The Best Lemon Pie Filling Recipe - Our Wabi Sabi Life (2024)

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Want to make a lemon pie filling from scratch? This Lemon Pie Filling Recipe is tart, tangy, and so easy to make you will wonder why you never made it homemade before.

The Best Lemon Pie Filling Recipe - Our Wabi Sabi Life (1)

Homemade Lemon Pie Filling is so much better than anything you buy from a can.One of my favorite pies every is my great grandmother’s lemon meringue pie recipe.

She used to have it all the time. I think from that love of lemon meringue I developed a love for all lemon desserts. It is sweet and sour and amazing.

I remember having a dessert a long time ago that they used pie filling in the frosting and I thought ooh what a unique idea. When I was making my Lemon Cake, I decided to try to make lemon frosting using homemade lemon pie filling.

Another delicious dessert idea is our Lemon Dump Cake. This is such a simple recipe that the lemon lovers in your family will love!

Jump to:
  • 🥘Ingredients
  • 🔪Instructions
  • 🧾Substitutions
  • 📖Variations
  • 🍽Equipment
  • 🥫Storage
  • 👩🏻‍🍳Top Tips
  • ❔FAQ
  • Lemon Pie Filling

🥘Ingredients

  • Sugar
  • Cornstarch
  • Cold water
  • Egg
  • Concentrated lemon juice.

You will find a complete list of the ingredients, with measurements listed below.

🔪Instructions

The Best Lemon Pie Filling Recipe - Our Wabi Sabi Life (2)
The Best Lemon Pie Filling Recipe - Our Wabi Sabi Life (3)

At the bottom of the post, in the recipe card, you will find the full instructions.

🧾Substitutions

  • Fresh lemon juice can be used in lieu of concentrated, but you will need to use more of it, and it take longer to cook.

📖Variations

Most recipes have four main ingredients: lemon juice, eggs, sugar, and cornstarch. The ratio of these ingredients varies depending on the recipe, but the basic principle is always the same: the acidity of the lemon juice interacts with the eggs and cornstarch to create a thick, creamy filling.

Sugar is added to offset the tartness of the lemon juice and provide sweetness. Water is used to thin out the filling if it is too thick. Some recipes use flour to thicken the filling, but I use just the cornstarch.

Ultimately, the goal is to create a balance of tartness, sweetness, and creaminess that will make your taste buds sing.

🍽Equipment

You can make lemon pie filling and store it in these mason jars in the refrigerator or use the jars to can the filling. That way you have it whenever you want it. Don’t know how to can? Use this FREE book to learn how.

🥫Storage

You can freeze this filling. Just place it into a freezer-safe container and store it for up to six months.

It will last in the fridge for up to two weeks. Make sure you put it in an airtight container though, so it doesn’t pick up the other smells from your refrigerator.

You can also make up a double batch and can this for later. To do this, simply sterilize some canning jars and then fill them with the pie filling.

Be sure to leave some headspace at the top of each jar, and then seal them with canning lids.

Then, process the jars in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes before allowing them to cool and storing them in a cool and dry place.

👩🏻‍🍳Top Tips

Besides the lemon cake with lemon icing, you can also make a delicious dessert with lemon pie filling.If you love baking with lemon pie filling, try these ideas:

  • Lemon Meringue Pie
  • Lemon Cookies
  • Lemon tarts
  • Lemon Danish
  • Lemon Muffins

Need a low calorie, low point pie crust recipe that tastes amazing- Use the one from this Skinny Easy Strawberry Pie Recipe.

As the lemon filling cools, it will thicken. It will usually take 3 to 4 minutes to start to thicken.

❔FAQ

Can Filling be Used as Cake Filling?

If want to add a burst of lemon flavor without the cake itself being lemon, you can add a thin layer of lemon pie filling between the layers of the cake. How much pie filling you put in between depends on how thick and how messy you want the cake to be.

How to Make Lemon Pie Filling Thicker

If you find that the pie filling isn’t as thick as you like, simply cook it longer. This is all it takes to make lemon pie filler thicker.

The Best Lemon Pie Filling Recipe - Our Wabi Sabi Life (5)

The Best Lemon Pie Filling Recipe - Our Wabi Sabi Life (6)

Lemon Pie Filling

Want to make a lemon pie filling from scratch? This Lemon Pie Filling Recipe is so easy to make you will wonder why you never made it from scratch before. Homemade Lemon Pie Filling is so much better than anything you buy from a can.

3.89 from 227 votes

Print the Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 0 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 1 pie

Ingredients

Directions

  • In a small saucepan, mix together water and cornstarch.

  • When the cornstarch dissolves, add sugar, lemon juice, and a slightly beaten egg.

  • Cook over medium heat stirring constantly until it thickens and comes to a boil.

  • If adding food coloring, add it in this step.

  • Remove the thicken lemon mixture from the heat.

  • Let the filling cool before using.

