Thursday, July 14, 2011

Lemon Meringue Ice Cream Pie in a Toasted Pecan Crust~



This is the perfect finish to dinner on a very warm, summer evening! I am in love with anything lemon but the other part of this dessert that is absolutely delicious is the toasted pecan crust. What a wonderful combination!  The meringue topping is, well, the frosting on the cake, so to speak :)

If you are in need of an easy, impressive and irresistibly delicious summer dessert, look no further!


Lemon Meringue Ice Cream Pie in a Toasted Pecan Crust

Adapted from Bon Appetit, April, 2007
Printable Recipe

Lemon Curd
2 tablespoons grated fresh lemon zest
1 cup fresh lemon juice
1 1/3 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 3/4 sticks (3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons) unsalted butter, cut into tablespoon pieces

Note: I used the above recipe for lemon curd but see this recipe for Microwave Lemon Curd as an alternative!  It's been tried by me and is great!

Crust
1 1/2 cups finely chopped pecans
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted
3 cups vanilla ice cream, slightly softened, divided

Meringue
4 large egg whites, room temperature (I used pasteurized eggs)
Pinch of cream of tartar
6 tablespoons sugar

For lemon curd:

Whisk together zest, lemon juice, sugar, eggs, and a pinch of salt in a 2-quart heavy saucepan. Add butter all at once and cook over moderately low heat, whisking constantly, until curd is thick enough to hold marks of whisk and first bubbles appear on surface, about 10 minutes. Immediately pour curd through a fine sieve into a bowl, then chill, covered.

For crust:

Preheat oven to 400°F. Mix pecans, sugar, and butter in medium bowl until moistened. Press pecan mixture onto bottom and up sides of 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish (mixture will be crumbly). Bake until crust is lightly toasted, about 12 minutes (crust will slip down sides of dish). Use back of spoon to press crust back into place. Cool crust on rack. Freeze crust 30 minutes.

Dollop 1-1/2 cups ice cream over crust; spread into even layer. Spread lemon curd over ice cream; freeze until firm, about 2 hours. Dollop 1 1/2 cups softened ice cream over lemon curd; spread into even layer. Cover and freeze until firm, about 2 hours.

For meringue:

Using electric mixer, beat egg whites in medium bowl until frothy. Beat in cream of tartar. With mixer running, gradually add sugar. Beat until stiff peaks form. Spoon meringue over pie, spreading to seal at edges and swirling decoratively. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Freeze pie. Using kitchen butane torch, toast meringue until golden in spots or place pie in a preheated 500°F oven until meringue is golden in spots, watching to prevent burning, about 3 minutes. Cut pie into wedges; serve immediately.

63 comments:

  1. I love the ice cream inclusion. Gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  2. It's 6:30 in the morning and yes, I'd like a piece now. Do you think it would go well with coffee:@) What a fun pie Susan, I'll bet everyone loved it!

    ReplyDelete
  3. It's sort of like a lemon Baked Alaska! Looks amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. It is BEAUTIFUL and sounds delicious..keeper..i must do this one day..We were on a lemon thought..I have creamy lemon bars in the fridge:)
    Mr Mack loves lookin' up here:)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Yum! I am bookmarking this so I can make it for our next get-to-gether!
    It's a friday's favorite
    for sure :-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. This looks fabulous, Susan. What a heavenly combination of flavors! Beautiful photos as well.

    ReplyDelete
  7. It's crazy hot here. This pie would be a lovely refreshing treat! What a cute apron, too!

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a fabulous summertime dessert. Making myself a copy now. Thanks for sharing this recipe.

    Carolyn/A Southerners Notebook

    ReplyDelete
  9. Lemon meringue pie was the first American dessert I learned to make while in France decades ago from a recipe in McCalls magazine; it is my favorite American dessert and you have just taken it to an even higher level of deliciousness. Cute apron!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love anything lemon. I will definitely be copying this recipe. Love the apron!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh dear, another wonderful recipe that I have to try. I love the combination of flavors and textures in this pie, Susan, starting with the toasted pecan crust. What I wouldn't give to attend one of your gourmet group dinners. Fabulous food!

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a wonderful recipe. It looks amazing.

