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Mile-High Lemon Meringue Pie

Makes 1 (9-inch) pie

Ingredients
  

Pie Dough - Makes 1 (9-inch) crust

  • ¾ teaspoon (2.25 grams) kosher salt
  • cups (188 grams) all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup (113 grams) cold unsalted butter, cut into ½-inch cubes
  • cup (80 grams) ice water, plus more as needed

Filling

  • cups (250 grams) granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup (32 grams) cornstarch
  • 5 large egg yolks, (93 grams), room temperature
  • 1 large egg (50 grams), room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon (5 grams) packed lemon zest
  • cup (160 grams) fresh lemon juice
  • cup (80 grams) water
  • 1 teaspoon (3 grams) kosher salt
  • 5 tablespoons (70 grams) unsalted butter, cubed and softened

Swiss Meringue - Makes about 5 cups

  • 5 large egg whites, (150 grams), room temperature
  • 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon (1.5 grams) kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon (1 gram) cream of tartar
  • ¾ teaspoon (3 grams) vanilla extract

Instructions

Pie Dough

  • In the work bowl of a food processor, pulse flour and salt until combined. Add cold butter, and pulse until mixture is crumbly and butter is pea-size. With processor running, add ⅓ cup (80 grams) ice water in a slow, steady stream just until dough comes together. (Mixture may appear crumbly. It should be moist and hold together when pinched. Add more ice water if needed.)
  • Turn out dough, and press into a flat disk. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 2 days. Beyond 2 days, dough can be frozen for up to 3 months. If using dough from frozen, let thaw in refrigerator overnight.

Pie and Filling

  • Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
  • On a lightly floured surface, roll Pie Dough into a 12-inch circle (about ⅛-inch thickness), rotating dough as needed to prevent sticking. Gently transfer to a 9-inch pie plate, pressing into bottom and up sides, and trim excess dough to ½ inch beyond edge of plate. Fold edges under, and crimp as desired. Dock bottom of dough with a fork, and freeze for 15 minutes.
  • Top dough with a piece of parchment paper, letting ends extend over edges of plate. Add pie weights.
  • Bake until edges are golden brown, 15 to 17 minutes. Remove parchment and weights, and bake until bottom of crust is dry and golden, 5 to 7 minutes more. Let cool completely.
  • In a medium saucepan, whisk together sugar and cornstarch. Add egg yolks and egg, and whisk vigorously until combined. Whisk in lemon zest and juice, ⅓ cup (80 grams) water, and salt until completely combined and no clumps remain. Heat over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, until mixture begins to bubble and thicken, about 7 minutes; cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, and strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a heatproof bowl. Add butter, and stir until butter is completely incorporated.
  • Pour filling into cooled prepared crust. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing wrap directly onto surface of filling to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate until completely cooled, at least 1 hour.
  • Remove plastic wrap from cooled filling; top with Swiss Meringue as desired. Using a handheld kitchen torch, carefully brown meringue as desired. Best served same day.

Swiss Meringue

  • In the top of a double boiler, whisk together egg whites, sugar, salt, and cream of tartar. Cook over simmering water, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves and an instant-read thermometer registers 160°F (170°C), about 7 minutes.
  • Transfer mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer. Using the whisk attachment, beat at high speed until tripled in volume and stiff peaks form, 3 to 4 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Use immediately.
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