Monday 3/14, is Pi day. What better way to celebrate “Pi” than with my favorite dessert, “Pie”? Let’s break out the pie plates and celebrate “Pi”, no complicated math required! Today we’re making Meyer Lemon Shaker Pie.

Meyer Lemon Shaker Pie is an oldie but goodie. Lemon Shaker pie is simple, straightforward and beautiful, just like Shaker design. While I will often try to put my own spin on a recipe, over-complicating or embellishing this recipe would go against the very idea of Shaker style. Sometimes simplicity is best.

Lemon Shaker pie is as delicious as Shaker furniture is beautiful. This pie will especially appeal to die-hard lemon lovers (guilty as charged!). A double pie crust is filled with paper thin lemon slices (rind and all), sugar and eggs. Bake until the lemon filling is set and the crust is golden brown.

The hardest part about making this pie is remembering to prep the lemons the day before you plan to bake. The lemon slices need to macerate in sugar for at least 24 hours to soften the rind and remove bitterness from the pith. Don’t skimp on this step or you might wind up with tough rinds in the filling.

You can use any variety of lemon, but Meyer lemons are perfect for this recipe because they have a mellow flavor and thin skin. Meyer lemons are available in my local grocery at this time of year, so that’s what I used for my pie. Any other time of year I would use whatever lemon variety was available. Though I would look for fruit with thinner rinds, if possible.

Serve your Meyer Lemon Shaker Pie simply as is, or with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

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Meyer Lemon Shaker Pie

Yield: 8 slices

Prep Time: 1 day

Bake Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 day 45 minutes

Meyer Lemon Shaker Pie is an oldie but goodie. Lemon Shaker pie is simple, straightforward and beautiful, just like Shaker design. While I will often try to put my own spin on a recipe, over-complicating or embellishing this recipe would go against the very idea of Shaker style. Sometimes simplicity is best.

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Ingredients

• 1 Recipe Perfect Pie Crust
• 5 Meyer Lemons or 3-4 medium sized conventional lemons
• 2 cups (16 oz, 453g) granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
• 4 large eggs plus 1 egg for egg wash

Instructions

Prep the Lemons

1. Cut the two ends off each lemon to the point where the pulp is visible. Slice each lemon in half, lengthwise, removing seeds as you go. Slice each lemon half into paper thin slices, a very sharp knife makes this easier. You should have about 2 cups of sliced lemons.
2. Toss the lemon slices and their juices in a bowl with the granulated sugar. Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours, stir a couple of times during this time to redistribute the sugar.

Assemble the Pie

1. Roll 1/2 the pie dough to line a 9 deep-dish pie plate. Roll the other 1/2 of the dough for the top crust, sprinkle with flour and fold into 1/4s.
2. Place the folded top crust into the lined pie plate, wrap and refrigerate the dough for at least one hour (I do this the day before while I'm prepping the lemons).
3. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
4. Toss the flour with the lemon slices. Whisk 1 egg with a pinch of salt for egg wash.
5. In another bowl whisk the other 4 eggs with a pinch of salt, add 1/2 the egg wash to this bowl (just to avoid left-over egg wash). Mix the eggs into the lemon slices.
6. Pour the lemon mix into the chilled pie shell. Brush the rim of the pie shell with egg wash. Place the top crust onto the pie and trim the edges of the crust to extend 1/2" past the pan. Tuck the extra dough under and crimp with a fork or your fingers. Cut steam vents into the top crust. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with a tablespoon of granulated sugar.
7. Bake until golden brown and the filling is set, about 45 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the steam vent should come out fairly clean.

Notes

The pie will keep at room temperature for 2-3 days.

Did you make this recipe?

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