topic Re: Easy, No Bake Lemon Icebox Pie in Recipes

Easy, No Bake Lemon Icebox Pie

ChazzyLady — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 02:53:27 GMT

For some reason I've been craving this pie even though my hips and thighs definitely don't need it, LOL. It's probably because here in the Washington, D.C area September has felt like August, with a bunch of 90+ degree days and the promise of more hot weather during the first week of October. Actually, although some would say this more of a Spring/Summer dessert, I love it any time of the year and it's so easy. Here's the recipe:

One nine inch graham cracker crust. I use store-bought, but you can definitely make one from scratch if you wish.

Two 8 ounce packages of cream cheese softened. I use full fat Philadelphia Brand Cream Cheese.

One 14 ounce can of sweetened condensed milk. I use Eagle Brand, regular full fat, not the diet stuff.

Juice of two or three lemons. I always use fresh and prefer my pie to be very lemony so I usually use three.

One to three teaspoons of finely grated lemon zest. As with the lemon juice, I usually go with three teaspoons/one tablespoon.

One half teaspoon pure vanilla extract. This is my personal touch and is optional since most recipes don't add it but I think it adds depth to the flavor of the pie

That's it! And the best parts are no need for gelatin or eggs, no baking, and you don't even need a bowl and a hand mixer or wisk.

Put all of the above ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Make sure to check for any lumps using a silicone or rubber spatula stirring through and scraping down the sides of the blender. Then just blend for a few seconds more and pour into the pie crust and refrigerate for at least two hours. It should be set by then but if not just leave it for another hour or two. This is a great make ahead recipe so you could also leave it in the refrigerator overnight.

Once set, I like to decorate the top with sliced strawberries, but you could leave it as is or use your favorite berry. If you're feeling extra fancy, serving it with a dollop of homemade whipped cream wouldn't hurt either.

One tip: start with just the juice of two lemons and just one teaspoon of zest then taste since that may be lemony enough for you. One recipe I saw called for only one lemon so if you like a mild lemon flavor, start with just the juice of one. You can always add more if it's not.

Another tip: Please note that if you have really large lemons you may only need one to one and a half. Conversely, if they are on the small side like those bagged lemons, you may need to use more. Remember: taste, taste taste.

Hope you make this. Enjoy!

Re: Easy, No Bake Lemon Icebox Pie

sunshine45 — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 03:03:28 GMT

this would be great using limes instead of lemons!

i am also wondering if grapefruit or orange would work well?

thanks for this easy recipe!

Re: Easy, No Bake Lemon Icebox Pie

ChazzyLady — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 03:11:34 GMT

Hi @sunshine45 . Thanks, I am glad you liked it. I never thought about using another type of citrus but hey why not! Please post back if you make this with lime juice/zest and let everyone know how it turned out.

Re: Easy, No Bake Lemon Icebox Pie

Pook — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 11:07:53 GMT

@ChazzyLady Thanks for the recipe. Can't wait to make it. I love anything lemon. I'm not a fan of graham crecker crusts so I am going to make it with with a cookie crust like Lorna Dunes.

Re: Easy, No Bake Lemon Icebox Pie

ChazzyLady — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 17:55:07 GMT

@Pook wrote:
@ChazzyLady Thanks for the recipe. Can't wait to make it. I love anything lemon. I'm not a fan of graham crecker crusts so I am going to make it with with a cookie crust like Lorna Dunes.

You're welcome @Pook . Is a Lorna Dunes crust like a shortbread cookie crust? If so, I think that's a fantastic idea, almost like eating a scone with lemon curd, yum!

Thanks for the suggestion, I am definitely going to try that. Always love learning something new especially when it comes to cooking.

BTW, is this crust ready made or would one have to make it with Lorna Dunes cookies? If it's like a graham cracker crust, it should be easy enough to make it if I have to.

Re: Easy, No Bake Lemon Icebox Pie

Pook — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 18:55:33 GMT

@ChazzyLady wrote:
@Pook wrote:
@ChazzyLady Thanks for the recipe. Can't wait to make it. I love anything lemon. I'm not a fan of graham crecker crusts so I am going to make it with with a cookie crust like Lorna Dunes.

You're welcome @Pook . Is a Lorna Dunes crust like a shortbread cookie crust? If so, I think that's a fantastic idea, almost like eating a scone with lemon curd, yum!

Thanks for the suggestion, I am definitely going to try that. Always love learning something new especially when it comes to cooking.

