Lemon Meringue Cheesecake | The Best Lemon Cake Recipe (2024)

Shelly 71 Comments

★★★★★5 from 16 reviews

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This Lemon Meringue Cheesecake is the dreamiest thing I’ve made in a long time. It’s one of those recipes that make you do a little dance after eating the first bite! It’s the perfect mixture of tart, sweet and creamy – I can’t get enough!

Lemon Meringue Cheesecake | The Best Lemon Cake Recipe (1)

Table of Contents

  • Lemon Meringue Cheesecake Recipe
  • How to Make a Lemon Meringue Cheesecake
  • Get the Recipe

    Lemon Meringue Cheesecake Recipe

    On my quest to lose weight, I find myself craving the most indulgent desserts.

    Isn’t that the way?

    And believe me, I don’t deny myself a bite or 15.

    Maybe that’s why the scale isn’t working for me? It’s a vicious cycle I’ve created and perpetuated.

    But I will say that while cutting back a bit has helped my waistline, it it has also sparked a creativity that I had been lacking recently.

    In other words, the less I eat dessert, the more I think about it.

    Which has pushed me into creating some over the top stuff lately.

    Good for you, not for me.

    I mean, take a look at this Lemon Meringue Cheesecake. It’s heaven times infinity.

    Lemon Meringue Cheesecake | The Best Lemon Cake Recipe (2)

    Not only do you have a lightly lemon flavored cheesecake..you have a giant pile of the creamiest meringue topping ever to exist in history.

    And it’s all on a graham cracker crust. Winning fo life.

    How to Make a Lemon Meringue Cheesecake

    First make your crust…

    Lemon Meringue Cheesecake | The Best Lemon Cake Recipe (3)

    Then make your filling. It’s easy, I swear it. This is coming from a true cheesecake reformant.

    Also, if your family doesn’t like lemon stuff, use only a bit of the lemon zest…or if you love lemon you can up the zest. Totally up to you!

    Lemon Meringue Cheesecake | The Best Lemon Cake Recipe (4)

    When it bakes it will look like this…

    My Mother In Law bakes her cheesecake, turns the oven off and leaves the cheesecake in the warm, closed oven for a few hours after. I tried that technique here and it worked perfectly!

    Lemon Meringue Cheesecake | The Best Lemon Cake Recipe (5)

    I let mine cool completely and chill in the fridge overnight before making the meringue.

    Another good thing about this recipe is that the cheesecake uses egg yolks, but I saved the whites to use on the topping. No waste!

    Just whisk your white and some sugar together…

    Lemon Meringue Cheesecake | The Best Lemon Cake Recipe (6)

    Then heat it over a double boiler until it reaches 140°.

    Then pop it into your stand mixer bowl and using the whisk attachment, mix it on high for 10 minutes. The meringue will be super glossy and stiff.

    Lemon Meringue Cheesecake | The Best Lemon Cake Recipe (7)

    Just spread it all over your cheesecake…

    Lemon Meringue Cheesecake | The Best Lemon Cake Recipe (8)

    Make little peaks when you spread the meringue…

    Lemon Meringue Cheesecake | The Best Lemon Cake Recipe (9)

    And then using a kitchen torch or lighter lightly toast the meringue…

    Lemon Meringue Cheesecake | The Best Lemon Cake Recipe (10)

    Like, how totally gorgeous?

    Lemon Meringue Cheesecake | The Best Lemon Cake Recipe (11)

    And you must try a slice.

    Lemon Meringue Cheesecake | The Best Lemon Cake Recipe (12)

    Make this asap!

    Print

    Lemon Meringue Cheesecake | The Best Lemon Cake Recipe (13)

    Lemon Meringue Cheesecake

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.9 from 16 reviews

    • Author: Shelly
    • Prep Time: 20 minutes
    • Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
    • Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
    • Yield: 12 slices 1x
    • Category: Dessert
    • Method: Oven
    • Cuisine: American

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    Description

    This Lemon Meringue Cheesecake is the dreamiest thing I’ve made in a long time. It’s one of those recipes that make you do a little dance after eating the first bite! It’s the perfect mixture of tart, sweet and creamy – I can’t get enough!

