Diane Morrisey’s creamy lemon pie is pure sunshine on a plate
When life hands you lemons, make Diane Morrisey’s show-stopping Creamy Lemon Pie! This dreamy dessert strikes the perfect balance between tangy and sweet, with a buttery graham cracker crust that cradles a silky-smooth lemon filling. Topped with billowy clouds of fresh whipped cream, each slice is pure sunshine on a plate. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply craving something bright and refreshing, this recipe delivers bakery-worthy results with surprisingly simple steps. Best of all? You can make it ahead, so when guests arrive, you’ll be as cool and composed as this irresistible pie is delicious!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups coarsely crushed graham cracker crumbs (about 11 crackers)
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/8 tsp. kosher salt
- 1 stick (4 oz.) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 14-oz.) cans sweetened condensed milk
- 4 large egg yolks
- Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
- 3/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1/8 tsp. kosher salt
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1/4 cup sugar
Instructions
Heat oven to 325°F. In food processor, combine graham crackers, sugar and salt and process until you have fine crumbs. Add melted butter and pulse until mixture looks like wet sand. Transfer to a 9 1/2-inch deep dish pie dish (1 1/2 inches deep). Using palm of your hand or bottom of a 1-cup measuring cup, press crumb mixture firmly and evenly into pie dish.
Bake until pie crust smells toasty and is beginning to brown on edges, 10–15 min. Transfer to wire rack and let cool slightly. Leave oven on.
In large bowl, whisk together condensed milk and yolks until combined. Add lemon zest, lemon juice and salt; whisk until smooth. Pour into warm crust. Return to oven and bake until edges of filling are set when pie is jiggled, but very center moves as a mass, about 20 min. Transfer to rack and let cool for about 15 min. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled, at least 3 hrs. or overnight.
In stand mixer fitted with whisk, whip cream and sugar on high speed until it forms stiff peaks. Spread whipped cream over chilled pie. Slice and serve
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This story was originally published April 7, 2026 at 12:24 PM.