## Indulge in the Sweet and Tangy Delight of Maine Shaker Lemon Pie: A Culinary Journey to New England's Favorite Dessert
Originating from the Shaker communities of Maine, the Maine Shaker Lemon Pie stands as a testament to the region's rich culinary heritage. This classic dessert boasts a delightful balance of sweet and tangy flavors, encased within a flaky, buttery crust. With its vibrant yellow filling and delicate meringue topping, this pie is a visual spectacle that tantalizes the senses.
This article presents a comprehensive guide to creating this iconic pie, featuring three distinct recipes that cater to different dietary preferences and skill levels. The traditional recipe remains faithful to the original Shaker tradition, while the vegan and gluten-free variations offer alternatives for those with dietary restrictions. Each recipe includes detailed instructions, ensuring that bakers of all levels can successfully recreate this New England treasure.
In this culinary journey, we will explore the secrets behind the perfect Shaker Lemon Pie. Discover the art of crafting a flaky crust that shatters at the first bite, the secrets to achieving a smooth, velvety lemon filling, and the techniques for creating a meringue topping that is both light and airy. Along the way, we will uncover the fascinating history of the Shaker community and their enduring legacy in American cuisine.
So, prepare your aprons and embark on a delightful baking adventure. Let the tantalizing aroma of lemon and sugar fill your kitchen as you create a masterpiece that will leave your taste buds dancing with joy.
LEMON SHAKER PIE RECIPE BY TASTY
Easy peasy, lemon squeezy! This pie is full of lemon flavor--whole Meyer lemons are sliced and macerated in sugar to soften, then enrobed in a rich filling and baked between two thin, buttery crusts for a pie that is tart, sweet, and sure to put a smile on your face.
Provided by Betsy Carter
Time 6h10m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Zest and thinly slice the lemons into rounds, removing any seeds.
- Add the lemon zest and slices and 2 cups (400 g) sugar to a large bowl. Stir to coat the lemon slices well. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and macerate in the refrigerator for 4 hours, or up to overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Add the beaten eggs, melted butter, flour, and salt to the lemon mixture and stir until fully incorporated.
- On a lightly floured surface, divide the disc of pie dough in half. Working 1 portion at a time, form into a smaller disc and roll out into a circle about ⅛ inch (3mm) thick. Drape 1 dough round in a 9-inch (23 cm) pie dish. Fill the pie dough with the lemon mixture, then top with the other dough round. Trim any excess dough around the edges, press the edges together and crimp to seal.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and water until fully combined.
- Brush the top of the pie with the egg wash and sprinkle with the remaining tablespoon of sugar. Cut 4 small decorative slits in the center of the pie to vent.
- Place the pie dish on a rimmed baking sheet and transfer to the oven. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the crust begins to brown.
- Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (180°C) and bake the pie for 22-24 minutes more, or until the crust is shiny and deep golden brown.
- Let the pie cool for 45-60 minutes before slicing and serving.
- Top each slice with a lemon twist and dust with powdered sugar.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 430 calories, Carbohydrate 70 grams, Fat 13 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 9 grams, Sugar 49 grams
SHAKER LEMON PIE RECIPE
This old-fashioned pie is made with thinly sliced whole lemons-peels and all. The recipe originated in Shaker communities in areas where the South meets New England and the Midwest. Shaker cooks considered lemons an important part of a healthy diet, even though they were expensive and hard to come by, so they devised this pie to make use of every bit of the fruit. The Charleston, West Virginia, Junior League included this Shaker Lemon Pie in its 1974 Mountain Measures cookbook, and it's been a favorite of bakers ever since. This citrus dessert is incredibly easy to make, with only four ingredients and 15 minutes of hands-on time. You let the lemon slices and sugar sit in a shallow bowl together for at least four hours, overnight if you'd like, to get the lemon slices good and juicy. To make it even easier, line a pie plate with a storebought refrigerated piecrust. We love serving this pie warm right out of the oven, and it goes too perfectly with some homemade vanilla ice cream! This pie makes a great addition to any Sunday family meal.
Provided by Mountain Measures a Collection of West Virginia Recipes
Categories Pies
Time 4h55m
Yield Serves 6 to 8
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Combine lemon slices and sugar in a shallow bowl; let stand until lemon slices are juicy, 4 hours or overnight. Remove any seeds that float to the surface.
- Preheat oven to 450°F. Stir eggs into lemon mixture thoroughly.
- Line a 9-inch pie plate with 1 piecrust. Pour lemon mixture into shell. Cover with top crust, and crimp edges. Cut decorative steam vents in top crust.
- Bake at 450°F for 15 minutes. Without removing pie from oven, reduce temperature to 350°F. Bake until a knife inserted in center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cover piecrust edges with aluminum foil, if becoming too brown. Serve pie warm or at room temperature. Top slices with vanilla ice cream, if desired.
SHAKER LEMON PIE
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes Pie & Tarts Recipes
Yield Makes one 11-inch pie
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Wash and cut 2 of the lemons into paper-thin slices. It is very important to slice the lemons as thinly as possible; use a very sharp knife or an electric meat slicer, if on is available. Remove peel and pith of remaining lemons; slice the flesh very, very thinly, and put it with the other slices in a large mixing bowl. Add sugar, and toss well to coat. Cover bowl with plastic wrap, and let the mixture rest overnight, stirring occasionally.
