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Home » Pies, Crisps, and Tarts

Lemon Meringue Tart

Published: Mar 8, 2019 Last updated on June 22, 2023 Author: Sabine / This post may contain affiliate links

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This Lemon Meringue Tart is tangy and sweet. Imagine a buttery crust filled with creamy lemon curd and topped with sweet meringue. Yum! Detailed step-by-step instructions and video provided to help you master this recipe. By the way, have you tried my lemon bars yet?

Lemon Meringue Tart on serving plate with a third missing
Jump to:
  • Photo instructions
  • Expert tips for success
  • What to do if the lemon curd doesn't set?
  • Make-ahead tip
  • Storage
  • Freezing instructions
  • How to make mini tartlets
  • More recipes to try
  • Recipe

Photo instructions

Tart crust

Combine flour, powdered sugar, salt, and butter in a food processor and pulse a few times until coarse meal forms like in the picture below. Use cold butter straight out of the fridge and cut it into a few cubes for the best results.

Flour, sugar, salt, and butter processing in food processor

Then add egg yolk and pulse 2 times until combined.

Flour, sugar, salt, butter, and egg procession in a food processor

Add 1 tablespoon water at the time and pulse 1-2 times after every tablespoon. Stop pulsing when it starts to clump and looks like in the picture below.

Crust dough processing in a food processor

When you press the crumbs between your fingers, it should hold together.

Holding a piece of crust dough showing the consistency

Transfer crust to a plastic foil and form into a 1 - 1.5 inches thick disc without kneading. Wrap tightly and refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to 4 days.

Tart crust dough shaped into a disc and wrapped in plastic

On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough disc into a 12-inch circle. Rotate and flip the crust regularly that it stays round.

Flip:

Flipping the crust while rolling out

Rotate:

Rotating crust while rolling out

Roll:

Rolling out the crust

That you know that the crust is big enough to cover the bottom and the sides of the baking pan, place the removable bottom of the baking pan in the center of the crust.

Rolled out tart crust with the bottom of a baking pan on top

Transfer to a 9-inch pie dish and press the crust into the bottom and sides of the baking pan.

Pressing the crust into a baking pan

Trim off any excess crust with a sharp knife.

Trimming the excess edges of the crust

Prick a few times with a fork and freeze for 30 minutes.

Peaking the bottom of the tart crust

Line chilled crust with parchment paper and push it lightly against the bottom and the sides of the crust. Make sure that the parchment paper covers the sides of your crust completely to prevent it from heavy browning.

Then heavy it down with baking beans (or beans or rice). Bake for 35 minutes. Then remove from the oven and let cool for about 20 minutes.

Tart crust lined with parchment paper and filled with baking beans

Remove the paper and the baking beans and let cool completely.

blind baked tart crust

Lemon curd

In a medium bowl whisk egg yolks and cornstarch to combine. Set aside.

egg yolks and cornstarch whisked together in small bowl

In a heavy-bottomed saucepan bring water, lemon juice, sugar, salt, and lemon zest over medium-high heat to a simmer. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the sugar is completely dissolved, stirring constantly. Then lower the temperature to medium-low.

bringing water, lemon juice, zest, and sugar to a boi

Stir about ½ cup of the hot liquid into the egg yolks to slowly warm them.

tempering the egg yolks with hot liquid

Then pour warmed egg mixture slowly into the saucepan, whisking constantly.

cooking the lemon filling

Cook until filling is thick like pudding, for about 5-6 minutes. Whisk continuously. It needs to be cooked until it is thick like custard or the filling won't set in the crust.

cooked lemon filling

Remove from heat and stir in butter little by little until smooth and fully combined for about 1-2 minutes. Pour through a mesh strainer.

pouring the lemon filling through the mesh strainer

Meringue

Fill a saucepan 2 inches high with water and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Place egg whites, sugar, and cream of tartar in a heatproof bowl (preferably glass) and set over the saucepan. The bowl should not touch the water.

whisking egg whites, sugar, and cream of tartar in a bowl over a pot of boiling water

Whisk continuously for 3-5 minutes until sugar is completely dissolved. Make sure the meringue doesn’t get too hot, or the egg whites will cook through, and the meringue won’t be stiff but lumpy. Remove from the saucepan in-between to cool down a bit, if necessary. But if you use a glass bowl and it doesn't touch the water, this won't be necessary.

whisking egg whites, sugar, and cream of tartar for 2 minutes in a bowl over a pot of boiling water

The meringue should be warm to the touch.

warm meringue in mixing bowl

Remove from heat and beat with an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment on high speed until shiny, glossy, and stiff peaks form, for about 5-7 minutes.

mixing meringue with electric mixer
mixed meringue in mixing bowl

As shown in the photo below, the meringue is stiff enough to hold a stiff peak.

meringue in mixing bowl

Transfer to a piping bag and pipe or spoon on top of the chilled Lemon Tart. The meringue may starts to weep a little bit after 2 days (not necessarily).

