Daring Bakers in January: Lemon Meringue Pie
January 28, 2008 at 2:52 pm | Posted in daring bakers, groups, pies & tarts, sweet things | 79 Comments
This sounds bizarre, even to me, but I don’t think I’ve ever had lemon meringue pie (a.k.a. LMP) before. I can’t imagine how this is possible, but I also can’t recall ever having a piece. This month’s Daring Bakers challenge, chosen and hosted by Jen The Canadian Baker, was my chance to fill this gross void in my culinary experience.
Apparently LMP doesn’t keep well. The meringue can breakdown and weep (how sad!), and the crust can sog out if it’s not eaten within a few hours of being made. I decided that for just three of us, dividing the recipe in half might make more sense. I have some rarely-used mini pie tins that I put to work to get three baby pies.
The pastry dough came together easily in the food processor, but was a little more wet than the sweet dough I usually make. It rolled out fine though…I chilled it for several hours in the tins before baking, and it held its shape nicely in the oven. I was even able to pop them out of the tins successfully! The filling was super easy to make…much less work than a regular lemon curd, thanks to cornstarch. And I was really happy with the cloud-like fluffy whiteness of the meringue. In the oven, the peaks took on a gorgeous pale brown.
I must say, I thought my little guys came out really cute, what with their mounds of fluff heaped on top! But what did I think of my first taste of LMP? I liked it, but I could really take it or leave it. The lemon filling has a bit too much of that cornstarchy giggle. I think I prefer a traditional French lemon curd tart.
Want a few hundred more opinions of LMP? Then head on over to the Daring Bakers Blogroll. And if you want the recipe, it’s here on Jen’s site.
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Lovin your mini pies. It looks great.
Comment by Courtney— January 28, 2008 #
Beautiful meringues! Great job with this month’s challenge!
Comment by Shawnda— January 28, 2008 #
Gorgeous as always Steph! Loved the fluff and I ha dway too many of the minis…I think my dentist is going to love me!!
Comment by Tartelette— January 28, 2008 #
Hi Steph. I’m with you all the way. Looks spectacular – yours are gorgeous. Such a lovely sunny yellow. Fun to make. Who doesn’t love clouds of meringue. But not over the moon on taste.
On to the next challenge!!! 🙂
Comment by KJ— January 28, 2008 #
You’re right… your little guys are adorable. Mine? They’re going to be a few days late. January’s just gotten away from me.
Where do I find mini pie tins?
Comment by Dolores— January 28, 2008 #
Wow, your meringue looks thick and yummy ! Congrats for your first LMP !
Comment by Foodie Froggy— January 28, 2008 #
Lovely little pies. My hubby will absolutely adore them. My first visit to your blog and will come back.
Thanks
Nina
Comment by Nina— January 28, 2008 #
It’s beautiful! I love the way you made your swirls. I wish I could take a bite out of your picture.
Comment by sher— January 28, 2008 #
Steph! really lovely looking mini-pies! The photos are great and I”m glad you liked the pie – but it really was fun making them!
Comment by Dharm— January 28, 2008 #
Beautiful LMP – and I love the background colour!!
Comment by Pille— January 28, 2008 #
It looks delicious. Really good job here 🙂
Comment by Maryann— January 28, 2008 #
oh! this one looks wonderful! so cute! love it!
Comment by myriam— January 28, 2008 #
Your mini pies look wonderful!
Comment by Katia— January 29, 2008 #
Wow! Your filling turned out such a pretty shade of yellow. I used raw sugar and got a more brown color. It’s nice to see what it COULD have looked like- hah! I really love the pics too- great background.
Comment by Tempered Woman— January 29, 2008 #
Your pie looks amazing, love the meringue!! Great job.
Comment by Amber— January 29, 2008 #
Absolutely gorgeous!
Comment by Angela— January 29, 2008 #
Beautiful photos! Your LMP looks luscious!
Comment by Paula— January 29, 2008 #
Simply WOW! this really looks good Steph. Well done1
Comment by Meeta— January 29, 2008 #
wow i love your pies, it looks yummy.
