Lemon Icebox Pie

This recipe for old fashioned lemon icebox pie with condensed milk is a keeper! We're making our Eagle Brand lemon icebox pie with eggs (without cream cheese) for that silky smooth custard filling! This is the original lemon icebox pie recipe my dad shared with me so many years ago, and it's perfect for lemon lovers!

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And for more of my favorite dessert recipes, try my Strawberry Banana Sorbet, my Brown Butter Peach Tart, and my Mango Popsicles! And grab my Sweet Summertime Cookbook for some of my best recipes to make this summer!

Jump to:

• Eagle Brand Lemon Icebox Pie with Condensed Milk
• Is this a No Bake Lemon Icebox Pie Recipe?
• Why is it Called an Icebox Pie?
• Recipe for Lemon Icebox Pie with Eagle Brand Condensed Milk
• 2020 Juneteenth Cookout
• Old Fashioned Lemon Icebox Pie Ingredients
• Equipment
• Instructions
• More Lemon Recipes You'll Love
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

Eagle Brand Lemon Icebox Pie with Condensed Milk

I still remember the first time I watched my father make his old fashioned 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.

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

When I finally tasted the lemon 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 southern lemon icebox pie recipe is in honor of him, and the Lewis family's love for desserts -- there are some slight variations from the original lemon icebox pie recipe passed down by his mother and grandmother, but I got his seal of approval!

Is this a No Bake Lemon Icebox Pie Recipe?

In a slight variation from the original icebox pie recipe my dad uses, we are popping the assembled pie in the oven to help the egg yolks set. For that reason, we can't technically call this a no bake lemon icebox pie recipe, not quite. But I'm sure you'll agree that that quick oven time goes by in a flash, and that this pie is still super easy to make!

Why is it Called an Icebox Pie?

In my dad's original lemon icebox pie recipe, the pie was not baked at all, and instead was placed in the fridge, or "icebox", to allow the acid in the lemon juice to set the eggs.

In this old fashioned lemon icebox pie recipe, we're still using the "icebox" to set our lemon ice box pie after baking. Similar to an icebox cake or icebox cookies, the fridge is an essential part of the production of this lemon pie.

If you're looking for a truly no bake pie recipe, try my Turtle Pie or my Cannoli Pie!

Recipe for Lemon Icebox Pie with Eagle Brand Condensed Milk

So what's the secret to a simple lemon icebox pie recipe? You need sweetened condensed milk! I like to use Eagle Brand condensed milk -- this post isn't sponsored -- but any sweetened condensed milk you like should work! You can even use coconut condensed milk to avoid dairy! The creamy filling is similar to that of key lime pie.

Condensed milk is basically milk that has been sweetened and cooked down so that it takes on a thicker texture that can bind other ingredients together, and a slightly caramelized flavor. I've never had a lemon icebox pie without condensed milk, but with it, it's the perfect dessert!

If you love the lemon flavor of this pie, try this delicious lemon cordial to go with it! And if you like cupcakes, you'll love my Strawberry Crunch Cupcakes! And speaking of strawberry, my French Strawberry Cake is an easy, elegant, strawberry dessert!

2020 Juneteenth Cookout

I'm so excited to be sharing the best lemon icebox pie recipe in celebration of Juneteenth! One of my favorite parts about Black American culture is our food -- how it brings us together and how it sets us apart. How recipes are passed down like oral histories, and how our flavors, spices, and techniques 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.

Old Fashioned Lemon Icebox Pie 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, we'll use fresh lemon juice and zest of fresh lemons. The bright lemon flavor complements the sweetness of the condensed milk perfectly.
• egg yolks - to help the pie set and give it that rich texture. Separate your eggs while they're cold, and then let your yolks get to room temperature before mixing them in.
• sweetened condensed milk - makes the pie sweet and gives it that creamy texture! My family uses Eagle Brand milk.
• graham cracker crumbs - for that buttery classic graham cracker crust. You can purchase premade graham cracker crumbs or crush your own graham crackers. Or you can just use a store-bought pie crust!
• salted butter - melted 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. And if you love cinnamon, try my Cinnamon Roll Apple Pies!

This is the same creamy lemon filling I use for my Lemon Bars with Graham Cracker Crust! Both lemon desserts are so refreshing on a hot summer day!

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 lemon icebox pie!

Equipment

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.

Instructions

The recipe card below will give you detailed step-by-step instructions for making this pie, as well as full ingredient measurements and a recipe video! But here's a quick look at how to make the perfect pie!

More Lemon Recipes You'll Love

• Lemon Dump Cake
• Almond Lemon Cookies
• Lemon Poppyseed Scones
• Buttermilk Blueberry Muffins with Lemon Zest
• Lemon Sour Cream Pound Cake + Juneteenth Cookout 2021

📖 Recipe

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!

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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 old fashioned lemon icebox recipe for later!

Last Updated on March 18, 2025 by Chenée Lewis