The best sour cream lemon pie recipe you will ever taste! If I can make it you can too- and I promise it will please any crowd! It’s even won a few competitions!
I have mentioned before that my husband is a major pie lover, especially lemon cream pies. So much so, that on his birthday’s growing up he would request lemon pie instead of cake! In the town where we live there is an amazing little shop called Croshaw’s Pies (if you are ever in the Southern Utah area, you must go!) and they serve an absolutely amazing lemon sour cream pie. It quickly became Bryce’s new favorite, and my go to for any special occasion.
If you are team lemon like Bryce you will love these lemon sugar cookies, our lemon mousse or this lemon zucchini bread!
Sour Cream Lemon Pie
Then, something dreadful occurred. I missed the deadline to order his special pie for Thanksgiving one year (unfortunately, Croshaw’s is not our little secret, everybody loves them). Bryce is never one to make a big deal out of things, but I could tell he was disappointed. So, I set about trying to find the perfect sour cream lemon pie recipe.
Lucky for you, I found it! Let me tell you from my own experience that first Thanksgiving.. everyone will like this pie. Even if they “don’t like lemon” even if they “don’t like pie” even if they think to themselves “sour cream? That’s weird.” They are gonna love it. So make two. You’ve been warned!
If making a sour cream lemon pie from scratch sounds intimidating to you, I promise you can do it! I’m not quite sure why, but making pies used to be so intimidating for me! Once you’ve made one though, it’s all downhill from there! So you might as well start with the best lemon pie recipe ever, right?!
Sour Cream Lemon Pie Recipe
Here is a little pictorial to help you see all the simple steps together in one image! Or, if you really want to see the whole process start-to-finish, watch the video in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Crack your eggs in a small bowl, beat slightly with a fork and set aside. In a large saucepan combine sugar and cornstarch. Whisk in milk and lemon juice until well combined. Cook over medium high heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thick and bubbling. Reduce heat to low and cook for two more minutes.
- Whisk a small amount of hot mixture into your egg yolks. Pour egg mixture into pan, stirring constantly. Bring mixture to a gentle boil and cook and stir for two minutes (yes, your arm will be hot by now). Stir in butter and lemon peel and remove from heat. Once mixture has cooled stir in sour cream.
- Add your filling to your crust.
- Top with whipped cream and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- If you are going to garnish your pie with additional whipped cream, wait until right before serving to yield best results.
Secret Time Saving Tip
Okay you guys I’m gonna tell you a dirty little secret. If I am low on time, I love to use Marie Callender’s frozen pie crusts. Making your own pie crust is pretty easy, but I honestly think these ones taste really good and you can find them in the frozen dessert aisle for super cheap. Do what you want to, but if you are making a bunch or are intimidated by pie crust there is no shame in using a pre-made crust!
*This post contains affiliate links.
Also, if you need a new pie serving dish, I love this one and here is a great pie server, too.
Other Pie Recipes You Might Enjoy:
If you enjoy this recipe we would love for you to leave a comment and review! They mean so much to us.
Sour Cream Lemon Pie
Video
Ingredients
- 1 Pie Crust
- 1 Cup Sugar
- 3 Tablespoons Cornstarch
- 1 1/2 Teaspoons Cornstarch
- 1 Cup Milk
- 1/2 Cup Lemon Juice
- 3 Egg Yolks Lightly Beaten
- 1/4 Cup Butter Slightly Melted
- 1/2 Tablespoon Grated Lemon Peel
- 1 Cup Sour Cream
- 1 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream Whipped
- 2 Tablespoons Sugar
Instructions
- Bake your pie crust according to package/recipe directions and set aside.
- Crack eggs in a small bowl, beat slightly with a fork and set aside. In a large saucepan combine sugar and cornstarch (yes, there are two cornstarch's listed in the ingredients on purpose, it's a weird amount so I thought breaking it down like that would be easiest). Whisk in milk and lemon juice until well combined. Cook over medium high heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thick and bubbling. Reduce heat to low and cook for two more minutes.
