Magic Lemon Pie (1952)

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This was part of the hand written notes that my niece, Stephanie, retrieved from her Grandmother’s (my Mom’s) recipe drawer.

As I looked for pictures, I found that it is a recipe from the Eagle Brand Milk 1952 advertising recipe book — how cool!!

It is also cool because you do not have to pre-cook the filling and you can use any kind of baked pie shell, or non-bake crumb or graham cracker crust. You do need to bake the meringue but only for 15 minutes. It sets up as it cools.

Ingredients For Magic Lemon Pie (1952)

  • 18 inch baked pie shell, or graham cracker crust
  • PIE FILLING:
  • 1 can15 oz eagle brand sweetened condensed milk
  • 1/2 clemon juice (fresh, reconstituted, or frozen)
  • 1 tsplemon peel, grated fresh or dried
  • 2egg yolks, reserve whites
  • FOR MERINGUE:
  • 2room temperature egg whites (reserved from above)
  • 1/4 tspcream of tartar
  • 1/4 csugar

How To Make Magic Lemon Pie (1952)

  • 1Preheat oven to 325 F
  • 2In medium sized mixing bowl, blend milk, lemon juice, lemon peel, and yolks until thickened. Turn into pie shell and set aside
  • 3Meringue: Whip the whites with cream of tartar until they hold a soft peak. Gradually whip in sugar (one Tbsp at a time) Continue whipping until the whites hold a firm peak.
  • 4Pile onto pie filling and seal to the inside edge of pie shell. Swirl the top as desired — but don’t play in it or let it sit too long because it will begin to “weep.”
  • 5Immediately place in a 325 F oven and bake until golden brown (about 15 minutes). Cool before serving.
  • 6For those who don’t want to eat raw eggs these are alternate directions found on another recipes:
    1. Beat egg yolks; whisk in lemon rind, sweetened condensed milk and lemon juice. Pour into prepared crust.
    2. Bake in preheated 325°F (160°C) oven for 25 minutes. Remove from oven. Increase oven temperature to 350°F (180°C).
    3. Beat egg whites with cream of tartar until foamy; gradually add sugar beating until stiff peaks form but not dry. Spread meringue on top of hot pie, sealing carefully to edge of crust.
    4. Return to oven and bake for 10 minutes or until meringue is golden brown. Cool. Chill before serving, if desired.