Old Fashioned Lemon Icebox Pie Recipe

My Grandmother’s lemon icebox pie recipe is simple yet tasty and I will share it with you here.  You’ll be surprised at how few ingredients you will need. For a little preview of what is to come, this lemon icebox pie uses fresh lemons, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla wafers for the crust. Because it is an old fashioned lemon pie, it does use raw egg yolks like the original lemon icebox pie recipe. However, I provide an easy substitution if you prefer and it is still no bake and delicious. This pie is a family favorite and I think it is the best lemon icebox pie recipe ever.

Every summer my four siblings and I would load up in our parents’ old station wagon and make the nine-hour drive from the foothills of East Tennessee to Hickory Flat, Mississippi. The trip was arduous by today’s standards. We would hang our sweating heads by the open windows, as the summer heat swirled around the car.  As we would make the last turn onto my grandparents’ hard-baked, red clay drive we would see my Grandmother Goolsby waiting for our arrival. 

She was a no-nonsense woman, with a crown of steely-grey curls.  “Ya’ll come on in and get something to eat,” she would say.  We would rush into her icy kitchen with sighs of relief.  Every counter would be covered with wonderful goodies she had prepared for our visit.  I headed straight for the tart, cool, deliciousness of Lemon Icebox Pie, every time. If you love the taste of fresh lemon, you will not be disappointed with this no-bake lemon icebox pie.

If you love lemon desserts and want more recipes, you may also want to try this delicious lemon cheesecake.

Easy Lemon Icebox Pie With Condensed Milk And Vanilla Wafers Crust

Lemon icebox pie is a classic Southern dessert known for its refreshing, tangy flavor and creamy texture. Lemon icebox pie is loved for its simplicity, refreshing taste, and the nostalgia it brings, making it a timeless favorite.

Important Recipe Note: This old-fashioned lemon pie contains raw eggs. It is recommended that pregnant women, elderly, young children, and people with medical or immune problems do not consume dishes containing raw eggs. In that case, simply substitute 8 ounces of cream cheese for the 3 egg yolks and you will have an easy lemon icebox pie recipe cream cheese style!

Prep time: 15 minutes
Serves: 8

Old Fashioned Lemon Pie Recipe Ingredients:

Nilla Wafer pie crust:

• One 11oz box of Nilla Wafers
• 2 Tbsp. of melted butter

Pie Filling:

• The juice of three lemons.  (Approximately 1 cup lemon juice.)
• Lemon zest from one lemon.  Approximately 2 tsp.
• 14oz can of sweetened condensed milk
• 3 egg yolks (use pasteurized eggs that have been heat-treated to kill bacteria without cooking the egg itself)

*reserve the egg whites if you wish to make a meringue

How To Make Lemon Icebox Pie Recipe:

Withhold 12-14 Nilla Wafers. Crush the remaining wafers into crumbs and place in a medium bowl. Add the melted butter to the crumbs, mix thoroughly. Tamp the crumb mixture into a 9-inch pie pan and cover the whole bottom with the crumb mixture and pressing it into a pie crust.  Set the pie plate in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.

Using an electric mixer, blend the lemon icebox pie filling ingredients in a large bowl until smooth.

Take the pie plate with the crust and add the whole Nilla Wafers around the edges of the crust.

Pour the lemon pie filling mixture into the crust.  Cover with plastic wrap and chill your lemon icebox pie until you are ready to serve. It needs about 6 hours to set properly. This no-bake lemon icebox pie recipe is the perfect dessert for a hot day.

Or instead of no bake you can speed the setting process along by cooking the pie at 325 degrees F for 15 minutes to set the ingredients. Especially perfect if you are doing the optional meringue to both set the pie and brown the meringue.

Meringue (optional): Place the reserved egg whites in a bowl.  Add 1/4 tsp. of Cream of Tartar, 6 Tbsp. sugar, and 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract. Beat with a blender on high speed until soft peaks form.  Place meringue on pie.  Cook at 325 F for 15 minutes. Allow to cool before serving.

Recipe Notes:

You may substitute 8 ounces of cream cheese for the 3 egg yolks, if you prefer. It will be less custardy and more creamy. Allow cream cheese to come to room temperature for easier mixing. You may want to use a springform pan instead of a pie pan to hold the larger volume.

You may use a graham cracker crust if you prefer (homemade with graham crackers and butter or store-bought).

I absolutely recommend fresh lemon juice instead of the bottle lemon juice from the store. Fresh lemon juice has so much more sweetness and less bitterness. Lemon lovers may even want to get fancy and use Myer’s Lemons but as long as it is fresh lemon, you will get that rich lemon you love.

The old fashioned lemon icebox pie is also amazing with fresh whipped cream (or Cool Whip) on top of the pie. But isn’t everything better with heavy whipping cream?

Lemon slices make a lovely garnish for the lemon ice box pie.

Printable Lemon Icebox Pie Recipe Card:

Conclusion

Lemon icebox pie is relatively simple to make. It requires just a few simple ingredients—lemon juice, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, and a graham cracker crust. The filling comes together quickly and doesn’t require baking, making it a convenient dessert. The combination of tart lemon juice and sweet condensed milk creates a balanced flavor that is both refreshing and satisfying. It’s particularly popular in warmer months when a cool, citrusy dessert is especially appealing.

As an icebox pie, it requires refrigeration rather than baking. This makes it a great option for hot summer days when you want to avoid using the oven. This is one of my favorite Nilla waffers recipes and we just love the refreshing lemon flavor. I hope your family enjoys this quick and delicious lemon icebox pie recipe no bake from my Grandmother’s kitchen! Old fashioned lemon icebox pie with vanilla wafers is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

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