- Whisk a small amount of hot mixture into your egg yolks. Pour egg mixture into pan, stirring constantly. Bring mixture to a gentle boil and cook and stir for two minutes (yes, your arm will be hot by now). Stir in butter and lemon peel and remove from heat.
- Once mixture has cooled stir in sour cream and add your filling to your crust. Top with whipped cream and refrigerate until ready to serve. If you are going to garnish your pie with additional whipped cream, wait until right before serving to yield best results!
Notes
Nutrition
Now, go eat your heart out!
xo,
This post was originally published in 2014 and has been updated with better photos, a video and more detailed information!
Do these freeze well? I got two pie crusts so making two but only one will be eaten.
I’ve never tried freezing one since ours always go so quickly! Let me know if you try it!
This pie was delicious! I am not a huge lemon fan but adding the sour cream was a perfect balance. I will be making this one again. So yummy!
I had never had this before but its SO AMAZING!
It tastes just as good!
This looks downright delicious! I can’t wait to try this recipe. Thank you so much for sharing.
xo Michael
You’re so welcome! It really is so good!
Wow, this would be the perfect addition to any holiday dessert table! Thanks for the suggestion about using a premade crust when short on time.
You’re so welcome! Thanks Sabrina!
My husband would love this lemon pie so much! Totally pinning!
Yay! I’m so glad!
Ok! The first time I made this pie, I took it to a neighborhood pie contest and won! :)
It really is the best ever and so easy to make…follow the instructions and you and your taste buds will be so happy!
Made this yesterday for friends… it was perfect! I made my own crust (Ina Garten’s easy, delish recipe)… and used fresh lemon juice. This puppy is definitely going in the rotation. Great summer pie. Don’t know if I’m crazy – or smart – but I left the rest of the pie with our friends…. They were ecstatic!
Hooray!! I’m so glad it was a success for you!! Thank you for taking the time to come let us know :) makes my day!
Found this recipe via Pinterest and it sounds soooo good! I would love to include it in a roundup of pie recipes on my blog next week!
Go for it! As long as you link back for the recipe that’s great!
I live in Southern Utah and have been to Croshaws. Won’t ever go back due to the rudeness of the staff, so please don’t think I’m biased when I say your recipe is just as good if not better! Thank you for sharing.
You are so welcome! Thanks Sandra.
This pie looks delicious!!! Cant wait to do it! Your recipes are really easy and delicious!!
You are so sweet! Thank you so much!!
This sounds delicious!! Does anyone know if it’s possible to freeze this pie? I know sour cream rhubarb pie freezes great, but unsure about lemon.
I’m not sure I’ve never tried! I imagine the lemon would be fine! Be sure to let us know if you try it :)
I can attest that this pie is absolutely fantastic! I made it twice in one weekend! It was just that good! I brought it to two different parties and it was a HUGE hit at both!
Thanks JESS!
You are the sweetest ever Laur! I’m so glad you liked it! Thanks for coming back to comment, made my night :)
Dirty little secret: I use premade pie crust too- and get complimented on it every time… so I haven’t bothered trying to make it from scratch. I can’t wait to try this recipe… we grew up on lemon pie!
I am so excited to try this. Croshaw’s is my fav too, but I can’t justify going there too often.
I know!! It is so pricey! We think this one is just as good! You’ll have to let me know what you think!
Oh my! I made this for pi day yesterday. Croshaw’s lost another customer :) It was so good! I have been wanting a good replacement for a while and had many failed attempts. Thank you, thank you,thank you!
YAY!!! I am SO glad you love it as much as we do! It’s amazing how close it is huh?! Thanks so much for coming back to comment, means the world!
My favorite Marie Calendars pie is a Lemon sour cream. Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Yay!! You are gonna love this then! And it is seriously easy, if I can make it right, anyone can!