If you’ve ever had the pleasure of trying Marie Callender’s Lemon Cream Cheese Pie, you know it’s a dessert that’s hard to forget. The perfect balance of sweet and tart, creamy and crunchy, this no-bake pie is a true crowd-pleaser. Now, with this copycat recipe, you can recreate the magic of this classic dessert in your own kitchen. By using sour cream and gelatin in the filling, you’ll achieve an exceptionally light and airy texture that pairs beautifully with the zesty lemon topping.
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What Is a Lemon Cream Cheese Pie?
Sweet and tart, this cream cheese lemon pie is a classic dessert that was all the rage in the 60s, but it is just as good today. Think of this recipe as the lighter, brighter country cousin of the more famous New York Style Cheesecake.
What Makes This Lemon Cream Cheese Pie So Good?
The way that the three separate layers with their own distinctive taste and texture combine is what makes this no-bake pie so gosh darn good.
The crunchy graham crust is the ideal base for the creamy, sweet, and tart filling, and the citrusy lemon topping heightens the other flavors.
Recipe Ingredients
This cream cheese lemon pie recipe has three components: the crust, the filling, and the lemon topping.
Graham Cracker Crust:
- Graham cracker crumbs – Provides a buttery, slightly sweet base for the pie
- Sugar – Adds sweetness and helps bind the crust together
- Melted butter – Moistens the crumbs and creates a cohesive crust
Cream Cheese Layer:
- Cream cheese – Forms the rich, creamy base of the filling
- Sugar – Sweetens the filling and balances the tartness of the lemon topping
- Sour Cream – Adds tanginess and creates a lighter, airier texture
- Salt – Enhances the overall flavor of the filling
- Vanilla extract – Contributes a subtle, warm flavor that complements the cream cheese
- Knox gelatin – Helps set the filling and creates a smooth, sliceable texture
- Water – Hydrates the gelatin and allows it to dissolve properly
Lemon Topping:
- Sugar – Sweetens the lemon topping and balances the tartness
- Water – Provides the liquid base for the lemon gelatin layer
- Fresh lemon juice – Adds bright, zesty citrus flavor to the topping
- Cornstarch – Thickens the lemon mixture, creating a glossy, sliceable layer
- Grated lemon zest – Intensifies the lemon flavor and adds a touch of texture
- Salt – Enhances the overall flavor of the topping
- Butter – Adds richness and helps create a smooth, glossy finish
- Knox gelatin – Sets the lemon topping, allowing it to hold its shape when sliced
- Yellow food coloring (optional) – Enhances the natural yellow color of the lemon topping
How to Make Cream Cheese Lemon Pie
Here are the recipe steps for each component of this pie:
Graham Cracker Crust
- Put ten graham crackers into a plastic bag, seal the bag and use a rolling pin to crush the crackers into small pieces. You don’t want powder, but there shouldn’t be any big chunks either.
- Melt the butter in the microwave and stir in the sugar until it dissolves.
- Pour the crushed graham crackers into a mixing bowl and stir in the butter mixture to moisten.
- Form a graham cracker crumb crust in a 9-inch springform pan. Make sure to bring the crust up at least three-quarters of an inch onto the sides of the pan.
- Put the pan in the freezer to allow the crust to stiffen.
Cream Cheese Layer
- Dissolve the gelatin in water and add the vanilla extract.
- In a medium saucepan over low heat, stir together the cream cheese, sugar, sour cream, and salt.
- Stir in the dissolved gelatin and vanilla extract once the cream cheese melts and tiny bubbles form on the surface.
- Bring the mixture to a slow simmer and cook for two minutes while continuously stirring.
- Remove the pan from the heat and continue to stir while the filling cools slightly.
- Pour the lukewarm filling into the frozen graham cracker crust and put it directly into the fridge.
Lemon Topping
- Dissolve the gelatin in a tablespoon of water.
- Whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, a half-cup of water, and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat until the mixture comes to a simmer.
