This lemon meringue tart is a graham cracker crust topped with a creamy lemon filling and fluffy brown sugar meringue. It’s a show stopping dessert that’s perfect for a special occasion.
When I need a dessert that’s a little bit on the fancy side, I make berry chantilly cake, Oreo cheesecake, or this amazingly delicious and elegant lemon meringue tart. This dessert takes a bit of effort, but the end result is totally worth it.
You know how most people have a strong preference for either cake or pie? My family is definitely a cake family. The exception to that rule has always been lemon meringue pie. But have you ever had a store bought lemon meringue pie that was sub-par? I sure have – I’ve encountered my fair share of artificial tasting lemon goop with a foamy meringue on top that was devoid of flavor. You’re not going to find that here, this lemon meringue tart is like the fanciest and most delicious lemon meringue pie that you’ve ever tasted.
How do you make a lemon meringue tart?
You can either make this as a tart or a pie, your choice. The tart is a little more elegant looking, but the pie has more of the lemon filling. I use a simple graham cracker crust for this recipe, because I think it’s the perfect flavor match for the lemon filling and for me, a graham cracker crust is easier to make than a traditional pie crust.
The lemon filling is basically a lemon curd that gets baked into the crust. The recipe makes enough filling for a pie dish which is a little bit deeper than a tart, so if you do the tart, you’ll have extra filling. I always pour the extra filling into an oven safe dish and bake it right alongside the tart, that way there’s no waste. The crowning glory on the lemon meringue tart is a toasted brown sugar meringue. This stuff is heavenly.
Tips for lemon meringue tart
- Slowly pour the lemon filling into your tart shell – if you’re too forceful as you pour, the liquid could dislodge some graham cracker crumbs and you might have a little bit of graham cracker in your filling which still tastes great, but isn’t quite as attractive.
- This recipe calls for a torch to toast the meringue. If you don’t have a torch, you can put your tart under the broiler for a few minutes, but watch carefully so that it doesn’t burn.
- I’ve made this recipe with both traditional lemons and Meyer lemons, and it comes out great either way.
- For a different flavor, you can use gingersnap cookie crumbs instead of graham cracker crumbs.
- This tart will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.
How do you make Italian meringue?
You are going to need a few pieces of specialty equipment to make this meringue, a candy thermometer and a torch. You really can use any kind of blow torch, it doesn’t have to be specific for culinary purposes. When I took classes at the culinary academy the chefs used these large industrial torches for everything! This is an Italian meringue where a sugar syrup is boiled to the hard ball candy stage and then slowly streamed into beaten egg whites. After you spread the meringue, it’s torching time.
This is one of my all-time favorite desserts, the lemon filling is smooth and creamy with the perfect amount of tartness and the brown sugar gives the meringue such a complex flavor. The next time you need a dessert for a special occasion, try this lemon tart, it’s a showstopper for sure.
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Lemon Meringue Tart
Ingredients
For the crust:
- 1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 4 tablespoons butter melted
For the filling:
- 6 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
- 3/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 cup heavy cream
For the meringue:
- 3/4 cup egg whites
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 1/2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
- For the crust: Place the graham cracker crumbs and sugar in a bowl and stir to combine. Add the butter and stir until crumbs are all moistened.
- Pour the graham cracker mixture into a 9 inch non stick tart pan or pie pan. Firmly press the mixture into the bottom and sides of the pan.
- Bake the crust for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.
- For the filling: While the crust is baking prepare the filling. Whisk the eggs and sugar together in a bowl until smooth.
- Whisk in the lemon juice until thoroughly incorporated.
- Whisk in the cream and then strain the filling through a sieve into a large measuring cup and stir in the zest. The filling will be quite liquid at this point.
- Without removing the crust from the oven, pour the filling into the crust. You may have leftover filling if you're using a tart pan; just pour the leftover into a greased ovenproof dish and bake it along with the tart for a snack for later on.
- Bake the tart for 35-40 minutes until the center is just set. Cool the tart on a rack and then refrigerate for at least an hour.
- For the meringue: Place the egg whites and cream of tartar into a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment.
- Place the brown sugar into a medium heavy saucepan and add just enough water to cover.
- Put your candy thermometer on the pan and turn the heat to high.
- When the sugar reaches 240 degrees, start whipping the egg whites by turning your mixer to high speed; you want the egg whites to be foamy and starting to thicken before you add the sugar syrup.
- When the sugar reaches 245 degrees, remove the thermometer from the pan and turn the mixer speed down to medium.
- Pour the sugar into the egg whites in a thin, steady stream avoiding the moving whisk. When all the sugar has been added, continue whipping until the meringue reaches the firm peak stage.
- Quickly spread the meringue over the tart with a large spoon or offset spatula. Use your torch to brown the outside of the meringue. Store the tart in the fridge until ready to serve.
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published on April 21, 2015 and was updated on March 5, 2019 with new content.
Tammie says
Could I use a 9 in springform pan? Don’t have a tart pan nor do I want to go out to try to buy one (I was just at 2 stores over the weekend and not one of them had a tart pan). I also don’t have a touch. It does say we can put it in the broiler but for how long would you suggest? I was in jr high the last I made a lemon meringue pie. I had thee best recipe (big thanks to my home ec teacher. She even taught us how to make homemade crust to boot) but over the years I lost it. I just zested and juiced 11 lemons. Now I’m ready to make use of all of that hard work, lol…
Sara says
A springform pan should work just fine! You can broil for 2-3 minutes or until browned, just watch it carefully!
Zoe says
I don’t have the items to make the meringue, so I was thinking of just topping with whipped cream from the can and fruit. I also have to buy a gluten free pre-made crust. Would this work, or do you or anyone else have any suggestions? P.S. My mom is obsessed with your Spinach Lasagna!!
Sara says
I think that would work fine!
Ilene says
This is my husbands most requested desert! It’s good for at least 3 days in the refrigerator!
Jeanne says
How many eggs do you need for 3/4 cup of whites?
Sara says
Approximately 6!
Debbie says
This has become my husbands favorite desert! Helps that we have a lemon tree in our backyard!
Kara says
This is my favourite dessert EVER!!!!
Erin Knight says
I had lemon meringue tart once when my friend made it for dinner at the party, and I missed the delicous taste. Thanks for sharing this receipe and I will try it this weekend.
Heather says
I’m not a huge lemon fan when it comes to desserts. My Nana was though and she would have loved this.
Tiffany La Forge-Grau says
This is one of my favorite pies. My grandma used to make it every year for Thanksgiving.
Porsha says
Wow! I wish I could cook as good as you do!
emman damian says
Lemon meringue tart is one of my fave desserts! Thanks for the recipe. I’ll do this at home. Yum!
Kiwi says
Ive had lemon meringue pie only a handful of times in my life. I would to try this tart pretty situation.
Beth Pierce says
This will make the perfect sweet treat for Easter brunch! I hope mine turns out as beautiful as yours!
Subhashish Roy says
I love tarts because although they fall under the sweet dish category it does not give me a guilt. Your tarts look so very inviting.Wish I could actually make them like you do.
GiGi Eats says
Oh gosh. Your Graham Cracker Crust brings back a whole bunch of memories about when my husband and I had our biggest and pretty much ONLY fight ever LOL!