This is a light and flavorful easy no bake lemon pie. No baking translates to an effortless, yet gorgeous dessert that is loaded with beautiful berries.
With a simple shortbread cookie crust and decadent mascarpone lemon filling, this no bake lemon pie feels special enough for guests. However, it’s simple enough for any night of the week!
I’m getting into the spirit of summer with this easy no bake lemon pie recipe! It’s filled with a light lemon cream in my favorite no bake shortbread crust for a true taste of summer.
Temperatures are already reaching 90+ degrees, which means I’m feeling less inclined to turn the oven on and more inclined to spend precious time outdoors with the girls at the pool, lake and tennis.
If you love no bake everything as much as we do, be sure to check out these reader faves: cookie dough pie, no bake lemon pie, no bake butterscotch bars, no bake peanut butter oatmeal cookies, and especially these no bake peanut butter bars.
This lemon pie is the perfect solution to enjoying the outdoors without heating things up indoors! It takes just 10 minutes to make, including the crust, allowing you to spend more time doing the things you enjoy!
With several get togethers ahead this Memorial Day weekend, I wanted to get a head start with easy make and take recipes. I made two of these lemon pies – we enjoyed one immediately and froze the second which frosts the berries so beautifully!
Why You’ll Love it
- Easy to Make
- Customize with Favorite Toppings
- Special for Guests
- Great for Summer Occasions
Don’t skip our complete guide to the BEST Lemon Desserts too.
Lemon Pie Ingredients
My Lemon Pie recipe uses heavy cream, mascarpone cheese to give it a creamy texture and not too sweet flavor, powdered sugar and lemon juice.
- Heavy Cream – Gives this no bake pie a luxuriously creamy texture.
- Mascarpone Cheese – This creamy Italian cheese is perfectly rich and delightful here. Sub with cream cheese if necessary. Note: grocers tend to place mascarpone cheese in different departments. It’s often with cheeses, but sometimes with cream cheese, but your store will almost certainly have it somewhere!
- Powdered Sugar – Sweetens the pie to perfection. If you don’t have powdered sugar, you can pulse white granulated sugar in a food processor until light and fluffy.
- Lemon Juice – Fresh squeezed lemon adds bright flavor to this delicious pie! Substitute 100% Real Lemon Juice (found in the produce section of your grocery) if needed.
Crust
- Shortbread Cookies – Use homemade or your favorite brand.
- Butter – I prefer using salted butter for this recipe, but you can also use unsalted.
- Sugar – A blend of brown sugar and white sugar sweetens this crust to perfection.
Optional Topping
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Raspberries
Variations
- Use cream cheese as a mascarpone substitute.
- Try a different crust – use my Pretzel Pie Crust, Sugar Cookie Crust, Speculoos Cookie Crust, Graham Cracker Crust, or Cream Cheese Pie Crust.
- Top with your favorite berries, or don’t… no topping required!
How to Make Lemon Pie
- Prepare Crust – Pulse cookies and blend with melted butter and sugar. Press into greased pie dish. Refrigerate. You can substitute a pre-made graham cracker crust for an easy shortcut.
- Prepare Filling – Whip cold heavy cream until stiff. Gradually add powdered sugar. Blend lemon juice and mascarpone cream in.
- Top – Top with your favorite fruits!
Tools to Use
Tips
- You can use a stand mixer or a hand mixer for this recipe, but it will be quicker and easier with a stand mixer.
- Take care not to over mix. Mix on a high speed and stop when stiff peaks form.
- Let the mascarpone warm to room temperature before mixing, it will incorporate a lot easier.
- Make sure that all of the ingredients are well combined so the lemon pie is silky smooth.
Scaling up, down or substituting? You’ll love this printable Measurement Conversion Chart!
Frequently Asked Questions
Cream cheese is firmer, with a more acidic and more acidic bite. Mascarpone is velvety has a higher fat content, making it even richer than cream cheese.
You can easily substitute the mascarpone in this recipe with cream cheese.
Dietary Considerations
- Vegetarian
- Nut Free
How to Store
- At Room Temperature – For up to two hours while serving.
- Refrigerate – This no bake lemon pie can be made up to 48 hours in advance, and stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.
- Freeze – While this lemon pie can be frozen for up to three months and defrosted in the refrigerator, I recommend serving it freshly made!
Love a no bake dessert? Don’t skip these chocolate no bake Preacher Cookies or my favorite mascarpone fruit dip!
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More No Bake Inspiration
Lemon Pie
Ingredients
Crust
- 10 ounces shortbread cookies
- 6 tablespoons butter melted
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar packed
- 2 tablespoons white granulated sugar
Lemon Pie Filling
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 8 ounces mascarpone cheese
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice juice of approximately 1 lemon
Optional Fruit Topping
- 1/2 cup strawberries
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1/2 cup raspberries
Instructions
Pie Crust
- In a food processor (or bag with a mallet), crush shortbread cookies until smooth.
- Add butter and sugars and combine in processor (or in a bowl with a spoon).
- Press into a greased pie dish.
- Refrigerate 10+ minutes.
Pie Filling
- In a mixing bowl or stand mixer, whip heavy cream, gradually increasing speed to max until a peak forms.
- Beat in powdered sugar one tablespoon at a time on low speed.
- Gently beat in lemon juice and mascarpone on low until well combined.
- Add mixture to crust and top with fruit.
- Refrigerate until serving.
Tips
Substitutions
- Butter – Salted is preferred, but you can use unsalted butter.
- Sugar – Use all white or all brown sugar for the crust if a substitute it needed.
- Cookies – You can substitute sugar cookies or speculoos cookies.
- Powdered Sugar – Sweetens the pie to perfection. If you don’t have powdered sugar, you can pulse white granulated sugar in a food processor until light and fluffy.
- Lemon Juice – Fresh squeezed lemon adds bright flavor to this delicious pie! Substitute 100% Real Lemon Juice if needed.
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
This pie is a dream! So light and the perfect flavors. Add the fresh berries. It’s an amazing combo!
It turned out so well and was easy to make. I look forward to making it again!
This turned out so perfect!!! LOVE how easy it is to make too 🙂
Easy recipe for Memorial Day! The fruit balances everything out. My husband loved it.
Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed it and appreciate you taking the time to rate. Hope you have a wonderful week!