- The next day, preheat oven to 450 degrees. Press one circle of pastry into an 11-inch pie plate and chill.
- Add beaten eggs to the lemon mixture, and mix well. Turn mixture into prepared pie shell, neatly arranging some of the lemon slices on top. Cut long, even slashes 1 inch apart in the other pastry round, and place on top of filling. Crimp edges of the pie to seal. Brush top and edges with egg-white glaze. Bake for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees and continue baking for 30 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and shiny. Let cool on a rack before serving.
SHAKER LEMON PIE
Provided by Nancie McDermott
Categories Citrus Fruit Dessert Bake Vegetarian Lemon Family Reunion Party Advance Prep Required Kidney Friendly Pescatarian Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free Kosher
Yield Makes one 9-inch pie
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Using your sharpest knife (a serrated knife is ideal), trim each lemon to remove the stem end and tip. Slice each lemon crosswise, as thinly as you can possibly do it, into paper-thin circles. If you can drape them over the knife blade like the watches in Salvador Dali's surrealistic paintings, you're on the right track. Scoop up as much of the escaping lemon juices as you work, and add them to the bowl of sliced lemons.
- Chop the thinly sliced lemons coarsely, so that the largest pieces of lemon rind and pith are only 1 inch long, again gathering escaping juices back into the bowl for their flavor.
- Add the sugar to the bowl of lemons, and stir to mix them together really well. Cover and set aside at room temperature, for at least 3 hours and as long as overnight. Stir occasionally with a big spoon, to mix everything together well.
- Heat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a 9-inch pie pan with crust, leaving a 1-inch overhang.
- Add the eggs, flour, and salt to the bowl of sugary lemons. Stir to mix everything evenly and well. Pour this filling into the piecrust.
- Use a little water to wet the top rim of pastry around the piecrust. Roll the remaining dough into a 10-inch circle and place it carefully over the filling. Trim away the extra pastry, leaving a 1-inch overhang extending beyond the rim of the pie pan. Fold the crust up and over, and crimp it decoratively. Or press the tines of a fork into the pastry rim, working around the pan to make a design. Cut 8 steam vents in the top of the pie, so that steam can escape and the pie's juices can bubble up.
- Place the pie on a baking sheet and place it on the middle shelf of the oven. Bake for 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to 375 degrees F and bake until the filling is bubbling and thickened, and the pastry crust is cooked and handsomely browned, 25 to 35 minutes more. Place the pie on a cooling rack or a folded kitchen towel and let cool to room temperature.
SHAKER LEMON PIE
This is a very tart lemon pie using whole lemons (rind and all), sliced paper thin. It's for the TRUE lemon lover!
Provided by Susan Hissam
Categories Desserts Pies Custard and Cream Pie Recipes Lemon Pie Recipes
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Slice the lemons and combine in a large bowl with the 2 cups sugar. Let stand for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
- Add the beaten eggs and mix well. Pour into an unbaked 9 inch piecrust and cover with a top crust.
- Brush the top with milk and sprinkle granulated sugar on top.
- Bake at 450 degrees F (230 degrees C) for 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) and bake for an additional 20 to 25 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the pie comes out clean.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 462.1 calories, Carbohydrate 73.6 g, Cholesterol 93 mg, Fat 17.5 g, Fiber 2.9 g, Protein 6.2 g, SaturatedFat 4.5 g, Sodium 269.6 mg, Sugar 50.2 g
SHAKER LEMON PIE
Also known as Ohio lemon pie, this Shaker lemon pie is a Midwestern favorite. Its thrifty use of whole lemons is unique and gives the pie a lovely combination of sweet, tart and slightly bitter flavors. Lemon lovers won't be able to stop at a single piece. -Deb Perry, Traverse City, Michigan
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 55m
Yield 8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In a large glass bowl, combine lemons, sugar and salt. Cover and let stand overnight at room temperature., Preheat oven to 450°. On a lightly floured surface, roll one half of dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; transfer to a 9-in. cast-iron or other ovenproof skillet. Trim even with rim. In a large bowl, whisk eggs until frothy; lightly brush over crust. Add lemon mixture, flour and vanilla to eggs; mix well. Pour into crust. Roll remaining dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; place over filling. Trim, seal and flute edge. Cut slits in top., Bake 15 minutes. Reduce oven setting to 400°. Bake until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly, 20-25 minutes longer. Cover edge loosely with foil during the last 10 if needed to prevent overbrowning. Remove foil. Cool on a wire rack; serve warm.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 587 calories, Fat 26g fat (15g saturated fat), Cholesterol 153mg cholesterol, Sodium 383mg sodium, Carbohydrate 83g carbohydrate (52g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 8g protein.
Tips:
- Use fresh lemons. Fresh lemon juice and zest provide the best flavor for this pie.
- Don't overmix the filling. Overmixing can make the filling tough.
- Blind bake the pie crust. This will help to prevent the crust from becoming soggy.
- Let the pie cool completely before serving. This will allow the filling to set and the flavors to meld.
Conclusion:
This Maine Shaker Lemon Pie is a delicious and refreshing dessert that is perfect for any occasion. With its creamy, tart filling and flaky crust, this pie is sure to be a hit. So next time you're looking for a special dessert, give this recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!
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