Make no mistake, this is no ordinary lemon pie recipe. Many of the lemon pies I have tried are usually too sour, starchy and plain not good. My mother-in-law’s simple recipe beats all other lemon pies for me. If you are longing for some real lemon pie with real lemons in it, you’ve hit the jackpot by trying this one out! This pie is one of my easiest so far and requires minimal ingredients. Your guest are going to be raving over it. Take my word for it:)
Ingredients:
- 250 gr/1 cup sour cream
- 113 gr/4 oz unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- Approximately 2 cups of flour (start of with 1 and 1/2 cups of flour)
- 1 and 1/2 lemons (I prefer meyer lemons as they are just what needs to be used)
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg yolk (optional)
Directions:
In a medium bowl mix sour cream with baking soda. Add melted butter to the sour cream and soda mixture, stir everything together. Start adding flour 1/2 cup at a time. When you reach 1 and 1/2 cups see if the dough is not sticking to your hands. if it is sticking add another 1/2 cup of flour. If it is not sticking, what you have already added should suffice. The dough should be very soft and flexible to work with.
Kneed the dough nicely. Cut into two equal sizes, cover with a cling wrap and set aside until needed.
Cut lemons in smaller chunks discarding lemon seeds in the process. Using a food processor chop the lemon chunks into small pieces. You can also cut the lemon in smaller pieces with your knife. May I suggest that the latter method produces even a better lemon pie. If you are using a processor make sure not to overchop the lemon. The lemon needs to be chunkier. Add 1 cup of sugar to the lemon and mix with a spoon. This is our nice lemon filling!
Pre-heat oven at 350F. Take half of the dough and spread it on the bottom of the 9×2″ pan. Any pan could be suitable for this process as long as it is about 9″ wide. Create a 1/2″ border with the dough across the pan.
Place the lemon filling in the middle of the dough and spread it evenly within the borders you have created.
On a clean surface evenly spread the second half of the dough and carefully transfer it to the pan, covering the lemon filling. Connect the edges of the top and the bottom dough.
If you want a nice golden tone to your pie use the egg yolk as a wash. Using a fork, make indentations on the surface of the pie. In order to create a nice crust this step is essential.
Place the pie into the oven for about 30 minutes or until the pie has a nice golden brown color. Time may vary from oven to oven. Best bet is to watch for the color.
You have take the pie out of the pan while it is still hot. Use a knife to ensure the sides of the pie is free from the pan, place a big plate over the pan and with a quick motion turn the pan on top of the plate. Give it a slight tap and the pie should rest on the plate. Using the same technique transfer the pie to another plate, so that the surface of the pie faces up.
You can decorate the pie with confectioners sugar or you can serve it as it is. Done!
Bon Appetit!
Equipment Used
If you would like to see what other equipment I use every day for my cooking, please see My Kitchen page.
Sighhh… such gorgeous photos.. I just want to reach out and take a bite!!
Thank you, Asha! Come on over to CO!
Isn’t it bitter because of the lemon peel ?
Even with a regular lemon it is not as bitter as one might think. I prefer meyer lemon for any other lemons out there to cut the bitterness to none.
Looks amazing, I will give it a try this weekend.
How did it turn out, Bella? :)
Turned out great!!!! Thank you for the the wonderful recipe. I didn’t find Myer lemons, i usually buy them in Trader Joe’s, but they were out, so i had to use regular lemons, but it was great. I will do it again, when I see Myer Lemons )
I am so, so happy Bella :D Meyer lemon will give it a different twist! I have one in the refrigerator and I am planning on baking this one for today’s dinner!
Hi Lola, it has been over 2 years and it is still my family favorite lemon pie :)
Just wanted to let you know. We just bought lots of Meyer lemons and will be enjoying your lemon pie for dinner tonight.
Thanks again for all your great recipes!!! I keep coming back to your site for idea and every single dish I tried turned out perfect.
Lola,
Yesterday afternoon I made the lemon pie. Today there is not one crumb left. It was heavenly.
Give your mother-in-law, once more, my congratulations and tell her that her recipe beats all other lemon pies for me too.
P.S. I love you and I love your recipes, because they are so good, easy, not at all complicated, delicious, tasty and I also like your photos so much that sometimes I follow the recipe only by watching them.
Stella, I love you! :D You are making my heart melt by your delicious comments :D Love, love, love!