BTW, is this crust ready made or would one have to make it with Lorna Dunes cookies? If it's like a graham cracker crust, it should be easy enough to make it if I have to.

You can usually get premade cookie crusts where you get the graham cracker crusts. I probably would make my own with ground Lorna Dunes (a shortbread cookie)and melted butter and just press them in a pie pan though.

Re: Easy, No Bake Lemon Icebox Pie

ChazzyLady — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 19:19:51 GMT

@Pook wrote:
@ChazzyLady wrote:
@Pook wrote:
@ChazzyLady Thanks for the recipe. Can't wait to make it. I love anything lemon. I'm not a fan of graham crecker crusts so I am going to make it with with a cookie crust like Lorna Dunes.

You're welcome @Pook . Is a Lorna Dunes crust like a shortbread cookie crust? If so, I think that's a fantastic idea, almost like eating a scone with lemon curd, yum!

Thanks for the suggestion, I am definitely going to try that. Always love learning something new especially when it comes to cooking.

BTW, is this crust ready made or would one have to make it with Lorna Dunes cookies? If it's like a graham cracker crust, it should be easy enough to make it if I have to.
You can usually get premade cookie crusts where you get the graham cracker crusts. I probably would make my own with ground Lorna Dunes (a shortbread cookie)and melted butter and just press them in a pie pan though.

Thanks again @Pook . Either way, I'm doing this!

Re: Easy, No Bake Lemon Icebox Pie

Bridgegal — Wed, 02 Oct 2019 01:49:26 GMT

Can you think of a substitute for the cream cheese. I hate that stuff. Love cookie/cracker crusts and lemons tho. Would love to make it except for the CC part. YUK.

Re: Easy, No Bake Lemon Icebox Pie

ChazzyLady — Wed, 02 Oct 2019 14:50:09 GMT

@Bridgegal wrote:
Can you think of a substitute for the cream cheese. I hate that stuff. Love cookie/cracker crusts and lemons tho. Would love to make it except for the CC part. YUK.

Hey @Bridgegal that's an interesting question since the recipe has so few ingredients, you would be changing one third of the main ingredients which would undoubtedly alter the taste, texture and, most importantly, whether or not the pie sets up/solidifies in the refrigerator.

The only things I can think of would be ricotta cheese or cottage cheese which you would still have to blend but would probably not set up properly since they have much more liquid than cream cheese. If that's the case, then you would have to add something to make the pie set up like unflavored gelatin which is a whole 'nother issue.

Sorry, but my advice would be not to bother although I would say that if you like cheesecake you just might like this.

Hope this helps.

Re: Easy, No Bake Lemon Icebox Pie

Zhills — Wed, 02 Oct 2019 15:09:39 GMT

Googled this out of curiosity and found this...

Cream cheese substitutes Interesting info!

Check out the Key Lime Pie that was just posted in October Recipe Game! Why wouldn't it work with lemon?

Re: Easy, No Bake Lemon Icebox Pie

ChazzyLady — Wed, 02 Oct 2019 15:23:12 GMT

@Zhills wrote:
Googled this out of curiosity and found this...

Cream cheese substitutes Interesting info!

Check out the Key Lime Pie that was just posted in October Recipe Game! Why wouldn't it work with lemon?

Hello @Zhills . I have never looked into cream cheese substitutes since I loves me some cream cheese but now you got me curious so I'll check it out. Is one of those substitutes tofu? Yeah, I'll bet it is, LOL!

Overall, just wanted to say that when it comes to the Lemon Icebox Pie recipe, I think there's some kind of chemical reaction going on between the lemon juice, the sweetened condensed milk and the cream cheese that makes the pie set up the way it does yet be deliciously creamy.

Though I haven't seen the Key lime pie recipe you mentioned, I suspect that lemons would work quite well as a substitute.

Take care.

Re: Easy, No Bake Lemon Icebox Pie

Bridgegal — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 02:06:51 GMT

@ChazzyLady

I think you are right. Just move on to another lemon pie recipe. I don't like cottage cheese or ricotta either. Don't get me started on tofu. I suspect that any substitute would be something I don't like.

Thanks. I hope all cream cheese lovers love your recipe.

Re: Easy, No Bake Lemon Icebox Pie

sunshine45 — Fri, 04 Oct 2019 01:03:41 GMT

do you like yogurt?

there is a very thick yogurt that you can find in middle eastern stores.

it is called labne....it is sour though so you may have to make some adjustments.

you could also look for kefir cheese.