Lemon Desserts
My mother loved Lemon Desserts. If we had a dozen donuts, it was understood that if there was only one lemon-filled donut, that was Mom's, no questions asked.
Mom
In honor of Mom, here are six lemon desserts, including a Frozen Lemonade Pie and a Lemon-Raspberry Whoopie Pies. Enjoy!
LEMON ICEBOX PIE
This yumminess is from Vallery Lomas in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Vallery wrote, "This tangy, creamy lemon icebox pie hits all the high notes, and it couldn’t be easier to prep. Using lemon curd provides a ton of lemony tartness and flavor, and means that you don’t need to fuss around with juicing and zesting fresh lemons. The cream cheese balances out the tart citrus notes, while also making this recipe super creamy. And you don’t even need to turn on your oven. Be sure that your cream cheese is super soft so that there won’t be lumps in your pie. This pie can be served straight from the freezer for a semifreddo-like texture. Plus, it cuts precisely when it’s very cold. You may also opt to let it rest at room temperature to soften a bit before serving."
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes, plus 3 hours' chilling and freezing; Total Time: 4-1/4 hours; Yield: 1 (9-inch) pie; Servings: 8
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025777-lemon-icebox-pie. While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes (case in point), guides, and more.
Ingredients
2 (8-ounce) packages full-fat cream cheese, at room temperature
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 cup lemon curd (homemade or store-bought)
1 baked 9-inch graham cracker crust, homemade or store-bought
Preparation
Using either a hand mixer in a large bowl or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese on medium-high until smooth and creamy. Add the heavy cream and beat on medium speed until smooth. Add the lemon curd and beat until no streaks of curd remain and it’s fully incorporated.
Spoon the filling evenly into the pie crust and refrigerate for one hour, then transfer to the freezer for at least two hours, until ready to serve. Cut slices and serve cold. Store in the freezer, covered, for up to two weeks.
LEMON TOFU CHEESECAKE
This recipe comes from Vegetarian Times, and begins, "This vegan dessert brings zippy citrus and creamy texture to the party."
"This lemon tofu cheesecake, originally published by Vegetarian Times in 1997, makes for an elegant vegan dessert. While you can dig in as soon as it sets, after about two hours of chill time, we find it actually tastes better the next day, after the flavors have had time to continue to develop.
"If it’s just too hot to turn on the oven, this recipe can easily be adapted to a no-bake format. Just skip the cornstarch called for in the filling. The result will be something a bit more loose and creamy."
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/lemon-tofu-cheesecake-recipe/. Makes 8 servings
Ingredients
Crust
2 cups graham crackers
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Filling
1 pound firm tofu
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1 tablespoon tahini or almond butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
2 tablespoons cornstarch dissolved in water
1 tablespoons vegan milk such as soy, rice, or almond
Preparation
Crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In medium bowl, mix cracker crumbs, syrup, and extract until crumbs are moistened. Pour into oiled 9-inch pie plate; press mixture firmly to form crust. Bake 5 minutes; let cool while preparing the filling.
Filling: In food processor or blender, combine ingredients and process until smooth, about 30 seconds.
Bake: Pour mixture into crust. Bake until top is slightly browned, about 30 minutes. Cool and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled and firm, about 2 hours.
LEMON-RASPBERRY WHOOPIE PIES
This comes from Erin McDowell on Pure Wow. This recipe begins, "Important question: Is a whoopie pie a cookie, pie, sandwich or cake? We’ll let you be the judge. But one thing’s for certain: These lemon-raspberry whoopie pies are easy, fun and festive.
"'The cakes are light and soft, and the creamy filling sandwiches them securely together,' Erin McDowell, pastry chef and author of The Fearless Baker, tells us. 'Take care not to over bake the cakes, or they may dry out a bit. Wrap the finished cakes tightly in plastic wrap, and they travel particularly well in bags, lunchboxes or picnic baskets.'