Expert tips for success

  • I recommend baking the tart crust in a baking pan with a removable bottom, as this makes it easier to remove the tart from the pan and slice it. However, you can also bake it in a pie dish without a removable base if you prefer.
  • Make sure the baking beans press against the sides of the crust so they don't sink to the bottom as you blind bake the crust.
  • If necessary, adjust the heat so that the lemon curd does not burn. It is important to whisk it constantly during cooking.
  • Make sure the egg whites are warm to the touch before removing them from the heat so you don't have to worry about salmonella.

What to do if the lemon curd doesn't set?

If you see that the filling is too liquid, then you accidentally undercooked the filling. The filling will most likely not set in this case. Here's what you can do.

Remove ¼ cup of the curd and add 2 teaspoon of powdered gelatine. Whisk until no lumps remain. Then pour back to the rest of the filling and whisk until smooth and combined. The gelatine makes sure that the filling sets once it is chilled. Then transfer the lemon curd to the baked crust and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight.

Lemon Meringue Tart held by a woman

Make-ahead tip

You can prepare the pie crust dough in advance for up to 2 days. You also can bake the crust in advance. After blind baking, let it cool to room temperature then transfer it to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. After decorating with the meringue, it stays fresh up to 3 days.

Freezing instructions

Please make sure to freeze the tart without the meringue. The meringue can't be frozen because the texture changes drastically during the freezing and thawing process. But not in a good way.

  • Freeze the whole tart: After chilling, wrap the tart with the bottom of the baking pan in plastic foil twice. Then wrap in aluminum foil twice. Take care that it is completely sealed and no air is enclosed or can come in. Freeze up to 1 month. To thaw, unwrap and place the tart in an airtight container in the fridge overnight. Decorate with meringue before serving and eat within 2 days.
  • Freeze single slices: After chilling cut into slices (without meringue topping) and wrap each slice tightly in plastic wrap twice. Place in freezer bags or containers and freeze for up to 1 month. To thaw, unwrap and place in an airtight container in the fridge overnight or on the kitchen counter for 1 hour. Decorate before serving and eat within 2 days.
Cut slice of Lemon Meringue Tart on dessert plate

How to make mini tartlets

Make the recipe as described. The only thing that changes is that you have to transfer the crust to a muffin pan instead of a pie dish. This recipe makes 12 Lemon Meringue Tartlets.

Therefore cut the rolled pie crust (should be about 0.25 inches or 0,5 cm thick) with a 3-4 inches wide drink glass or cutter. Then slightly flatten the center of the crust pieces with your fingers that it's easier to fit them into the muffin pan.

Flattening the crust between the fingers

Then press the crust into the bottom and the sides of the muffin pan and peak with a fork. Freeze for 30 minutes.

Tart crust in muffin pan

Then line the crust with parchment paper and heavy it down with baking beans.

crust for tartlets filled with baking beans

Bake for 20-25 minutes until the crust is golden brown.

blind baked tartlet crus

Remove from the oven and let cool for 20 minutes. Then remove the paper and the baking beans and let cool completely.

Prepare the filling as described and chill for at least 4 hours. Then make the meringue and pipe or spoon on top of the chilled tartlets. They stay fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Lemon Meringue Tartlets on dessert plate

More recipes to try

  • Lemon Blueberry Cake
  • Orange Chocolate Cupcakes
  • Orange Cranberry Cake
  • Lemon Cheesecake
  • Air Fryer Peach Cobbler
  • Peach Galette

Recipe

Lemon Meringue Tart on serving plate with a third missing

Lemon Meringue Tart

5 from 6 votes
Author Sabine
Calories: 285kcal
Servings: 16 servings
Prep 1 hour hour
Cook 40 minutes minutes
Chill 10 hours hours
Total 11 hours hours 40 minutes minutes
Print Pin Rate
This Lemon Meringue Tart is tangy and sweet. Buttery crust filled with creamy lemon curd and topped with sweet meringue. Detailed step-by-step instructions and video provided to help you master this recipe.

Ingredients
 
 

crust

  • 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
  • ¼ cup unpacked powdered sugar, sifted
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • â…” cup cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 2 tablespoon cold water

lemon custard

  • 6 large egg yolks
  • â…“ cup cornstarch
  • 1 ½ cups granulated white sugar
  • 1 ½ cups water
  • â…” cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoon cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes

meringue

  • 3 large egg whites
  • ¾ cup granulated white sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar

Instructions

Make the Crust

  • Make the crust in a food processor: Place flour, sugar, salt, and butter in a food processor and pulse 4-5 times until coarse meal forms. Add egg yolk and pulse 2 times. Add one tablespoon water at the time and pulse 1-2 times after every tablespoon. Stop pulsing when the dough starts to clump. Watch the step-by-step photos and the video to see the required consistency.
  • If you don't have a food processor, then make the crust with a pastry cutter or two forks instead: In this case mix together flour, sugar, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Then add butter and cut it into the mixture until it resembles coarse meal with pea-sized butter flakes. Then add egg yolk, and water little by little until the texture starts to clump.
  • Form crust into a 1 - 1.5-inch thick disc without kneading. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to 4 days. 
  • On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough disc into a 12-inch circle. Transfer to a 9-inch pie dish. Press into the bottom and the sides of the pan and trim off any excess crust. Peak a few times. Freeze for 30 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). 
  • Line chilled crust with parchment paper and push it lightly against the bottom and the sides of your crust. Make sure that the parchment paper covers the edges of your crust completely to prevent it from heavy browning. Then heavy it down with baking beans (or beans or rice). Also, make sure that your baking beans push against the sides as well to prevent them from sinking down to the bottom. Transfer to the preheated oven and place a piece of parchment paper underneath the baking pan. Bake for 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool for about 20 minutes. Then remove the paper and the baking beans and let cool completely.

Make lemon custard

  • In a medium bowl whisk egg yolks and cornstarch to combine. Set aside. 
  • In a heavy-bottomed saucepan bring water, lemon juice, sugar, salt, and zest over medium-high heat to a simmer. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the sugar is completely dissolved, stirring constantly. 
  • Turn heat down to medium-low. Stir about ½ cup of the hot liquid into the egg yolks to slowly warm it. Then pour warmed egg mixture slowly into the saucepan, whisking constantly. 
  • Cook until filling is thick and looks like pudding, for about 5-6 minutes. It needs to be thick that it plops from a spoon or the filling won't set in the crust. Turn temperature down or remove the pan from the heat for a few seconds that it doesn't burn, if necessary. Whisk continuously. 
  • Remove from heat and stir in butter little by little until smooth and fully combined for about 1-2 minutes. Pour through a mesh strainer and transfer to the crust. Refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.

Make the meringue

  • Fill a saucepan 2 inches high with water and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Place egg whites, sugar, and cream of tartar in a heatproof bowl (preferably glass) and set over the saucepan. The bowl should not touch the water.
  • Whisk continuously for 3-5 minutes until sugar is completely dissolved. The meringue should be warm to touch. 
  • Remove from heat and beat with an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment on high speed until shiny, glossy, and stiff peaks form, for about 5-7 minutes.
  • Transfer to a piping bag and pipe or spoon meringue on top of chilled Lemon Tart. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 1 month.

Video

You can find the video in the post above. If you don't see a video, please check your browser settings.

Nutrition

Calories: 285kcalCarbohydrates: 44gProtein: 3gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 104mgSodium: 90mgPotassium: 55mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 30gVitamin A: 388IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 1mg
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword How to make Lemon Meringue Tart, lemon curd tart with meringue, Lemon Meringue Tart Recipe
Did you make this recipe?Leave a feedback and rate this recipe!
« Chocolate Cheesecake Recipe
Chocolate Banana Muffins (moist and soft) »

About Sabine

Sabine is a professional baker, cookbook author, and award-winning food photographer.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Vanessa

    June 28, 2020 at 12:13 am

    Hi Sabine,
    I've never made a tart before and i only have cake tins at home. Is it okay if i use a cake tin instead of a tart tin? Would it still have the same result?

    Reply
    • Sabine

      July 07, 2020 at 5:29 am

      Hi Vanessa, that is no problem as long it is a pan with a removable bottom or springform pan. Otherwise, you won't get the tart out of the pan anymore. Also, please make sure that the baking beans also push against the sides of the crust, otherwise I see the problem that they shrink down completely because of the straight sides of cake pans. I hope that helps!

      Reply
  2. Tanya

    April 14, 2019 at 11:37 pm

    Hi, I’ve never made a tart before, but I would love to try this recipe. Since I love lemon but don’t care for meringue, I was wondering if I can make the tart without the meringue. Would the baking time still be the same, and would not having the meringue on top burn the lemon tart in any way?

    Reply
    • Sabine

      April 16, 2019 at 2:10 pm

      Hi Tanya, sure just skip the meringue. The meringue is not baked as it stands in the recipe. So the recipe for the tart is still the same. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  3. Sahar

    March 11, 2019 at 7:06 am

    5 stars
    Hi Sabine,
    I regularly follow your blog and I love your recipes, love your pictures and love all the information you give with the recipe. Thank you so much for sharing your amazing recipes and bringing great flavours to my kitchen.
    Loved the pistachio cake and and the orange curd bars!!

    Reply
    • Sabine

      March 11, 2019 at 3:45 pm

      Hi Sahar, Thank you so so much! I'm beyond happy that you like my recipes as much as I do. Yes, those two are awesome. Have a wonderful day!

      Reply

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