Keyword lemon pie filling

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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The Best Lemon Pie Filling Recipe - Our Wabi Sabi Life (2024)

FAQs

Can you buy canned lemon pie filling in Canada? ›

Lucky Leaf Premium Lemon Pie Filling Or Topping (Pack of 2) 22 oz Cans : Amazon.ca: Grocery & Gourmet Food.

What is lemon pie filling made of? ›

A lemon pie filling is the base for a lemon meringue pie. You make it with egg yolks, sugar, lemon juice, and zest, and fortify it with cornstarch so the filling holds its shape when you cut the pie.

What is the liquid at the bottom of the lemon meringue pie? ›

Water seeping from meringue is practically always coming from the egg whites. There are a few standard things you can do to reduce it. First, do not overbeat. For some reason, recipes love to direct people to beat egg whites "to stiff peaks".

Why is my lemon pie filling not thickening? ›

I think you didn't cook it long enough after adding the eggs. Lemon pie filling has to be almost so thick you can cut it with a knife before you pour it into the shell or it won't set up. So you cook it until it becomes that thick.

How do you make canned pie filling taste better? ›

For example, if you're using a canned cherry pie filling, add fresh pitted cherries to improve the texture and flavor. Enhance Flavor with Spices: Adjust the flavor with spices and seasonings. For apple pie filling, add cinnamon, nutmeg, or a pinch of cloves to achieve a homemade taste.

What is the best thickener for pie filling? ›

Very often flour or cornstarch is used, but in certain instances tapioca, arrowroot and potato starch can also help achieve the desired consistency. Tapioca starch is preferable for products that will be frozen because it will not break down when thawed. We like tapioca in blueberry, cherry or peach pies.

Why does my lemon pie filling weep? ›

Meringue pies will ''weep'' water because of the interaction between the filling and the whipped meringue. If one or the other is overcooked, water beads will form and weep. Egg whites can also weep if they are over-beaten or are from old eggs. Refrigeration (unfortunately) speeds up the process of weeping—oops!

Why put butter in pie filling? ›

A: Dotting the top of a fruit pie filling with butter is an old habit but one that is called for in only about half of the pie recipes out there. Some maintain that the butter is for taste; others claim that it helps the filling set up, particularly when using flour as a thickener.

How do you keep lemon pie from weeping? ›

More Tips to Stop Meringue from Weeping
  1. Make meringue pie on dry, low-humidity days.
  2. Don't overbake your meringue! ...
  3. Undissolved sugar in the egg whites can also cause weeping. ...
  4. Always prepare the meringue before preparing the pie filling so it's ready to spread while the filling is still hot.
Aug 31, 2022

Why does my lemon meringue pie taste like metal? ›

There are a few reasons why your lemon curd may taste metallic. The most common reason is usual due to using aluminum or metal bowls. The acid in lemon juice tends to react with metal, and sometimes eggs can react with aluminum. The other possible cause is the sugar.

Why does my lemon meringue pie taste eggy? ›

To ensure that your meringue is sweet and not eggy, make sure to use fresh egg whites, beat them to soft peaks, add sugar gradually and make sure it's fully dissolved, and use appropriate amounts of vinegar or cream of tartar. You probably forgot to put the sugar and a tiny pinch of salt in when you were beating it.

Why did my lemon meringue crack? ›

Meringues can crack because of the sudden change in temperature. To prevent this happening, turn the oven off when the meringues are cooked but leave them inside until completely cool.”

How can I improve my pie filling? ›

A quick and simple way to give your canned cherry pie filling a homemade taste is to add more flavor. Use dried spices or flavor extracts to up the flavor without adding more sugar. Start with a teaspoon of vanilla or almond extract. From there, get creative with cinnamon, ginger, cloves or nutmeg.

How do you make a pie filling firmer? ›

Tapioca-it's not just for pudding! This old-school ingredient may be what your great grandmother used to thicken her pies, and it's still great for making a perfect fruit pie with a clear, stable filling. Tapioca is derived from cassava (also known as yuca or manioc), a starchy root native to South America.

What can I use instead of lemon juice in pie filling? ›

Substitutes for Lemon Juice:
  1. Orange juice in equal amounts (1:1 ratio)
  2. White wine (1/2:1 ratio)
  3. White vinegar (1/2:1 ratio)
  4. Lemon extract (1/2:1 ratio + replace the rest with water)
  5. Lemon zest (1/2:1 ratio + replace the rest with water)
  6. Cream of tartar (1/2:1 ratio)
Jun 17, 2020

What is a substitute for clear jel in pie filling? ›

How much should you use: In general, Instant ClearJel can be substituted in equal parts as tapioca, cornstarch, or arrowroot.

Does Costco sell apple pie filling? ›

Berthelet Apple Pie Filling, 5 kg | Costco.

Who makes Comstock pie filling? ›

Comstock Canned Pie Filling | Duncan Hines.

Is canned pie filling precooked? ›

Making a pie with your home-canned filling

The pie filling is already cooked, so your focus should be on the crust. For a single-crust pie, place dough in pie plate. Blind-bake a homemade or premade crust (filling first with pie weights) at 425 degrees for 15 minutes.

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