    Have a great week end.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh my - I just gained 20 lbs. looking at that. :D
    Enjoy your weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  14. That pie is a delight, Susan! First of all, I'm sending the link to my lemon-addicted sister, then I'm copying the recipe for me. My favorite things...lemon curd, meringue and ice cream!! Super idea with the pecan crust too. That would set this pie off perfectly.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Lemon curd, vanilla ice cream and a pecan crust = sounds absolutely delicious and I will be putting that on our table for dessert this summer.

    Best,
    Bonnie

    ReplyDelete
  16. Sounds just amazing to me! The perfect summer pie.

    I hope you'll stop by and link up with Sweet Tooth Friday this week. http://alli-n-son.com/2011/07/14/dark-chocolate-sea-salt-caramel-ice-cream/

    ReplyDelete
  17. I often skip over dessert posts, but after reading the title for this, I couldn't wait to see what it was - glad I did as it sounds like a real treat.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hmmm, it looks wonderful. I, too, love a great lemon meringue pie, but find them too much trouble to make. I'll just look at yours.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Putting ice cream in a lemon meringue pie?! Pure genius! That sounds amazing, I could really go for some with the muggy hot weather we had here in LA today. I am practically drooling just thinking about it!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Congratulations; cute apron. Like you anything lemon calls my name; great recipe and a keeper for my kid's next visit,
    Great photo!
    Rita

    ReplyDelete
  21. Susan, what a different twist on a lemon pie with the addition of ice cream and the crust sounds devine. This sounds like a great pie recipe! I can see why you loved it. I am in love with your new red apron. Loving the color red and lemons -- we have so much in common ;). Have a great weekend. Joni

    ReplyDelete
  22. sounds delicious Susan !Thanks for sharing...A warm hug..

    ReplyDelete
  23. An ice cream pie with lemon curd and meringue top...writing that down has already made my mouth water...so yummy!

    ReplyDelete
  24. It looks delicious, Susan!

    Congrats on the red apron! ,

    ReplyDelete
  25. wow this looks so good, got any left e he

    ReplyDelete
  26. Leave it to you to make something so lemony and wonderful! I really have to try this one. Maybe next time my parents come to visit. My dad likes lemon a lot. We used to get those frozen lemon pies. I bet this is WAY better than that :-) I really like your new apron. Lucky you to get one in your favorite color! I'm happy you got come to the Social - be here same time next year!

    ReplyDelete
  27. About the only dessert I'm ever interested in is either pie or ice cream. This looks wonderful! What a beautiful dessert and photo. Another bookmarked.

    ReplyDelete
  28. What a recipe... I do love lemon pies... and this is fabulous version with that crust... pecan and lemon is a brilliant combination. I can't wait to try it... many hot days ahead... perfect for cool lemon pies!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Susan, I could go for a slice of your pie right now. It is definitely unique and sounds delicious! Congrats with the apron, very cute!

    ReplyDelete
  30. You always come up with the most wonderful recipes!! Love everything about this one...
    Cute apron!

    ReplyDelete
  31. This looks like the perfect summer dessert. So creamy and refreshing. I'd like to invite you to share your recipe on A Well-Seasoned Life's Sweet Indulgences Sunday.

    http://www.wellseasonedlife.com/2011/07/sweet-indulgences-sunday-13.html

    ReplyDelete
  32. Oh wow, this looks amazingly yummy! I love the recipe, it's like a different twist to Baked Alaska, I like this for a dinner party's dessert. Thjank you for sharing. Lots of hugs, FABBY

    ReplyDelete
  33. Susan, you had me with the toasted pecan crust ... sounds wonderful. Looks like the perfect dessert for a hot, summer day. Love the mosaic.

    ReplyDelete
  34. I've printed this off and can't wait to give it a try. Lemon meringue and ice cream ~ yummy!

    ReplyDelete
  35. This sounds like a perfect dessert for hot summer evenings. Thanks for joining in on the fun today.

    Have a great week! La

    ReplyDelete
  36. I adore all things lemon as well! Wish I had a piece of this delicious pie right now - thank you for sharing:)

    ReplyDelete
  37. I wasn't expecting the ice cream- this sounds like a lemony version of Baked Alaska! I'm addicted to lemon curd, I'm afraid, and this pie is a lovely and cooling way to feed my addiction. :)

    ReplyDelete
  38. Thank you one and all for the kind, kind comments which I truly appreciate! I was so thrilled to share this recipe that I will make again and again and hope you will too.

