This easy No Bake Lemon Pie is perfect for hot summer days! Loaded with tart lemon flavor, the creamy lemon filling goes perfectly with the graham cracker crust and fresh whipped cream topping. Delicious! Love no bake desserts as much as we do? Try these No Bake S’mores Cheesecake Bars and this No Bake Banana Cream Pudding Cheesecake – outrageously good!
Lemon Pie
Summer is just around the corner and if you live in California – surprise! It’s already arrived! Ugh! Spring is the shortest of all our seasons and it comes and goes soooo quickly here.
As you all know, I am a HUGE lover of all things lemon – especially lemon desserts. I think lemon flavored desserts are the way to go all year round, but especially during the spring and summer. It’s just so refreshing!
Today I’m sharing a no bake lemon pie that will leave you wanting more…More pie, that is.
Easy Lemon Pie Recipe
How easy is this pie, you ask? You guys. Super, super easy and you can make it semi-homemade if you want. I include instructions in the recipe card for a graham cracker crust and whipped cream topping but you can always buy a pre-made crust at the store (that’s what I did for the video!) and top the pie with frozen whipped topping.
With these shortcuts and you’re looking at like 5 to 7 minutes, tops. I mean, it just doesn’t get any better than that.
This pie is no bake so, really perfect for summer. I’m ALL about no bake desserts during the summer time! It gets hot here in Sacramento.
What Goes On a Lemon Pie?
As you can see in the picture above, I chose to garnish the pie with some lemon zest, a lemon twist, and fresh mint leaves. I served it along with some lemon slices and fresh raspberries.
Now, you can leave the pie plain, with none of these garnishes, of course! I just find it’s super simple and quick to add a bit of color and flair to this easy lemon pie recipe.
I figure since I spent so little time actually making the pie, I can afford a few extra minutes to make it look extra pretty and special.
Lemon Recipes
One of the things that I love about lemon is because it is naturally tart, it pairs beautifully with sweeter fruits like strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. I have so many lemon recipes on my site but some of my favorites are these:
- Easy Lemon Curd Recipe
- Lemon Blueberry Scones
- Lemon Strawberry Trifle
- Blueberry Lemon Cream Cheese Muffins
- Lemon Zucchini Cake
What You Need To Make A Lemon Pie
I think a graham cracker crust is the way to go with this pie, but you could also use a Nilla Wafer Pie Crust or go crazy and make an Easy Oreo Pie Crust 😉
- Graham Cracker Crust (can also buy pre-made crusts):
- graham cracker crumbs
- granulated sugar
- unsalted butter
- Lemon Filling:
- cream cheese
- whole milk
- instant lemon pudding mix
- lemon zest (lemon zesters are awesome for this!)
- Whipped Cream (can also use whipped topping):
- heavy cream
- powdered sugar
- vanilla extract
How To Make Lemon Pie
Start with a Graham Cracker Crust
- Lightly spray a 8″ – 9.5″ pie pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
- Mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and butter in a small bowl. Press the crumb mixture into the prepared pie pan. Use the bottom of a measuring cup to really press the crust down. Chill pie crust for at least 30 minutes before filling.
You can also use a store bought graham cracker crust if you’re looking to save some time!
Next Make the Lemon Pie Filling
- Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add pudding mix and beat well until creamy and combined.
- Add milk, beating in increments until creamy, thick and smooth. (Take short breaks between your mixing, 2 to 3 times, to allow the pudding to thicken.)
- Beat in lemon zest. Pour mixture into prepared pie shell.
- Chill for at least 3 hours. The pie will set up firmly during this time.
Finish With Whipped Cream
- In a large cold bowl, whip heavy whipping cream until soft peaks form. Add in sugar and vanilla extract and continue whipping until stiff peaks form.
- Spread whipped cream on top of chilled pie. Top with additional lemon zest.
- Garnish with lemons, mint, and raspberries before serving, if desired.
Pies You NEED To Try (trust me!)
These are some of my very favorite pie recipes on my site!
How To Make Lemon Pie
No Bake Lemon Pie
Ingredients
Graham Cracker Crust
- 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
Lemon Cheesecake Filling
- 8 oz cream cheese room temperature
- 3.5 oz instant lemon pudding mix
- 1 ½ cups whole milk
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
Whipped Cream Topping
- 1 cup heavy cream cold
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- lemon zest and slices, raspberries and mint to garnish pie
Instructions
Graham Cracker Crust
- Lightly spray a 8" – 9.5" pie pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
- Mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and butter in a small bowl. Press the crumb mixture into the prepared pie pan. Use the bottom of a measuring cup to really press the crust down. Chill pie crust for at least 30 minutes before filling.1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
Lemon Cheesecake Filling
- In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth.8 oz cream cheese
- Add pudding mix and beat well until creamy and combined.3.5 oz instant lemon pudding mix
- Add cold milk, beating in increments until creamy, thick and smooth. (Take short breaks between your mixing, 2 to 3 times, to allow the pudding to thicken.)1 ½ cups whole milk
- Beat in lemon zest. Pour mixture into prepared pie shell.1 tablespoon lemon zest
- Chill for at least 3 hours. The pie will set up firmly during this time.
Whipped Cream
- In a large cold bowl, whip heavy whipping cream until soft peaks form. Add in sugar and extract and continue whipping until stiff peaks form.1 cup heavy cream, 2 tablespoons powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Spread whipped cream on top of chilled pie.
- Top with additional lemon zest.1 tablespoon lemon zest
- Garnish with lemons, mint, and raspberries before serving, if desiredlemon zest and slices, raspberries and mint to garnish pie
Video
Notes
- I found that in order to ensure that the pudding set up properly, I beat it increments. I added the milk all at once, beat it, and let it sit for 1-2 minutes to let it thicken up, before I beat it again. I did this 2-3 times. This is an optional step, but it helps ensure the pudding sets properly.
- When beating your filling, it is better to over mix it than under mix it so that the pudding dissolves completely.
- If your cream cheese isn’t softened enough, you might end up with a lumpy filling, which still tastes delicious, but doesn’t look good.
- A store bought graham cracker crust can be used instead (as I did in the video) if you prefer.
- The graham cracker crust can be baked if you prefer. Preheat oven to 375F. Bake for 7 minutes.
- Instead of using freshly whipped cream, you can also use frozen whipped topping – just thaw first!
Nutrition
Originally published May 11, 2019.
Lee says
If I use the cool whip do I still put in 2 TB powdered sugar & 1 tsp. vanilla tract?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Nope! Just use the whipped topping in place of the whipped cream which uses the heavy whipping cream, vanilla extract and powdered sugar. Thanks!
Noel says
I’m using this recipe for a school project and I have given you full credit for it, I wasn’t able to make any or find the recipe that we normally use, and I really like this recipe 🙂
Agnes Buell says
I made a cream pie once using the cooking pudding box instead of instant and got runny results. You need to read the packages. I also learned that you cannot use skim milk in these pudding mixes-the fat in the milk is needed to bind with the pudding ingredients to set properly, otherwise you get runny pudding.