"Now do you know anyone who’s hosting a picnic?"
Prep Time: 45 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes; Makes 15 servings
You can view this online at https://www.purewow.com/recipes/lemon-raspberry-whoopie-pies.
Ingredients
Pies
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
Zest of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 large egg, at room temperature
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 cup whole milk
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Filling
2/3 cup seedless raspberry jam
3 tablespoons heavy cream
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
4-1/4 cups confectioners’ sugar, plus more for finishing
3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups fresh raspberries
Directions
Make the Pies: Preheat the oven to 400°F, and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, sugar, and lemon zest until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the vanilla and mix to combine. Add the egg and mix until well incorporated—scrape the bowl well.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Stir the whole milk and lemon juice. Add about 1/3 of the flour mixture to the mixer and mix until incorporated. Add half of the milk mixture and mix to combine. Continue to alternate these two mixtures until all of the ingredients are incorporated and the batter is smooth.
Scoop the batter into 1/4 cup-sized mounds onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 3 inches in between each piece to allow room for spreading. Bake until the edges of the cakes are beginning to brown and the center springs back when you touch it, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool completely.
Make the Filling: In a medium bowl, whisk together the jam and cream. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the raspberry cream mixture and mix to incorporate, then beat in the vanilla. Transfer the frosting to a piping bag (or a gallon zip-top bag), and cut 1/2-inch opening from the tip.
Turn over half of the cooled cakes. Pipe frosting into the center until it is about 1/2-inch from the outer edge. Place 4 to 6 raspberries around the outside, pressing into the frosting so they are flush with the edges of the cake. Place one of the remaining cakes on top, and press gently to adhere. Serve within 8 hours. Just before serving, dust the tops with confectioners’ sugar.
LEMON MERINGUE COOKIES
This is from Dorie Greenspan at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Dorie wrote, "Like their inspiration, lemon meringue pie, these cookies have three elements. They’re built on simple, slice-and-bake French shortbread cookies, rich, buttery and flavored with vanilla. The shortbread base is almost classic, except that the cookies are baked in muffin tins, so they’re straight-sided and deeply golden brown. The 'filling' is lemon curd, and the topping is crunchy bits of meringue. You get crumbly, velvety and crackly, sweet and tart in every bite. These cookies were created for an imaginary friend, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, the hero of 16 Louise Penny novels, and a man who considers lemon meringue divine."
Yield: 24 cookies; Time: 2 hours
This was featured in "A Lemon Meringue Cookie Good Enough to Be Imaginary", and can be found online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021686-lemon-meringue-cookies.
Note: If you didn't click on the link to the featured article that this cookie recipe came from (or if you did, but didn't read the article), you really should read it. Dorie Greenspan's article is well worth the read; heck, it's worth several reads. Maybe make up a batch of these, then sit back to enjoy both cookies and the article. (Thanks for both, Dorie!)
Ingredients
For the Meringue:
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons confectioners’ sugar
1 large egg white, at room temperature
1/4 teaspoon distilled vinegar (or lemon juice)
Pinch of fine sea salt
For the Shortbread:
1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), cut into chunks and brought to room temperature, plus more for greasing the muffin tin
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 large egg yolks, at room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
About 1/3 cup store-bought or homemade lemon curd
Preparation
Make the meringue: Heat oven to 250 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a small bowl, stir together both sugars.
Working with an electric mixer, beat the egg white, vinegar and salt on medium-high speed until the mixture forms soft peaks, about 3 minutes. Add the sugar mixture 1 tablespoon at a time, beating after each addition. Once the sugar is incorporated, beat 2 minutes more; you’ll have stiff, glossy, white peaks. Put the meringue on the baking sheet and spread it 1/4-inch thick. (It will cover only a small part of the sheet.)
Bake the meringue undisturbed for 35 minutes. Turn off the heat, prop open the oven door and let it dry for 1 hour. When you’re ready to use it, chop it into pieces about the size of chocolate chips. Precision doesn’t matter.