    ReplyDelete
  39. I just found your site. Your recipes look wonderful. As for the pie, oh my goodness it looks delicious. I'm excited to try a pecans crust. Pecans are my very favorite nut.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Still love that lemon meringue! I just wanted to pat your hand and say, "oh, there there." I would be livid if a deer came and ate all my daylily blooms. The nerve! Time for the wolf whizz perhaps...

    ReplyDelete
  41. I'm puckering up already. after cherry, lemon is my favorite flavor - especially with hot hot summer temps like we're having this week. what's also attractive about this recipe is the pecan crust. oh yum. stay cool Susan!

    ReplyDelete
  42. What an amazing twist. I so enjoy your blog and all of your fabulous recipes.

    Thanks for being a part of Seasonal Sundays.

    - The Tablescaper

    ReplyDelete
  43. We love anything lemon in this house - this looks wonderful! The crust sound intriguing.
    Your link from Mosaic Monday isn't working - I googled you to get here, so I think I'd better become a follower!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Mmmm love everything lemon and I love the addition of ice cream in this classic pie. I also think the nutty crust would be the perfect complement to the flavor and the texture. Beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  45. That pie looks divine...I love the combo with the lemon. Lovely apron...perfect summer colors!

    ReplyDelete
  46. Your pie looks yummy, as do the foods in your other photos. Why am I looking at these before lunch!

    ReplyDelete
  47. The dessert sounds heavenly & your photos are always gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  48. I could have SWORN I commented on this recipe already. I came back to copy it & I don't see my post. ??? Who knows?? Maybe there is an evil HobFairy that eats comments! LOL

    Anyway, it looks LUSCIOUS & I love ANYTHING lemon so its going on my 'to do' list. Hubby makes work lists...I make recipe lists. *smile*

    fondly,
    Rett

    ReplyDelete
  49. Yummy, I am sure it taste as goods as it looks too. I love lemon meringue pies. Thanks for sharing the recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Looks delicious! I have to try this. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
    -Lynn

    ReplyDelete
  51. What a sweet apron Susan! You will wear it well ;o) The lemon pie sounds like a winner. I could eat nothing but dessert all summer!

    ReplyDelete
  52. This is truly a lovely pie. If a pie can have grace fine lines, this one has it.

    Would you link it to Bake with Bizzy>

    http://bizzybakesb.blogspot.com/2011/07/baking-with-bizzy-9-partial.html

    Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  53. This sounds so refreshing and delicious. You always come up with such great recipes. Photos are gorgeous too!

    ReplyDelete
  54. I love lemon curd and the ice cream inclusion is so interesting. What a great summer dessert.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Lemons and pecans -two of my very favorites. Got to love this pie.
    Sam

    ReplyDelete
  56. This looks amazing...I know it wouldn't look like this if it came out of my kitchen. I am really loving all of your beautiful food photos!

    ReplyDelete
  57. All I can say is.... SHOW OFF! But only in the most loving way! This ice cream pie steals the show! How gorgeous and it sounds just delicious! The thought of lemon curd and ice cream in a pecan crust makes me swoon! We love lemon at our house. I will make this, of course... but I will make if when we have company. I would not want to trust myself with any leftovers in my freezer!
    Yummy!
    xo Yvonne

    ReplyDelete
  58. I adore lemony desserts and this one sounds like a dream. Ice cream, lemon curd, and meringue all in one place! What could be better.

    ReplyDelete
  59. What a great pie and gorgeous pic! I can almost smell and taste the lemon!

    ReplyDelete
  60. Wow! I don't think this could get any better! I love lemon too but my oldest grandson (who isn't a big fan of desserts in general) LOVES lemon desserts. I would love to make this when he is here.

    ReplyDelete
  61. Wanted you to know that I made that recipe you posted not long ago for Cream of Asparagus Soup. I am now addicted to that soup, it's the second time I have made it. It's soooooooo easy but oh so good. I posted it today and mentioned that it originally came from your blog. Thanks for that recipe.

    Carlyn/A Southerners Notebook

    ReplyDelete

I appreciate your comment!