Lemon Icebox Pie

*This post contains affiliate links — please see my disclosure for details*.

I still remember the first time I watched my father make a lemon icebox pie. I was a little kid, and we were at my grandmother’s house in Sandusky, Ohio. Such a special place for our family, where we experienced so many moments filled with love and laughter. And on that day, my father was separating eggs.

Me: Daddy, what are you making?

Dad: An icebox pie.

Me: Why is it called that?

Dad: Because you don’t cook it in the oven, you let it set in the refrigerator.

Me: Why don’t you use part of the eggs?

Dad: Because you don’t need them.

And the conversation continued like that for some time. I asked too many questions back then (still do).

When I finally tasted the icebox pie he made, it was SO good. And it seemed too easy — it was just eggs, lemon juice, and condensed milk in a pre-made graham cracker pie crust! This recipe is in honor of him, and the Lewis family’s love for desserts — there are some slight variations from how his mother and grandmother used to make it, but I got his seal of approval! 🙂

2020 Juneteenth Cookout

I’m so excited to be sharing this recipe in celebration of Juneteenth. I didn’t grow up knowing about the celebration, but it’s never to late to celebrate your history, and I am so excited to do that this year! One of my favorite parts about Black American culture is our food — how it brings us together and it sets us apart. How recipes are passed down like oral histories, and how our flavors and spices are unforgettable.

I chose to share this icebox pie for the Juneteenth Cookout because this classic Southern recipe, having traveled with my family up north to Ohio during the Great Migration, and then passing down to me, is a perfect representation of the spirit of Juneteenth — celebrating our joys in the face of struggle, remembering where we came from, and sharing love, food, and good times across the generations.

Ingredients

The ingredients list is not that different from what my dad used all those years ago. To make this pie, you’ll need:

• lemon juice & zest – for that amazing lemony flavor!
• egg yolks – to help the pie set and give it that rich texture.
• sweetened condensed milk – makes the pie sweet and creamy! My family uses Eagle Brand milk.
• graham cracker crumbs – for that crunchy crumb crust.
• salted butter – helps solidify the crust and adds buttery flavor.
• brown sugar – gives your crust a caramel sweetness.
• cinnamon – optional to add a little spice to your pie crust.

I’m also including a quick whipped cream recipe to serve with this pie! It’s not part of my family’s traditional recipe (my dad made sure to point that out, haha), but I love the contrast of the light, fluffy whipped cream with the richer, tart lemon pie. For the whipped cream, you’ll need:

• heavy cream
• vanilla extract
• powdered sugar

And with all those ingredients gathered, you’re all set to make this easy icebox pie!

Pie Pan with Removable Bottom

The most essential piece of equipment for this lemon icebox pie recipe is a pie or tart pan with a removable bottom, like this one. I use one like that for most of my pie recipes, because it makes serving the pie SO much easier than a traditional pie pan! No more sacrificing the first slice because it’s too difficult to neatly remove it from the pan. With this type of pan, you can remove the entire pie from the pan all at once, and then easily slice it like a cake.

Although a pan with a removable bottom is my preference, you are free to use any kind of 9-inch pie pan you like for this recipe, as long as it has sides that are at least 1.5 inches high.

Related Recipes

If you like this lemon icebox pie, you should definitely try my Brown Butter Black-bottom Sweet Potato Pie for another amazing soul food pie that is perfect for family celebrations. If you’re in the mood for more citrus flavor, try my Key Lime Pound Cake. And for another rich, summery treat check out my Blackberry Lemon Sweet Rolls. Either way, you can’t go wrong!

Lemon Icebox Pie

This original, old-fashioned southern recipe made with sweetened condensed milk, eggs, and a homemade graham cracker crust is so easy! Learn how to make the best lemon refrigerator pie for your summer celebrations!