Comment by farncharm— January 29, 2008 #
Oh yours look so incredible gorgeous! i like it!
Comment by Big Boys Oven— January 29, 2008 #
I´m with you on terms of the taste. I do prefer a more traditional lemon curd, or pierre herme´s lemon cream to this curd, and a french or italian meringue to this one.
Comment by pipinthecity— January 29, 2008 #
i’m with you. i could take it or leave it, but it was fun to try to make it!
———–
kate
http://www.thecleanplateclub.net
Comment by kate— January 29, 2008 #
You certainly had no problems with your filling like a lot of the other girls. Your LMPs look great!
Comment by nikki57— January 29, 2008 #
So much meringue! Looks lovely!
Comment by Jerry— January 29, 2008 #
So cute!
You might want to try it again using lime instead of lemon – it is so different and amazing!
Comment by Jenny— January 29, 2008 #
What cute little mini pies! Great job!
Comment by culinography— January 29, 2008 #
Your pies look adorable! I wish that my meringue poofed up as much as yours. With all of the humidity here, I always have trouble with that.
Comment by stickygooeycreamychewy— January 29, 2008 #
Now THAT is a lemon meringue pie! Love the height and the color!
Comment by Lesley— January 29, 2008 #
Awesome looking!!!!
Comment by Suzanne— January 29, 2008 #
Great job. Looks great!
Iisha
Comment by Iisha— January 29, 2008 #
Your little pie is so cute! And I don’t think I’d ever eaten a piece of LMP until this challenge either.
Comment by Katie— January 29, 2008 #
These are so adorable! I love the beautiful layers and particularly the pinkish colour to the meringue ^__^. Mmm!
Comment by Indigo— January 29, 2008 #
Your pies are adorable!! And I’m glad that you were able to try your first LMP!
Comment by Deborah— January 29, 2008 #
You’re pictures are so vibrant! Yummm! I would like one of your pies right now…(as I toss mine to the side)
Comment by Chris— January 29, 2008 #
Wow! That picture of the LMP cut into is PERFECT – the perfect picture AND the pie looks gorgeous. It looks like your filling set with no problems! Yum.
Comment by Melanie— January 29, 2008 #
Lookin’ good Steph! You always do us proud. Hope all is well x
Comment by Sathya— January 29, 2008 #
Your pies are so cute!!
I’d never made a lemon meringue pie before either.
Comment by Mary— January 29, 2008 #
Those are definitely cute, I can’t believe you’ve never had LMP before!
Comment by brilynn— January 29, 2008 #
Steph, your pictures are absolutely stunning! I love the look of your meringue.
Comment by Christina— January 29, 2008 #
Beautiful as always, in baking and photos.
Comment by Carla— January 29, 2008 #
Your mini pies turned out great!
Comment by Andrea— January 29, 2008 #
WOW!! It looks FANTASTIC! 🙂
Comment by Beth G— January 29, 2008 #
What a great looking pie!!
Comment by Stephanie— January 29, 2008 #
Your LMP looks fabulous! I love the burnt lines on your meringue, mine didn’t turn out like this, it was just a a consistent brown all over. Good job!
Comment by Cherry— January 29, 2008 #
Love your pictures! Your pies are gorgeous!
Comment by Jenny— January 29, 2008 #
Great photos! Wow your lemon curd is so yellow! Looks fantastic! Well done!
Comment by Jess— January 29, 2008 #
Awww.. those little pies are just too cute and amazing in colour! Congratulations, by the way I love your minty chocolate cupcakes below.
Comment by Miss Ifi— January 29, 2008 #
those mini pies just look perfect.
Comment by desie the maybahay— January 29, 2008 #
Look at that meringue!!!!You rose to the challenge and conquered!!
Comment by Bellini Valli— January 29, 2008 #
I love those mini pies! The thick layer of meringue has me drooling all over the place… Nice job!