    Ingredients

    Scale

    Crust

    • 2 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
    • 1/3 cup sugar
    • 6 Tbsp butter, melted

    Cheesecake

    • 4 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, room temperature
    • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
    • 6 egg yolks (reserve whites for meringue)
    • 2 Tbsp flour
    • 1 cup sour cream
    • 2 Tbsp lemon zest (2 large lemons)

    Meringue Topping

    • 6 egg whites
    • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 300°

    Crust

    1. Combine all ingredients for crust in a bowl evenly. Press mixture into a 9″ springform pan and up the sides, about one inch.
    2. Bake for 10 minutes and allow to cool.

    Filling

    1. In bowl fitted with paddle attachment beat cream cheese and sugar together until combined and smooth. Add in egg yolks and beat until mixture is just combined, scraping sides as necessary.
    2. Add in flour, sour cream and lemon zest and mix until smooth.
    3. Pour mixture over prepared crust. Bake for 75 minutes. Then turn off oven and leave cheesecake in the warm oven with the door closed for 4 hours.
    4. Finally, remove it from oven, run a knife along the edges to loosen from pan and chill for 6 hours, or overnight.

    Meringue Topping

    1. Whisk 6 reserved egg whites with sugar. Place over a double boiler and stirring constantly heat mixture until it reaches 140° on candy thermometer. Pour mixture immediately into bowl of stand mixer, fitted with whisk attachment and beat for 10 minutes, until glossy and stiff peaks form.
    2. Spread the meringue over chilled cheesecake and with kitchen torch lightly brown the tops of the meringue.

    Notes

    if you would like to amp up the flavor of lemon in this recipe, you can add another tablespoon of lemon zest.

    Store covered in refrigerator for up to 3 days.

    recipe adapted from Amazing Cakes Magazine.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size:
    • Calories: 404
    • Sugar: 51.3 g
    • Sodium: 174 mg
    • Fat: 17.2 g
    • Carbohydrates: 54.4 g
    • Protein: 9.5 g
    • Cholesterol: 221.3 mg

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    Find more recipes like this:

    • Cakes
    • Cheesecake
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    If you like cheesecake, here are some more from my archives….

    Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cheesecake is a super easy one and SO good!

    Or this S’mores Cheesecake, omg so good!

    Lemon Meringue Cheesecake | The Best Lemon Cake Recipe (15)

    Lemon Meringue Cheesecake | The Best Lemon Cake Recipe (2024)

    FAQs

    How do you make a Mary Berry lemon cheesecake? ›

    Method. Mix the biscuits with the butter in a bowl, then press into the base of the greased and lined tin (but not up the sides). Put the mascarpone, lemon curd, and lemon juice in a bowl and beat with a spatula until smooth. Spoon onto the biscuit base and level the top.

    What happens if you add too much lemon juice to cheesecake? ›

    Cutting too much lemon for a recipe can result in a dish that is excessively sour or acidic. This can overpower the other flavors and make the dish unbalanced. It is important to use the right amount of lemon to ensure the desired taste and to avoid ruining the dish.

    Why is my lemon meringue too watery? ›

    The watery layer between the meringue and the filling (weeping) is usually caused by undercooking. This is where it is important to put your meringue onto hot filling so it can begin cooking right away.

    Why did my lemon meringue pie not set? ›

    The key to thickening Lemon Meringue Pie so it sets properly is to cook the filling until bubbles start to pop on the surface of the lemon/egg yolk mixture. It should be the consistency of thick pudding before you remove it from the heat. If it's not thick before you add it to the pie, it will never set properly.