Make the shortbread: Working with a mixer (use the paddle if it’s a stand mixer), beat the butter, both sugars and the salt on medium speed for about 3 minutes, until smooth but not fluffy. On low speed, beat in the yolks, one at a time, followed by the vanilla. Add the flour in three additions, mixing on low until the dough comes together in large clumps. Turn out the dough and knead it into a ball. Cut the ball in half.
Shape each half into a 6-inch log. Wrap it and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. (You could also freeze it for up to 2 months; leave it on the counter for 1 hour before baking.)
When you’re ready to bake the cookies, heat oven to 350 degrees. Coat 1 or 2 muffin tins with butter (or nonstick baking spray).
Slice each log into 12 rounds (each 1/2-inch thick); drop one into each muffin cup. (If you don’t have enough tins, you can work in batches.)
Bake for 21 to 23 minutes, or until the cookies are golden brown around the rims. Transfer the tin(s) to a rack, cool for 5 minutes, then lift the cookies out and onto racks; cool to room temperature.
Just before serving, top each cookie with lemon curd, then top with ample chunks of meringue, pressing them into the curd. The meringue will keep in a cool, dry place for a few days, and the cookies can be kept at room temperature for about 3 days. But once you top the cookies, they’re best eaten soon after.
MAGIC LEMON PIE
This is from Kimberly Holland at Southern Living. For this recipe, Kimberly wrote, "With a name like Magic Lemon Pie, this is one dessert that really has to impress—and it will. The tart lemon in this pie is beautifully balanced by the creamy sweetened condensed milk, creating a rich and elegant custard. The lemon shortbread cookie crust only takes it up another notch! To finish it off, what else besides a toasty, marshmallowy meringue? It's a dream in every slice—and it's also a little bit magic."
Active Time: 30 minutes; Chill Time: 5 hours; Total Time: 5 hours 55 minutes; Servings: 8
To view this online, go to https://www.southernliving.com/magic-lemon-pie-11771234.
Ingredients
1 (8.5-oz.) pkg. lemon shortbread cookies (about 16 cookies)
1/4 cup (2 oz.) unsalted butter, melted
1 (14-oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
2 large eggs, separated
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (from 3 medium lemons)
1 tsp. cornstarch
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
3 Tbsp. granulated sugar
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
Directions
Preheat oven to 325°F. Gather all ingredients.
Break cookies into large pieces and place in a food processor bowl; pulse until fine crumbs, about 10 pulses. Add melted butter; pulse until mixture resembles wet sand, about 5 pulses.
Transfer to a 9-inch pie plate; firmly press into bottom and up sides of pie plate. Refrigerate, uncovered, until ready to use.
Whisk together sweetened condensed milk and egg yolks in a large glass or other nonreactive mixing bowl until smooth. Add lemon juice; whisk until thick and creamy.
Pour into prepared crust, smoothing out top with an offset spatula.
Bake in preheated oven until filling is just set with a slight jiggle in center, 20 to 25 minutes.
Meanwhile, beat together cornstarch, cream of tartar, and remaining egg whites with an electric mixer fitted with whisk attachment on high speed until foamy, about 10 seconds. Gradually add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until stiff peaks form and sugar dissolves, about 4 minutes. Add vanilla, beating until just combined. Set aside, at room temperature, until ready to use.
Spread meringue over hot filling, ensuring filling is fully covered and meringue is touching crust.
Increase oven temperature to 375°F. Bake at 375°F until meringue is golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes.
Let pie cool to room temperature on a wire rack, about 1 hour. Refrigerate, uncovered, until fully chilled before serving, about 4 hours.
FROZEN LEMONADE PIE
This is from Alana Al-Halani, an Associate Food Editor at Southern Living. The recipe starts off, "Our frozen lemonade pie is a frosty, refreshing treat that requires only 30 minutes of hands-on time."