Print Pin Recipe Rate Recipe

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Chilling Time: 6 hours

Total Time: 6 hours 40 minutes

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine :American, Soul Food

Servings: 8 slices

Calories: 574kcal

Recipe Source: Chenée Lewis

Equipment you may need

deep-dish tart pan

whisk

mixing bowls

rolling pin

food processor

measuring cups and spoons

plastic wrap

microplane grater/zester

Ingredients

1x2x3x

Graham Cracker Crust

• 1½ cup graham crackers – crushed (about 12 full graham cracker sheets)
• 6 tbsp salted butter – melted
• ¼ cup brown sugar – packed
• ¼ tsp ground cinnamon – optional

Lemon Pie Filling

• 2 14-oz. cans sweetened condensed milk
• 5 large egg yolks
• 2 tsp lemon zest
• juice of 6 medium lemons – about 1 cup of juice

Whipped Cream (Optional)

• 1 cup heavy cream – cold
• 3 tbsp powdered sugar
• ½ tsp pure vanilla extract

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• In a bowl, combine the crust ingredients and mix well until graham crackers are fully saturated with butter and mixture holds together when pressed.
• Pour graham cracker mixture into a 9-inch deep dish pie pan with removable bottom. Use the bottom of a cup or jar to press the crust down and along the sides. Set aside.
• Combine all remaining ingredients in a large bowl and whisk until smooth. Pour into prepare pie crust.
• Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes or until filling is just set.
• Chill in refrigerator, loosely covered in plastic wrap for 6 hours or overnight.
• To make whipped cream, combine heavy cream, vanilla, and powdered sugar in a bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Whip for 3 minutes or until soft peaks form. Serve immediate with chilled pie.

Notes

Graham cracker crumbs: To crush the graham crackers, I placed them in a gallon freezer bag and crushed them with a rolling pin. You can also use a food processor to crush them, or buy pre-crushed graham cracker crumbs.

Removable-bottom Pie Pan: I used this pie pan to make this pie recipe — I love it because it has a removable bottom so you can remove the entire pie all at once to make slicing easier!  But you can use any pie pan you like, as long as it’s at least 9-10 inches wide and 2 inches deep.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 574kcal | Carbohydrates: 71g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 235mg | Sodium: 301mg | Potassium: 456mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 63g | Calcium: 317mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition Disclaimer

Tags: best lemon icebox pie, best lemon icebox pie recipe, condensed milk pie lemon, eagle brand lemon icebox pie, easy icebox lemon pie, easy lemon icebox pie, homemade lemon icebox pie, how to make easy lemon icebox pie, icebox lemon pie, icebox lemon pie recipe, icebox lemonade pie recipe, icebox pie, icebox pie recipes, icebox pies for summer, juneteenth desserts, juneteenth recipe, lemon eagle brand pie, lemon ice box, lemon icebox pie, lemon icebox pie condensed milk, lemon icebox pie recipes, lemon icebox pie recipes condensed milk, lemon icebox pie sweetened condensed milk, lemon icebox pie with eggs, lemon pie eagle brand, lemon pies with eagle brand milk, lemon refrigerator pie, lemonade icebox pie, old fashioned lemon icebox pie, old fashioned lemon icebox pie recipe, old fashioned lemon pie, recipe for icebox lemon pie, recipe for lemon icebox pie eagle brand, refrigerator pie, southern lemon icebox pie

Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see (and share) your results! Follow me on Instagram at @chenee_today and tag #cheneetoday!

There are so many amazing recipes in the Juneteenth Cookout Takeover! Check out a few of them, and CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL LIST OF RECIPES. Happy Juneteenth!

Christy Irene | Crawfish Etoufee

Collards Are The Old Kale | Guaymas Shrimp

Confessions of a clean foodie | Mint Peach Spritzer

Cooking to a T Jamaican | Beef Patties

Cooks with Soul | BBQ in Jar

Dash of Jazz | Golden Pineapple Pound Cake

Dish It With Tisha | Honey Jerk Shrimp

DMR Fine Foods | Blackberry Ginger Soda

Dom N’ The City | Pound Cake

Domestic Dee | Easy Berry Fruit Salad

PIN this recipe for later!