    What not to do when making cheesecake? ›

    16 Mistakes You're Making With Homemade Cheesecake
    1. Working with cold ingredients. Hobo_018/Getty Images. ...
    2. Using whipped cream cheese. ...
    3. Using low-fat cream cheese. ...
    4. Undermixing your cheesecake. ...
    5. Not diversifying your cheeses. ...
    6. Not being careful with your eggs. ...
    7. Only making plain cheesecake. ...
    8. Baking in anything but a springform pan.
    May 29, 2023

    Why won t my lemon cheesecake set? ›

    You'll need to use full fat cream cheese as the cheesecake won't set properly with reduced fat cream cheese. I use full fat Philadelphia cream cheese. The double cream, however, must be cold! This ensures it whips up well which is again vital in creating a well-set, firm cheesecake.

    What does adding an extra egg to cheesecake do? ›

    As Bon Appétit shares, using too many eggs when making cheesecake can cause a big divot in the middle of the dessert. Because eggs add a luscious, creamy texture to custards and cheesecakes, some bakers might be tempted to fold in another yolk or two.

    Why does my lemon cake not taste like lemon? ›

    Lemon flavor: Let's all say it together: LEMON JUICE DOESN'T ADD LEMON FLAVOR (when added to the cake). Instead, try adding more zest, lemon extract, or a lemon soak.

    What cancels out lemon flavor? ›

    One of the easiest ways to cut the lemon taste is to balance it with sweetness. Adding a touch of sugar or sweetener can help neutralize the acidity and bring out the natural flavors of lemon. You can try adding a teaspoon of honey, agave syrup, or a sprinkle of powdered sugar to your lemon-infused dishes or drinks.

    How do you know when meringue is done baking? ›

    Baking Meringue

    A meringue is done baking when it releases easily when gently lifted from the baking sheet. If it's close, keep checking every 5 to 10 minutes.

    How do you fix a watery lemon meringue pie? ›

    A tiny bit of cornstarch (such as in the recipe here) whipped with the sugar into the meringue traps some of this moisture and reduces beading.

    Can you over beat meringue? ›

    You can't overbeat meringue - It's true! You can't ruin it by mixing too much, so once all of the sugar is added, be sure that your meringue is glossy and that you have super firm, stiff peaks when you remove the beater from the mixer. Don't be afraid to mix a little longer if it appears too soft.

    Should lemon meringue pie be refrigerated after baking? ›

    Yes, lemon meringue pie should be refrigerated. To prevent foodborne illness, never let it sit at room temperature for more than two hours. To store lemon meringue pie without messing up the meringue, place two toothpicks in the pie. Loosely cover it with storage wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to two days.

    Why did my meringue not work? ›

    One of the most common mistakes is not beating the eggs long enough, or on too slow a speed, which means the egg whites won't reach stiff peak stage and instead only reach a soggy droopy stage.

    Should I refrigerate my lemon meringue pie? ›

    Just like when you under cook it, placing a lemon meringue pie in the refrigerator after baking can cause the meringue topping to “weep." If you do have leftovers that you'd like to save, it's okay to refrigerate! Just know the texture may slightly change.

    How to make lemon icing Mary Berry? ›

    Mix the fondant icing sugar with 1-2 tbsp lemon juice (from the lemon used to make the candied zest decoration) to make a thick pouring consistency. Pour the icing over the top of the cake allowing it to drizzle down. Sprinkle the candied lemon rind on top.

    How do you thicken lemon cheesecake? ›

    You can mix a tablespoon or two of cornstarch into your cheesecake filling mixture before baking. Another option is to use a little bit of flour or arrowroot powder. These ingredients will also help to thicken your filling and give it a more consistent texture.

    Can I use Philadelphia instead of mascarpone for cheesecake? ›

    Yes, cream cheese makes a great substitute for mascarpone. There are two methods to substitute mascarpone: Substitute 1 cup of mascarpone with 1 cup of a cream cheese and whipping cream mixture. To make this mixture, use 1/4 cup of cream for every 8 oz.

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