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

    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.

    Does Costco have lemon meringue cheesecake? ›

    Lemon meringue cheesecake — one of Costco's latest addition to their bakery dessert roster — is a powerhouse of a hybrid dessert.

    How many calories in a lemon meringue cheesecake? ›

    The Cheesecake Factory Lemon Meringue Cheesecake (1 slice) contains 120g total carbs, 120g net carbs, 45g fat, 0g protein, and 1170 calories.

    Can you freeze cheesecake in the pan? ›

    Once your cheesecake is chilled, you can wrap it and freeze it as is. Alternatively, you can remove the sides of the springform pan and wrap the cheesecake on the base of the pan or even transfer the cheesecake to a freezer-safe plate or cardboard round for wrapping.

    What does adding an extra egg to cheesecake do? ›

    Eggs: Three whole eggs hold the cheesecake together. I also add an extra yolk, which enhances the cake's velvety texture. (Whites tend to lighten the cake, which is actually fine — if you don't feel like separating that fourth egg and don't mind some extra airiness in the texture, just add in the whole egg.)

    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.

    Does lemon meringue cake need to be refrigerated? ›

    Yes. The cake and lemon curd portions of this recipe can be assembled and stored, covered, in the fridge for up to three days. Or just wrap cake layers and leave them at room temperature. (You can prepare the cake layers ahead and freeze them for up to a month, too.)

    Is lemon cream the same as lemon meringue? ›

    A cream pie is any pie with a custard base (egg, milk, flour). A meringue pie is any pie with a meringue topping. The difference between a lemon cream pie and a lemon meringue is one uses a whipped cream topping (or none at all) and a lemon meringue uses a whipped egg topping.

    How much is Costco lemon cheesecake? ›

    A new bakery item from Costco has gone viral following the success of the wholesale retailer's peanut butter chocolate pie, and this time it has a creamy citrus flavor. Costco Wholesale released a lemon meringue cheesecake earlier this month that retails for $19.99.

    Is lemon meringue high in sugar? ›

    According to the USDA, one slice of lemon meringue pie contains 180 calories, 11g of carbohydrates, 10g of sugar, 4g of fat and 2g of protein. Which means that the sugar makes up for 50% of the calories.

    How many calories are in a Marie Callender lemon meringue pie? ›

    Flaky made-from-scratch crust makes each bite satisfying. Thaw while you're entertaining or preparing dinner and serve after for a treat that tastes homemade. This box contains one 39-ounce (1,105g) pie with nine recommended servings of 320 calories and 0g of trans fat each.

    Why is cheesecake not suitable for freezing? ›

    You can absolutely freeze cheesecake, whether whole or in slices. The fresher it is when you freeze it, the better the results will be. Denser types of cheesecake, like New York-style, are less prone to separation when frozen, unlike lighter, whipped cheesecakes.

    Is cheesecake better frozen or refrigerated? ›

    There's nothing like a decadent slice of classic New York-style cheesecake to end a delicious meal. Whether homemade or from your favorite bakery, it's best enjoyed chilled and served right out of the fridge.

    Can I make a cheesecake ahead of time and freeze it? ›

    Cheesecake generally needs to cool and chill before you can enjoy it anyway, so a really good hack is to make it ahead of a dinner, gathering, or event, then just freeze it until it's time to gift or enjoy.

    What to do if you add too much lemon juice? ›

    Now that its in there already, you can try adding some dried garlic, oregano, and onion to 'push' that lemon taste away a little. If its only sour add a bit of sugar. Adding a little balsamic vinear, or red wine will help some, as will a small can of tomato paste.

    Can you use too much lemon juice? ›

    However, too much lemon juice can upset the tummy as well as it can reduce the digestion process which can cause stomach pain as well.

    Does lemon juice make cream cheese curdle? ›

    Add the lemon juice 1 tablespoon at a time with a minute in-between. Continue cooking and you will see it curdling.

    Why is my lemon cheesecake runny? ›

    If you've ever made cheesecake that was runny, it's very likely that low-fat ingredients are to blame. Full fat sour cream adds extra moisture and a tangy flavor to the cake. However, you can swap out the sour cream for heavy cream or even full fat Greek yogurt.

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