Limoncello Meringue Pie Bars
A fun and boozy dessert recipe bursting with fresh summer flavors, this Lemon Meringue Pie Bar recipe is infused with vanilla vodka and limoncello for a delicious summer dessert just for grown-ups!
Limoncello Dessert Recipe
Lemon meringue pie is a summertime classic for a reason.
The combination of buttery, flakey pie crust, sweet and tangy lemon filling and chewy, sweet meringue topping is the definition of dessert perfection – and it’s always a crowd favorite.
My friend Jenn, always the culinary adventurer, decided to take a classic lemon meringue pie up a notch by hitting it with some limoncello (an Italian lemon liqueur) and even snuck some vanilla vodka into the crust. The flavor wasn’t overwhelmingly boozy and the use of limoncello resulted in a less tart lemon filling that still retained a profound lemon flavor.
Of course, you can make these lemon meringue pie bars without using the booze (just swap it out with extra lemon juice) but you won’t be sorry if you do!
More Lemon Dessert Recipes
I often order my liquor from Drizly because they have a quick delivery time (sometimes within 40 minutes) and no expensive mark-ups. Purchasing from them supports local retailers, too. You can order the vanilla vodka or lemoncello needed for this recipe here.
Limoncello Meringue Pie Bar Ingredients
Pie Crust Ingredients:
- All-Purpose Flour
- Powdered Icing Sugar
- Cornstarch
- Salt
- Butter, cut into cubes, room temperature
- Vanilla Vodka, optional
Lemon Filling Ingredients:
- White Sugar
- All-Purpose Flour
- Eggs
- Lemon Juice
- Lemon Zest, optional
- Limoncello or Lemon Vodka
Meringue Topping Ingredients:
- Egg Whites
- Cream of Tartar
- White Sugar
- Vanilla Extract
Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.
Tip: if you don’t want to include alcohol, leave out the vanilla vodka and swap the limoncello for additional lemon juice.
Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- 9″ x 13″ Casserole Dish or Tart Pan <– I love these Pyrex dishes with fitted lids for easy transportation to parties or leftover storage
- Mixing Bowls
- Whisk
- Electric Mixer <– this is a great hand mixer if you don’t want to make the investment into a stand mixer
- Piping bag with a star tip <– a basic piping set will have all you need
How to Make Limoncello Meringue Pie Bars
Pie Crust Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Line a 9″ x 13″ baking pan with parchment paper
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, powdered sugar, vanilla vodka and salt.
Cube the butter into smaller pieces and add to the flour mixture. Using a pastry cutter or fork to cut the butter into the mixture until it’s crumbly and starts to come together.
Fold the mixture into the prepared baking pan and press it down into one even layer.
Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes until lightly golden.
Lemon Filling Directions:
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and sugar.
Whisk in the eggs, lemon, lemon juice and limoncello until fully combined.
Pour the lemon filling over the pre-baked crust and return to the oven for 18-22 minutes, until lemon filling is set.
Allow to cool for 1 hour before preparing the meringue topping.
Meringue Topping Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites until glossy and smooth, about 2-3 minutes, then add the cream of tartar and beat until soft peaks form, 1-2 additional minutes.
Slowly add in the sugar as you keep beating, and then the vanilla extract.
Scoop the meringue into a piping bag fit with a large star tip.
Pipe the meringue on top of the cooled lemon bars and place back in the oven for 10 minutes.
Allow to cool slightly before cutting into the bars.
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Limoncello Meringue Pie Bars
A fun and boozy dessert recipe bursting with fresh summer flavors, this Lemon Meringue Pie Bar recipe is infused with vanilla vodka and limoncello for a delicious summer dessert just for grown-ups!
Ingredients
Pie Crust Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1/2 cup Powdered Icing Sugar
- 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 3/4 cup Butter, cut into cubes, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla Vodka, optional
Lemon Filling Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups White Sugar
- 1/4 cup All-Purpose Flour
- 4 Eggs
- 1/2 cup Lemon Juice
- 2 Tablespoons Lemon Zest, optional
- 2-4 Tablespoons Limoncello or Lemon Vodka
Meringue Topping Ingredients:
- 4 Egg Whites
- 1 teaspoon Cream of Tartar
- 1/2 cup White Sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Instructions
Pie Crust Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Line a 9" x 13" baking pan with parchment paper
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, powdered sugar, vanilla vodka and salt.
- Cube the butter into smaller pieces and add to the flour mixture. Using a pastry cutter or fork to cut the butter into the mixture until it's crumbly and starts to come together.
- Fold the mixture into the prepared baking pan and press it down into one even layer.
- Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes until lightly golden.
Lemon Filling Directions:
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and sugar.
- Whisk in the eggs, lemon, lemon juice and limoncello until fully combined.
- Pour the lemon filling over the pre-baked crust and return to the oven for 18-22 minutes, until lemon filling is set.
- Allow to cool for 1 hour before preparing the meringue topping.
Meringue Topping Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites until glossy and smooth, about 2-3 minutes, then add the cream of tartar and beat until soft peaks form, 1-2 additional minutes.
- Slowly add in the sugar as you keep beating, and then the vanilla extract.
- Scoop the meringue into a piping bag fit with a large star tip.
- Pipe the meringue on top of the cooled lemon bars and place back in the oven for 10 minutes.
- Allow to cool slightly before cutting into the bars.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 379Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 93mgSodium: 225mgCarbohydrates: 56gFiber: 1gSugar: 41gProtein: 5g
Sugar, Spice and Glitter uses an auto-generate nutrition calculator. Nutrition information isn’t always accurate unless analyzed in a scientific lab, so these should be considered more of a guideline than medical information.
I hope your guests love this fun twist on a lemon meringue pie as much as I did!
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