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Classic North Carolina Lemon Pie With Fresh Lemon Juice

Classic North Carolina Lemon Pie

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North Carolina Lemon Pie Recipe North Carolina lemon pie is a chilled Southern classic built on contrast. A salty crushed cracker crust sits beneath a tart, creamy lemon filling that stays silky instead of heavy.

  • Total Time: 355 min
  • Yield: one 9 inch pie 1x

Ingredients

Scale

FOR THE CRUST
6 oz buttery crackers (such as Ritz)
¼ cup granulated sugar
½ cup unsalted butter, melted

FOR THE FILLING
1½ cans sweetened condensed milk, 21 oz
6 large egg yolks
¾ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, from about 4–5 lemons
1½ tbsp lemon zest

FOR THE TOPPING (OPTIONAL)
½ cup heavy cream
2 tbsp powdered sugar
extra lemon zest or candied lemon peel, for garnish

Instructions

1-Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C): Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Finely crush the crackers using a food processor or by placing them in a zip-top bag and crushing with a rolling pin. In a medium bowl, mix the crushed crackers with granulated sugar and melted butter until the mixture resembles wet sand. Press the mixture evenly into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie dish, using the bottom of a measuring cup to smooth it out. Bake for 10 minutes, then set aside to cool slightly.
2-In a medium bowl, whisk together the: In a medium bowl, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk and egg yolks until smooth. Add the lemon juice and zest, and whisk again until fully combined. The filling will thicken slightly as the citrus reacts with the milk. Pour the filling into the baked crust and smooth the top.
3-Bake for 16-18 minutes, or until the: Bake for 16-18 minutes, or until the center is just set but still slightly wobbly. Let the pie cool at room temperature for 30 minutes, then refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight until fully chilled and set.
4-In a medium bowl, whip the heavy: In a medium bowl, whip the heavy cream with powdered sugar until soft peaks form. Spread or pipe the whipped cream over the chilled pie. Garnish with lemon zest or candied lemon peel if desired.

Last Step:

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Notes

Additional time: follow the resting and cooling steps (180 min).

  • Prep Time: 15 min
  • Cook Time: 160 min
  • Method: bake

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 slice
  • Calories: 167
  • Sugar: 12g
  • Sodium: 78mg
  • Fat: 10g
  • Saturated Fat: 5g
  • Carbohydrates: 15g
  • Fiber: 0g
  • Protein: 5g
  • Cholesterol: 136mg