The preliminary chit-chat goes on, "Next time you're perusing the frozen aisles, make sure to pick up a can of frozen lemonade so you can make this refreshing frozen lemonade pie. While frozen lemonade concentrate might not make the best tasting lemonade, it is a great shortcut for making a tasty frozen treat.
"There's no need to squeeze a bunch of lemons. Simply combine the concentrate with cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, and soft whipped cream for a luscious and bright pie filling, poured into a no-bake crust that comes together in minutes. It's the perfect effortless pie for hot summers in the South."
Active Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 30 minutes; Serves: 8
To view this online, as well as all the tips afterward, go to https://www.southernliving.com/frozen-lemonade-pie-8640850.
Ingredients
2 cups graham cracker crumbs (from about 15 graham cracker sheets)
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1 (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 (14-oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12-oz.) can frozen lemonade concentrate (such as Minute Maid), thawed
1 Tbsp. grated lemon zest (from 2 large lemons), plus more for garnish
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1-1/2 cups heavy whipping cream, divided
2 Tbsp. powdered sugar
Directions
Coat a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate with cooking spray. Stir together graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and brown sugar in a medium bowl. Press mixture into bottom and up sides of prepared pie plate. Freeze until firm, about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, beat cream cheese in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 1 minute, stopping to scrape down sides of bowl as needed.
Add condensed milk, and beat on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Add lemonade concentrate, lemon zest, and salt; beat on low speed until incorporated, about 1 minute. Set aside.
Beat 1/2 cup of the heavy cream in a medium bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until medium peaks form, about 2 minutes. Gently fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture.
Spoon mixture into prepared crust, spreading evenly. Freeze, uncovered, until firm, about 4 hours or up to 12 hours. Remove from freezer about 10 minutes before serving.
Beat powdered sugar and remaining 1 cup heavy cream in a medium bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until stiff peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes. Top pie with whipped cream; garnish with additional lemon zest. Serve immediately. Store leftovers, covered, in freezer up to 1 week.
Mom
In honor of Mom, here are six lemon desserts, including a Frozen Lemonade Pie and a Lemon-Raspberry Whoopie Pies. Enjoy!
LEMON ICEBOX PIE
This yumminess is from Vallery Lomas in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Vallery wrote, "This tangy, creamy lemon icebox pie hits all the high notes, and it couldn’t be easier to prep. Using lemon curd provides a ton of lemony tartness and flavor, and means that you don’t need to fuss around with juicing and zesting fresh lemons. The cream cheese balances out the tart citrus notes, while also making this recipe super creamy. And you don’t even need to turn on your oven. Be sure that your cream cheese is super soft so that there won’t be lumps in your pie. This pie can be served straight from the freezer for a semifreddo-like texture. Plus, it cuts precisely when it’s very cold. You may also opt to let it rest at room temperature to soften a bit before serving."
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes, plus 3 hours' chilling and freezing; Total Time: 4-1/4 hours; Yield: 1 (9-inch) pie; Servings: 8
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025777-lemon-icebox-pie. While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes (case in point), guides, and more.
Ingredients
2 (8-ounce) packages full-fat cream cheese, at room temperature
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 cup lemon curd (homemade or store-bought)
1 baked 9-inch graham cracker crust, homemade or store-bought
Preparation
Using either a hand mixer in a large bowl or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese on medium-high until smooth and creamy. Add the heavy cream and beat on medium speed until smooth. Add the lemon curd and beat until no streaks of curd remain and it’s fully incorporated.
Spoon the filling evenly into the pie crust and refrigerate for one hour, then transfer to the freezer for at least two hours, until ready to serve. Cut slices and serve cold. Store in the freezer, covered, for up to two weeks.
LEMON TOFU CHEESECAKE
This recipe comes from Vegetarian Times, and begins, "This vegan dessert brings zippy citrus and creamy texture to the party."
