North Carolina Lemon Pie
Ingredients
- 6 ozsaltines
- ⅛ tspsalt
- 10 tbspunsalted butter
melted
- ¼ clight corn syrup
- 1can
sweetened condensed milk
- 4large egg yolks
- ¼ cheavy cream
- 1 tbspgrated lemon zest plus 1/2 cup juice
3 lemons
- ⅛ tspsalt
- ½ cheavy cream
chilled
- 2 tspsugar
- ½ tspvanilla extract
Directions
Recipe instructions
- 1
You will need about 53 saltines, roughly one-and-a-half sleeves, to equal 6 ounces.
- 2
FOR THE CRUST: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Combine saltines and salt in food processor and pulse to coarse crumbs, about 15 pulses. Add melted butter and corn syrup and pulse until crumbs are broken down into oatmeal-size pieces, about 15 pulses.
- 3
Transfer saltine mixture to greased 9-inch pie plate. Using bottom of dry measuring cup, press crumbs into even layer on bottom and sides of plate, using your hand to keep crumbs from spilling over plate edge. Place plate on baking sheet and bake until light golden brown and fragrant, 17 to 19 minutes.
- 4
FOR THE FILLING: Whisk condensed milk, egg yolks, cream, lemon zest, and salt in bowl until fully combined. Whisk in lemon juice until fully incorporated.
- 5
With pie plate still on sheet, pour filling into crust (crust needn’t be cool). Bake pie until edges are beginning to set but center still jiggles when shaken, 15 to 17 minutes. Place pie on wire rack and let cool completely. Refrigerate pie until fully chilled, about 4 hours.
- 6
FOR THE TOPPING: Using stand mixer fitted with whisk, whip cream, sugar, and vanilla on medium-low speed until foamy, about 1 minute. Increase speed to high and whip until stiff peaks form, 1 to 3 minutes. Spread whipped cream over top of pie. Serve.
North Carolina Lemon Pie
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Ratings & Reviews
Based on 247 ratings
Rating Breakdown
About this Recipe
Craving a bright, refreshing dessert that perfectly balances sweet, salty, and sour? This North Carolina Lemon Pie is a delightful twist on a classic, delivering vibrant flavors with surprising simplicity that will impress any guest.
What makes this recipe truly special is its salty saltine cracker crust. This unexpected yet brilliant base provides a delightful counterpoint to the zesty lemon filling, creating a complex flavor profile that sets it apart from typical lemon pies. It’s a dead-simple technique that elevates the entire dish, preventing any hint of sogginess while adding a subtle savory depth.
Expect a dessert that's light yet incredibly satisfying. Each forkful delivers the creamy, tangy burst of lemon, brightened by aromatic lemon zest, all nestled in that unique, subtly salty cracker crust. The pie is finished with a fluffy whipped topping, adding a luxurious smoothness that complements the tart filling beautifully. This is a pie that feels special but is approachable for any home cook, requiring only a whisk and a few simple steps before it chills to perfection.
While the pie is fantastic as-is, you can easily adjust the sweetness of the whipped topping to your personal preference. For an extra pop of citrus, consider adding a touch more lemon zest to the filling or even swirling a little lime zest into the whipped topping. The saltine crust is key to its unique character, so stick with that for the authentic experience.
This vibrant lemon pie is perfect for any occasion, from casual family dinners to festive gatherings. Serve it as the star of your dessert table, perhaps alongside a bowl of fresh berries to echo its bright, fruity notes.