Make the pastry:

  1. Preheat your oven to 200°C (180°C fan)/Gas Mark 6.
  2. In a bowl, rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in the icing sugar.
  3. Add the egg yolk and water, mixing to form a dough. Wrap in clingfilm and chill for 30 minutes.
  4. Roll out the pastry and line a 23cm loose-bottomed tart tin. Prick the base, line with baking parchment, fill with baking beans, and blind bake for 15 minutes. Remove the beans and parchment, then bake for 5 more minutes. Set aside to cool.

2. Prepare the lemon filling:

  1. In a saucepan, whisk the eggs, egg yolks, caster sugar, and cornflour until smooth.
  2. Add the lemon zest and juice, then heat gently, stirring continuously, until the mixture thickens.
  3. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter until smooth. Pour the filling into the cooled pastry case and smooth the top.

3. Make the meringue:

  1. In a clean, dry bowl, whisk the egg whites to stiff peaks. Gradually add the sugar, one tablespoon at a time, whisking between additions, until the meringue is glossy and holds its shape.
  2. Fold in the cornflour gently.

4. Assemble and bake:

  1. Spoon or pipe the meringue over the lemon filling, ensuring it reaches the edges to seal. Create peaks with a spoon for texture.
  2. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 180°C (160°C fan)/Gas Mark 4, or until the meringue is golden.

5. Cool and serve:

Let the pie cool completely before slicing to allow the filling to set. Enjoy your perfectly tangy and sweet lemon meringue pie!