I’ve been following your recipe posts for about six months now — whenever I need a visual pick-me-up, I check your site. This lemon pie looks wonderful, as does just about everything you feature here. I wish I could give you more valuable feedback than this, and comment on a recipe of yours that I had actually tried making, but for now this will have to suffice! All the best, Sarah
Thank you, dear Sarah!!! Unfortunately, I do not have enough time to do what I really like doing, cooking :( Hopefully winter month will spare me some time in the kitchen :D Thank you being so kind to me.
Просто изумительно красиво. Сегодня сделала, вроде получилось…жду мужа чтобы вместе попробовать. Спасибо.
Nu kak? :) Dinarochka, zhdu vash feedback!
мммммм, именно то что я искала уже несколько лет. Честное слово Лола несколько лет тому назад я пробовала такой пирог на Алайском рынке у одной русской женщины. После этого я пробовала делать пирог по разным рецептам …было вкусно но это было не то, я хотела найти рецепт именно того пирога. Он был необыкновенно вкусным для меня. И увидев у вас фотографию я подумала что это ОНО, и оказалась права :)))))). Это ОНО!!! Я люблю этот пирог и Вас за то что Вы такая молодец. И кстати уже успела сделать его несколько раз. Спасибочки!!!!!!!!
Wow….i cant tell you how happy i am to have stumbled into your space here…gosh….even though i’m a new blogger, i hve been following quiet a few food blogs but your is truely lovely…. btw…the lemon pie luks soo awesome…. :)
MJ, you are awesome! I am sure you will rock the food blog sphere! I know you are going to rock it ;) Thank you for visiting my blog.
I am always on the hunt for a delicious lemon Pie…and I think I may have just found it!!! Lovely!
wow this is def diff from the other lemon pies ive come across..with sour cream! so delicious…something i wanna make for the next family gathering :)
Dear Lola! Thank you very much for this lovely recipe.I have tried it out last week, and the whole family fell in love with this delicious pie.We have made our number 4 pie in a week’s time.My husband wants it everyday!
I once again thank you for sharing this heavenly pie recipe.May Allah bless you!
Awaiting more magic recipies from You,
Umida
I will have to give this a try. I have been looking for a good lemon pie recipe. I tried a new one for Thanksgiving and it was a major fail! The whole thing went down the garbage disposal. It was supposed to be light and fluffy and instead it was like a stale gummy bear. Ick. Thanks!
Every time when I make this pie I say to myself “I have to thank Smilik”. This pie has already become my favorite one. We really love it. Thank you very much.
Hi lola,
i just stumbled upon this site and i am so freaking glad i did..:)))…this recipe is just awesme and i cant wait to bake this wonderful pie this weekend.. for a novice cook like me the photos and your style of explaning the recipe are so very helpful..thank you so smuch :)))
I found your site while looking for tips on photographing the moon at night. Clicked on the Recipes link and found this pie. Will definitely make this as soon as I find some meyer lemons. Thank you for your beautiful site!
Лола! Спасибо вам большое за такой легкий, быстрый и невероятно вкусный рецепт!!!
Lola I just want to let you know that your husband is a super lucky husband. Amazing food, amazing images.. I hope my wife get’s inspired by your images and cooks something like these:)))
What is the baking temperature? I have it ready to go in the oven and realize I am going to to guess.
Can we put greek yogurt instead of sour cream ?
The lemon paste was absolutely delicious, but the dough didn’t taste good, so put lemon, cinnamon, or anything you want in it
Hello Lola,
I’m doing a bit or research on a Russian lemon pastry that is quite similar to your recipe for Lemon Pie. The recipe I received from my boyfriend uses a buttermilk dough for the crust and ground lemons and sugar for the filling — so almost identical to your lemon pie. My boyfriend is from Russia just north of the Caucasus. You mention the recipe comes from you mother-in-law, As I try to pinpoint the origin of the pastry, I’m wondering where you’re mother-in-law obtained it from. Thanks for any help you can offer.
I had an insane craving for my Russian grandmas lemon pie :) so happy I found this – this brought me right back! Had 1/4 in one sitting and could keep going – will be making this for my mom! Thanks for this recipe!
I love your site and your recipes
Just love , love them
This lemon pie I make it for so many years. It became our family’s favorite. Each recipe that I tried according to you , becomes family recipe.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart and from all family members ❤️🫶🏻🌷