"This lemon tofu cheesecake, originally published by Vegetarian Times in 1997, makes for an elegant vegan dessert. While you can dig in as soon as it sets, after about two hours of chill time, we find it actually tastes better the next day, after the flavors have had time to continue to develop.
"If it’s just too hot to turn on the oven, this recipe can easily be adapted to a no-bake format. Just skip the cornstarch called for in the filling. The result will be something a bit more loose and creamy."
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/lemon-tofu-cheesecake-recipe/. Makes 8 servings
Ingredients
Crust
2 cups graham crackers
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Filling
1 pound firm tofu
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1 tablespoon tahini or almond butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
2 tablespoons cornstarch dissolved in water
1 tablespoons vegan milk such as soy, rice, or almond
Preparation
Crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In medium bowl, mix cracker crumbs, syrup, and extract until crumbs are moistened. Pour into oiled 9-inch pie plate; press mixture firmly to form crust. Bake 5 minutes; let cool while preparing the filling.
Filling: In food processor or blender, combine ingredients and process until smooth, about 30 seconds.
Bake: Pour mixture into crust. Bake until top is slightly browned, about 30 minutes. Cool and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled and firm, about 2 hours.
LEMON-RASPBERRY WHOOPIE PIES
This comes from Erin McDowell on Pure Wow. This recipe begins, "Important question: Is a whoopie pie a cookie, pie, sandwich or cake? We’ll let you be the judge. But one thing’s for certain: These lemon-raspberry whoopie pies are easy, fun and festive.
"'The cakes are light and soft, and the creamy filling sandwiches them securely together,' Erin McDowell, pastry chef and author of The Fearless Baker, tells us. 'Take care not to over bake the cakes, or they may dry out a bit. Wrap the finished cakes tightly in plastic wrap, and they travel particularly well in bags, lunchboxes or picnic baskets.'
"Now do you know anyone who’s hosting a picnic?"
Prep Time: 45 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes; Makes 15 servings
You can view this online at https://www.purewow.com/recipes/lemon-raspberry-whoopie-pies.
Ingredients
Pies
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
Zest of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 large egg, at room temperature
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 cup whole milk
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Filling
2/3 cup seedless raspberry jam
3 tablespoons heavy cream
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
4-1/4 cups confectioners’ sugar, plus more for finishing
3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups fresh raspberries
Directions
Make the Pies: Preheat the oven to 400°F, and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, sugar, and lemon zest until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the vanilla and mix to combine. Add the egg and mix until well incorporated—scrape the bowl well.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Stir the whole milk and lemon juice. Add about 1/3 of the flour mixture to the mixer and mix until incorporated. Add half of the milk mixture and mix to combine. Continue to alternate these two mixtures until all of the ingredients are incorporated and the batter is smooth.
Scoop the batter into 1/4 cup-sized mounds onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 3 inches in between each piece to allow room for spreading. Bake until the edges of the cakes are beginning to brown and the center springs back when you touch it, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool completely.
Make the Filling: In a medium bowl, whisk together the jam and cream. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the raspberry cream mixture and mix to incorporate, then beat in the vanilla. Transfer the frosting to a piping bag (or a gallon zip-top bag), and cut 1/2-inch opening from the tip.
Turn over half of the cooled cakes. Pipe frosting into the center until it is about 1/2-inch from the outer edge. Place 4 to 6 raspberries around the outside, pressing into the frosting so they are flush with the edges of the cake. Place one of the remaining cakes on top, and press gently to adhere. Serve within 8 hours. Just before serving, dust the tops with confectioners’ sugar.
