Creamy No-Bake Lemon Icebox Pie
A quick and easy no-bake lemon icebox pie with a creamy, tangy filling and a crumbly graham cracker crust, perfect for a refreshing summer dessert.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs (about 10 full sheets, finely crushed)
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 cup heavy cream, chilled
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- ½ cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed (about 3–4 lemons)
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
- Whipped cream (optional, for garnish)
- Thin lemon slices or candied lemon peel (optional, for garnish)
- Fresh mint leaves (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Make the Crust: Combine graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and sugar in a medium bowl until mixture resembles wet sand. Press firmly into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie dish. Smooth and compact the crust evenly. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 10 minutes.
- Whip the Cream: In a large bowl, whip the chilled heavy cream with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form, about 3-5 minutes on medium-high speed. Avoid over-whipping.
- Prepare the Filling: In another bowl, stir together sweetened condensed milk, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and optional vanilla extract until smooth. The mixture will thicken slightly.
- Combine Cream and Lemon Mixture: Gently fold the whipped cream into the lemon mixture using a spatula until smooth and creamy.
- Pour and Chill: Pour the filling over the chilled crust and smooth the top. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or preferably overnight to set.
- Garnish and Serve: Before serving, top with whipped cream, thin lemon slices, or fresh mint if desired. Use a sharp knife dipped in hot water for clean slices.
Notes
Chilling overnight improves flavor and texture. Use cold equipment when whipping cream for best volume. Dip knife in hot water and wipe clean between cuts for neat slices. For gluten-free, swap graham crackers with gluten-free cookies. For dairy-free, use coconut cream instead of heavy cream.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/8 of pie)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 28
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 4
Keywords: no-bake, lemon pie, icebox pie, summer dessert, easy dessert, creamy pie, lemon curd, graham cracker crust