- Cook until the mixture is slightly thickened — about two minutes.
- Whisk in the butter, lemon zest, and optional food coloring.
- Add the gelatin, continuing to stir until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and cool to room temperature.
- Use an offset spatula to cover the top of the cheese pie with the lemon topping.
- Place the pie in the fridge for at least three hours before serving.
Fresh whipped cream may be added for garnish. Enjoy!
Possible Substitutions
No lemons, or just prefer limes? Feel free to substitute lime juice for lemon juice in the topping recipe above. And if you are using food coloring, don’t forget to switch to green unless you want to confuse people.
Do you want to save a lot of time? Use a prepared 9-inch graham cracker or cookie crumb crust and swap your favorite jam or jelly for the lemon topping. Fresh or macerated fruit is another great topping option.
What Goes Well With Lemon Cream Cheese Pie
A good cup of coffee is just about the perfect accompaniment to this pie. Non-coffee drinkers may prefer a mug of strong black tea.
How To Store Lemon Pie with Cream Cheese Layer
Always store a Cream Cheese Lemon Pie in the refrigerator. Cover the pie with plastic wrap, or better yet, keep it inside a covered pie plate to avoid damaging the lemon topping.
No-bake cheese pies tend to separate when frozen, so it’s best to consume them within 5 days.
How Long Does This Last?
The pie you make with this Marie Callender’s Lemon Cream Cheese Pie copycat recipe lasts up to five days in the fridge.
More Recipes for Marie Callender’s Pies
Favorite Pie Recipes
- Chess Pie with Nuts
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
- Chocolate Pudding Pie
- Hawaiian Pie
- Kool Aid Pie
- Lemon Meringue Pie
- Million Dollar Pie
- Sour Cream Raisin Pie
Check out my easy pie recipes and the best desserts here on CopyKat!
Copycat Marie Callender’s Lemon Cream Cheese Pie
Ingredients
Graham Cracker Crust
- 1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 4 tablespoons butter melted
Cream Cheese Filling
- 12 ounces cream cheese
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Knox gelatin
- 1 tablespoon cold water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Lemon Topping
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
- 5 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
- 4 egg yolks beaten
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- whipped cream optional
Instructions
Graham Cracker Crust
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease a 9” pie pan.
- Mix all of the crust ingredients together and press in an even layer into the prepared pie pan.
- Bake for 6 – 8 minutes.
- Then remove from oven and let cool.
Cream Cheese Filling
- Combine the cream cheese, sugar, sour cream, and salt in a medium saucepan and cook on very low heat, stirring constantly until the mixture starts to boil lightly.
- Mix the gelatin with the water. When the gelatin has dissolved, add it to the saucepan along with vanilla and stir well. Return the mixture to a light boil and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and let it cool to lukewarm.
- When the cream cheese filling is lukewarm, layer it on top of the crust and refrigerate until cooled.
Lemon Topping
- Place the water, sugar, lemon juice, cornstarch, salt, and lemon zest in a saucepan over medium heat, and whisk until mixture comes to a boil. Cook for 2 minutes until thick.
- Slowly pour half of the hot mixture into the beaten egg yolks, stirring constantly. When the mixture is completely blended, pour the egg mixture back into the remaining hot pudding.
- Cook and stir until the pudding reaches a slow boil. Stir and let boil slowly for about 5 minutes.
- Remove from the heat. Add the butter and vanilla, stir, and set aside to cool.
- When the lemon mixture reaches room temperature, gently smooth it over the cream cheese mixture and chill for several hours before serving.
- Garnish with fresh whipped cream if desired.
What is the amount of Vanilla Extract I should use in the lemon filling? Your recipe doesn’t show an amount next to vanilla extract in the Lemon Topping portion. Thanks!
It is 1 1/2 teaspoons.
I was thinking of using your filling in miniature prebaked tart shells for a dessert table. I know that this would be a hit.
My family ate this in one sitting. So delicious.
Loved this pie! My family enjoyed it as well it was a hit! I will be making it again!