LEMON MERINGUE COOKIES
This is from Dorie Greenspan at The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Dorie wrote, "Like their inspiration, lemon meringue pie, these cookies have three elements. They’re built on simple, slice-and-bake French shortbread cookies, rich, buttery and flavored with vanilla. The shortbread base is almost classic, except that the cookies are baked in muffin tins, so they’re straight-sided and deeply golden brown. The 'filling' is lemon curd, and the topping is crunchy bits of meringue. You get crumbly, velvety and crackly, sweet and tart in every bite. These cookies were created for an imaginary friend, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, the hero of 16 Louise Penny novels, and a man who considers lemon meringue divine."
Yield: 24 cookies; Time: 2 hours
This was featured in "A Lemon Meringue Cookie Good Enough to Be Imaginary", and can be found online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021686-lemon-meringue-cookies.
Note: If you didn't click on the link to the featured article that this cookie recipe came from (or if you did, but didn't read the article), you really should read it. Dorie Greenspan's article is well worth the read; heck, it's worth several reads. Maybe make up a batch of these, then sit back to enjoy both cookies and the article. (Thanks for both, Dorie!)
Ingredients
For the Meringue:
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons confectioners’ sugar
1 large egg white, at room temperature
1/4 teaspoon distilled vinegar (or lemon juice)
Pinch of fine sea salt
For the Shortbread:
1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), cut into chunks and brought to room temperature, plus more for greasing the muffin tin
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 large egg yolks, at room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
About 1/3 cup store-bought or homemade lemon curd
Preparation
Make the meringue: Heat oven to 250 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a small bowl, stir together both sugars.
Working with an electric mixer, beat the egg white, vinegar and salt on medium-high speed until the mixture forms soft peaks, about 3 minutes. Add the sugar mixture 1 tablespoon at a time, beating after each addition. Once the sugar is incorporated, beat 2 minutes more; you’ll have stiff, glossy, white peaks. Put the meringue on the baking sheet and spread it 1/4-inch thick. (It will cover only a small part of the sheet.)
Bake the meringue undisturbed for 35 minutes. Turn off the heat, prop open the oven door and let it dry for 1 hour. When you’re ready to use it, chop it into pieces about the size of chocolate chips. Precision doesn’t matter.
Make the shortbread: Working with a mixer (use the paddle if it’s a stand mixer), beat the butter, both sugars and the salt on medium speed for about 3 minutes, until smooth but not fluffy. On low speed, beat in the yolks, one at a time, followed by the vanilla. Add the flour in three additions, mixing on low until the dough comes together in large clumps. Turn out the dough and knead it into a ball. Cut the ball in half.
Shape each half into a 6-inch log. Wrap it and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. (You could also freeze it for up to 2 months; leave it on the counter for 1 hour before baking.)
When you’re ready to bake the cookies, heat oven to 350 degrees. Coat 1 or 2 muffin tins with butter (or nonstick baking spray).
Slice each log into 12 rounds (each 1/2-inch thick); drop one into each muffin cup. (If you don’t have enough tins, you can work in batches.)
Bake for 21 to 23 minutes, or until the cookies are golden brown around the rims. Transfer the tin(s) to a rack, cool for 5 minutes, then lift the cookies out and onto racks; cool to room temperature.
Just before serving, top each cookie with lemon curd, then top with ample chunks of meringue, pressing them into the curd. The meringue will keep in a cool, dry place for a few days, and the cookies can be kept at room temperature for about 3 days. But once you top the cookies, they’re best eaten soon after.
MAGIC LEMON PIE
This is from Kimberly Holland at Southern Living. For this recipe, Kimberly wrote, "With a name like Magic Lemon Pie, this is one dessert that really has to impress—and it will. The tart lemon in this pie is beautifully balanced by the creamy sweetened condensed milk, creating a rich and elegant custard. The lemon shortbread cookie crust only takes it up another notch! To finish it off, what else besides a toasty, marshmallowy meringue? It's a dream in every slice—and it's also a little bit magic."
Active Time: 30 minutes; Chill Time: 5 hours; Total Time: 5 hours 55 minutes; Servings: 8
To view this online, go to https://www.southernliving.com/magic-lemon-pie-11771234.
Ingredients
1 (8.5-oz.) pkg. lemon shortbread cookies (about 16 cookies)
1/4 cup (2 oz.) unsalted butter, melted
1 (14-oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
2 large eggs, separated
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (from 3 medium lemons)
1 tsp. cornstarch
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
3 Tbsp. granulated sugar
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
Directions
Preheat oven to 325°F. Gather all ingredients.
Break cookies into large pieces and place in a food processor bowl; pulse until fine crumbs, about 10 pulses. Add melted butter; pulse until mixture resembles wet sand, about 5 pulses.
Transfer to a 9-inch pie plate; firmly press into bottom and up sides of pie plate. Refrigerate, uncovered, until ready to use.
Whisk together sweetened condensed milk and egg yolks in a large glass or other nonreactive mixing bowl until smooth. Add lemon juice; whisk until thick and creamy.
Pour into prepared crust, smoothing out top with an offset spatula.
Bake in preheated oven until filling is just set with a slight jiggle in center, 20 to 25 minutes.
Meanwhile, beat together cornstarch, cream of tartar, and remaining egg whites with an electric mixer fitted with whisk attachment on high speed until foamy, about 10 seconds. Gradually add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until stiff peaks form and sugar dissolves, about 4 minutes. Add vanilla, beating until just combined. Set aside, at room temperature, until ready to use.
Spread meringue over hot filling, ensuring filling is fully covered and meringue is touching crust.
Increase oven temperature to 375°F. Bake at 375°F until meringue is golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes.
Let pie cool to room temperature on a wire rack, about 1 hour. Refrigerate, uncovered, until fully chilled before serving, about 4 hours.
FROZEN LEMONADE PIE
This is from Alana Al-Halani, an Associate Food Editor at Southern Living. The recipe starts off, "Our frozen lemonade pie is a frosty, refreshing treat that requires only 30 minutes of hands-on time."
The preliminary chit-chat goes on, "Next time you're perusing the frozen aisles, make sure to pick up a can of frozen lemonade so you can make this refreshing frozen lemonade pie. While frozen lemonade concentrate might not make the best tasting lemonade, it is a great shortcut for making a tasty frozen treat.
"There's no need to squeeze a bunch of lemons. Simply combine the concentrate with cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, and soft whipped cream for a luscious and bright pie filling, poured into a no-bake crust that comes together in minutes. It's the perfect effortless pie for hot summers in the South."
Active Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 4 hours 30 minutes; Serves: 8
To view this online, as well as all the tips afterward, go to https://www.southernliving.com/frozen-lemonade-pie-8640850.
Ingredients
2 cups graham cracker crumbs (from about 15 graham cracker sheets)
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1 (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 (14-oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12-oz.) can frozen lemonade concentrate (such as Minute Maid), thawed
1 Tbsp. grated lemon zest (from 2 large lemons), plus more for garnish
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1-1/2 cups heavy whipping cream, divided
2 Tbsp. powdered sugar
Directions
Coat a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate with cooking spray. Stir together graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and brown sugar in a medium bowl. Press mixture into bottom and up sides of prepared pie plate. Freeze until firm, about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, beat cream cheese in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 1 minute, stopping to scrape down sides of bowl as needed.
Add condensed milk, and beat on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Add lemonade concentrate, lemon zest, and salt; beat on low speed until incorporated, about 1 minute. Set aside.
Beat 1/2 cup of the heavy cream in a medium bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until medium peaks form, about 2 minutes. Gently fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture.
Spoon mixture into prepared crust, spreading evenly. Freeze, uncovered, until firm, about 4 hours or up to 12 hours. Remove from freezer about 10 minutes before serving.
Beat powdered sugar and remaining 1 cup heavy cream in a medium bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until stiff peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes. Top pie with whipped cream; garnish with additional lemon zest. Serve immediately. Store leftovers, covered, in freezer up to 1 week.
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