Desserts · United States

Lemon Meringue Pie (American)

Name: Lemon Meringue Pie (American)
Total time: 80 min
Yield: 6–8
Cuisine: United States
Ingredients: 1½ cups (360 ml) cold water; 1 cup (240 g) white granulated sugar; 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 3 tablespoons cornstarch; ¼ teaspoon salt; ½ cup (120 ml) lemon juice (from about 2 lemons or bottled lemon juice); 1 tablespoon lemon zest (from about 2 lemons); 2 tablespoons butter; 4 egg yolks, beaten; ⅛ teaspoon ground turmeric; 4 egg whites; ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar; 6 tablespoons white granulated sugar

This is the American old-fashioned lemon meringue pie with a gel-like filling. If you want a sticky filling, use the British Lemon Meringue Pie recipe instead.

Published October 16, 2026

EST. TOTAL TIME1h 20m

DIFFICULTYMedium

SERVES6–8

Time and difficulty are editorial estimates; allow extra time for your equipment and experience.

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What you’ll need

Tap an ingredient as you get it ready.

Let’s make it

Step 1

Prepare and bake Grandma's Pie Crust or a ready-made refrigerated or frozen pie crust.

Step 2

In a saucepan whisk together water, sugar, flour, cornstarch, salt, turmeric, lemon juice and lemon zest. Make sure any flour or cornstarch lumps are stirred until they dissolve.

Step 3

Cook over medium heat until mixture starts to simmer. Stir constantly.

Step 4

Add butter, then stir until melted.

Step 5

Beat egg yolks in a small bowl. Add about ½ cup (120 g) of hot lemon mixture into eggs and stir well. This tempers the egg yolks so they won't scramble when added to the simmering lemon mixture.

Step 6

Pour tempered egg mixture into pan of simmering lemon mixture. Stir until well mixed.

Step 7

Continue simmering lemon filling about 2 minutes until it thickens, stirring constantly.

Step 8

Pour into cooled pie shell and allow to cool while preparing meringue.

Step 9

Place 4 egg whites in mixer and whip at high speed until they start to foam.

Step 10

Add cream of tartar to egg whites then, while continuing to beat, add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time. Beat about 30 seconds between tablespoonfuls of sugar.

Step 11

Continue to beat meringue until stiff peaks form when beaters are raised from bowl.

Step 12

Spread meringue over pie, starting on lemon pie filling, using rubber spatula. Spread over edges of crust, completely sealing in the lemon pie filling.

Step 13

To form peaks in meringue, use the flat side of a rubber spatula to touch the meringue and pull away. Repeat over entire surface of meringue.

Step 14

Place pie in 350°F (180°C) oven for 15 minutes until high points of meringue are lightly browned.

Step 15

Serve at room temperature or chilled.