Description
Delightful Southern classic lemon icebox pie brings sunshine to dessert tables with its creamy, tangy filling and buttery graham cracker crust. Cool refreshment awaits when you savor this simple yet elegant slice of pure comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
Pie Crust:
- 1 1/2 cups (192 grams) graham cracker crumbs
- 6 tablespoons (85 grams) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons (25 grams) granulated sugar
Filling:
- 4 large egg yolks
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest
Topping:
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons (25 grams) powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Craft a buttery foundation by blending graham cracker crumbs with melted butter and sugar, pressing the mixture firmly into a 9-inch pie dish, ensuring complete coverage of bottom and sides.
- Refrigerate the crust for 15 minutes to solidify while preparing the filling.
- Whisk sweetened condensed milk with fresh lemon juice and bright zest in a large mixing bowl until the mixture becomes silky and uniform.
- In a separate chilled bowl, transform heavy cream into a voluminous cloud-like texture, whisking until stiff peaks emerge.
- Delicately incorporate the whipped cream into the lemony base, using gentle folding motions to maintain the airy consistency.
- Transfer the luminous filling into the chilled crust, smoothing the surface with a spatula to create an elegant, even layer.
- Chill the pie in the refrigerator for a minimum of 4 hours, allowing the filling to set and flavors to meld completely.
- When ready to serve, optionally crown the pie with additional whipped cream and thin lemon slice garnishes.
- Slice and savor the cool, tangy dessert that epitomizes Southern summer refreshment.
Notes
- Swap graham crackers with gluten-free alternatives like almond flour or gluten-free cookie crumbs for a celiac-friendly version.
- Use fresh-squeezed lemon juice for maximum flavor intensity and brighter citrus notes compared to bottled varieties.
- Stabilize whipped cream by adding a tablespoon of powdered sugar during whipping to prevent deflation and maintain texture longer.
- Zest lemons before juicing to maximize essential oils and enhance the pie’s aromatic profile with minimal extra effort.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Chilling
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 108
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 40 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg