Vegan Lemon Meringue Pie Recipe (2024)

A tart lemon curd, topped with a fluffy aquafaba meringue nestled in a crispy gluten-free crust, makes this vegan lemon meringue pie recipe a bright, citrus treat!

I’ve shared a few lemon desserts like my vegan lemon cupcakes, creamy lemon tart, and lemon loaf and today I get to share with you something truly special! A vegan lemon meringue pie!

Creating an eggless fluffy meringue took some time to work out but it is so delicious. And using whipped aquafaba for the meringue topping really makes the lemon filling made with tons of tart flavor from the freshly squeezed lemon juice, lemon zest, and sugar even more amazing.

This recipe doesn’t use egg whites in the meringue, or egg yolk in the lemon curd. It’s completely dairy-free, egg-free, and even uses a gluten-free crust!

large bowl, small bowl, coconut oil

💗 Why You’ll Love this Recipe

• Gluten-Free
• Vegan and Dairy-Free
• Oil-Free
• Tart and tangy
• Bright citrus flavor
• A true classic recipe!
• Creamy custard filling
• Crispy crust
• Fluffy white meringue topping

🥣 Ingredients and Notes

Gluten-Free Vegan Pie Crust: You can of course use a store-bought vegan pie crust if you prefer or you can make your own. The flour for this easy vegan pie crust is made with a mixture of almond flour, tapioca flour, and oat flour. It’s super easy to make and much healthier than store-bought. It has no added oils or vegan butter. You’ll need to give it a blind bake before filling it with the lemon curd.

Lemon Custard: Most regular lemon custards for pie are made with eggs. This one is made with a combination of dairy-free milk (I suggest coconut milk or almond milk), corn starch (cornflour), sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest.

It’s important to allow it to chill and firm up to avoid a runny custard. I highly recommend using fresh lemon juice! You’ll need about 4-5 lemons!

I also add turmeric to give the pie a natural yellow color instead of using yellow food coloring.

Meringue Topping: Aquafaba is the key ingredient in making this meringue recipe. There are other methods, but I think using aquafaba is by far the easiest, but it does take some patience. In addition to aquafaba, you’ll need cream of tartar which helps to stabilize it, as well as very fine caster sugar, and vanilla.

📋 Instructions for Vegan Lemon Meringue Pie

Prepare the Pie Crust:

Step 1: Prepare the gluten-free vegan pie crust. Bake for 20 minutes, and allow to cool. It’s not necessary to use pie weights for this crust, but feel free to use them if you prefer.

Prepare the Lemon Custard:

Step 1: In a medium saucepan, over low heat, add dairy-free milk, sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, corn starch, and turmeric to a pan. Increase to medium heat.

Step 2: Whisk constantly until sugar dissolves and custard begins to bubble and thicken. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

Step 3: Pour the lemon custard into the cooled pie crust. Refrigerate and chill for a minimum of 2 hours, but up to 6 hours or even overnight is even better in order for it to fully firm up.

Make the Meringue:

Step 1: Once the lemon custard has chilled, prepare the meringue. Use the liquid from one can of 15 oz chickpeas. You’ll get about ½ a cup of aquafaba. Pour into the bowl of a stand mixer. Add the cream of tartar. Beat on high speed using the whisk attachment for about 5 minutes. It will begin to become frothy, and then will thicken even more.

Step 2: While still beating, add the caster sugar one tablespoon at a time. Continue to beat, until stiff peaks form. Add the vanilla extract and bean a bit more until combined. It should quadruple in size. When the meringue has soft peaks it’s complete!

Putting together the Pie:

Step 1: Carefully spoon the meringue onto the pie in gentile heaps on top of the custard. Seal the meringue on the edges of the pie crust. Create swirls, or peaks using a spatula. The more edges, and peaks you form, the more beautiful the pie will look as those edges will crisp and brown.

Step 2: Place the pie tin under the broiler for 1-2 minutes until golden brown. Keep an eye on it so that it doesn’t burn! Or use a kitchen torch to lightly brown the top of the meringue.

❓FAQS

👩‍🍳 Serving Suggestions

Enjoy this delicious Vegan Lemon Meringue Pie with a Mojito Mocktail or a Grapefruit Mimosa. Serve alongside a small bowl of coconut flakes and sprinkle on top at your Easter brunch! Bring this pie to a picnic in the summer and serve it with a large bowl of my cucumber tomato salad.

❄️ Storage

Store: Place the pie in the refrigerator. Don’t leave it out for an extended period of time as the meringue will begin to sink, and become less light and fluffy. Leaving at room temperature will be fine for a short time. Lightly cover it with plastic wrap.

Keep: It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Freeze: You can freeze this pie covered or keep it in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months.

💭 Expert Tips for Making Vegan Lemon Custard

• Make sure to whisk the custard continuously so that no lumps form. Another tactic is to add the dry ingredients first, and then the wet ingredients.
• Don’t heat too fast! Keep the burner at medium to medium-low. Allow the custard to gently come together.
• Be patient, and continue to whisk until the custard begins to bubble and thicken. Allow it to bubble, while whisking for about a minute. Then remove from the heat.
• Transfer the custard to the pie crust and chill.
• Allow a good amount of time for the custard to chill. I recommend a minimum of 2 hours, but even overnight is a good plan!
• You can use coconut sugar in place of organic cane sugar.
• Reduce the amount of sugar you add to the custard and increase the amount of corn starch. Use ¾ cup of sugar, and ⅓ cup corn starch.
• This pie has a real punch of lemon flavor. If you would like a more subtle lemon flavor use 1-2 Tablespoons of lemon zest instead of three.

💭 Expert Tips for Making Meringue with Aquafaba

• Be patient! Giving the aquafaba enough time to whip is key!
• Wait for the aqaufaba to double, triple, and quadruple in size before adding the sugar.
• Use the cream of tartar to help stabilize the meringue. It can be added and whipped with the aquafaba at the beginning.
• Add the sugar very slowly.
• Use an extra-fine sugar like caster sugar. If you don’t have caster sugar, take regular sugar, and place it in the food processor. Process for one minute, and sugar will become extra fine.
• If it’s not doubling, keep whipping. Sometimes it takes up to 15 minutes to achieve the right texture.
• If you have it, add ½ a teaspoon of xanthan gum to help maintain stiff peaks.
• For more tips and different recipe, variations check out this vegan meringue post!

😋 More Spring and Summer Recipes!

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