Comment by Jasmine— January 29, 2008 #
Thats one great looking pie! You meringue looks absolutely poofy!
Comment by Candace— January 30, 2008 #
Very cute! I need to try making a lemon curd tart, mmm.
Comment by Ashley— January 30, 2008 #
I felt similarly! I think I just don’t love meringue. My curd turned out fine, though, couldn’t taste the cornstarch.
Comment by Tanya— January 30, 2008 #
Awesome looking pie – amazing, that you got the filling to set up so wonderfully! Great job!
Comment by DaviMack— January 30, 2008 #
Just perfect!
Comment by linda— January 30, 2008 #
I love that first photo of your mini pie. The meringue looks like petals – beautiful. I found the filling too corn-starchy as well, so I think I’ll be sticking to my original recipe in future.
Comment by Joy— January 30, 2008 #
Wow! Your pie look perfect…absolutely beautiful
Comment by sunita— January 30, 2008 #
That looks awesome! As I look through all the pies, I think going smaller was better. I absolutely love your meringue.
Comment by Michelle— January 30, 2008 #
You are right. Your “little guys” are so very cute. Our crust didn’t get soggy at all — even when we sampled (snarfed) them the next day. Amazing! And how in heck did you cut that meringue so perfectly?
Comment by kellypea— January 30, 2008 #
What a gorgeous pie!!!
Comment by Ivonne— January 30, 2008 #
I love the idea of small pies and yours are gorgeous. I usually make mine with a no sieve needed recipe and try to keep away from adding ‘useless’ carbs to recipes. And I like my lemons tarts tart too. Nice to see how others do it.
Comment by Louise (Gato Azul)— January 30, 2008 #
How did yours turn out so GREAT! My filling ran everywhere! Looks great!
Comment by chez denise et laudalino— January 30, 2008 #
NIce pies 🙂
Comment by Lisa— January 30, 2008 #
They turned out great! Take it or leave it is a great way to describe how I feel about lmp.
Comment by peabody— January 30, 2008 #
You did a lovely job on your lemon meringue pie. Great job!
Natalie @ Gluten A Go Go
Comment by Sheltie Girl— January 31, 2008 #
Wonderfully sunny looking! Great job on this month’s challenge.
Comment by breadchick— January 31, 2008 #
b/w you and Tartelette, I’m doomed… trying to lose just a few pounds. This does not help!
I just whipped some maringue to eat out of the bowl and I love it every time. Your browning tips are beautiful!
Comment by FlaNBoyant Eats— January 31, 2008 #
I like the depth of your layers.
Comment by Cynthia— January 31, 2008 #
This looks absolutely wonderful. Your meringue is great…not too airy but still fluffy and light. Great job!
Comment by Claire— January 31, 2008 #
Wow, your pies look soooooo good. Excellent job!
Comment by Tracy— February 1, 2008 #
your tarts are gorgeous and perfect! it’s the exact way i envision lemon meringue tarts! 🙂
Comment by Jen— February 1, 2008 #
your little deep dish mini pies are adorable. glad you filled a culinary void with this month’s challenge. great photos too !
Comment by kitten— February 1, 2008 #
Beautifully set. Really well don on your challenge
Comment by simply— February 1, 2008 #
Look at the huge thick meringue, just absolutely lovely.
Comment by Cheryl— February 2, 2008 #
what amazing photos! I’ve just joined the Daring Bakers and am looking forward to my first challenge! Your pies are beautiful!!
Comment by jennifer— February 2, 2008 #
Nice looking pies! They look delicious!
Comment by cakebrain— February 2, 2008 #
hey! I really like your blog! So I posted your link on my one: http://www.anninasfood.blogspot.com hope this is ok! I’m also on daring bakers! 🙂 CU bye, Annina (Ann)
Comment by Annina— February 3, 2008 #
Despite your final lack of enthusiasm for regular remakes – your little guys look joyously enthusiastic to have been made. Well done
Comment by african vanielje— February 3, 2008 #
Wow, they look excellent!
Comment by Sara— February 4, 2008 #