When those warm weather cravings for something bright, citrusy and refreshing kick in, there’s no dessert that hits the spot quite like this no-bake lemonade pie. It’s essentially summertime in creamy, tangy, straight-from-the-icebox form!
The beauty of this lemonade pie is just how stunningly easy yet downright delightful it is. You’re just a few basic ingredients and about 5 minutes of hands-on time away from pure lemon-kissed bliss chilling away. Really, the most labor-intensive part is mustering enough patience to let it set up in the fridge for a few hours.
At its core, this dreamy lemonade pie is essentially a luscious lemon pudding folded together with fluffy clouds of creamy whipped topping. It gets its powerfully zesty punch from frozen lemonade concentrate, which lends that nostalgic lemon-lime soda flavor we all loved as kids while providing the perfect balance of tangy and sweet.
That lemon-spiked custard mixture sets up beautifully in a pre-made or homemade graham cracker crust into a delightfully refreshing icebox pie filling. With its creamy yet almost mousse-like texture, every bite just perfectly encapsulates those iconic flavors of bright, sunny lemon bars meets lush, airy cheesecake.
While already perfectly sublime chilled, you can also take this lemonade pie to the next level by letting it set for a couple hours in the freezer. This turns that luscious lemon filling into more of a semi-frozen, sherbet-like consistency. It’s an ultra refreshing way to enjoy it on those sweltering summer days when only an icy treat will do.
You can easily keep things as quick and easy as the filling calls for by using store-bought ingredients like pre-made whipped topping, lemonade concentrate and a ready-made graham crust. Or opt for going the homemade route with fresh-squeezed lemon juice, zest, homemade whipped cream and a from-scratch graham crust.
Either way, you’ll want to take things over the top with some fresh lemon slices for garnish and maybe even a sprinkle of candied lemon peel or zest to really double down on those bright citrus vibes. It’ll make for an even more eye-catching presentation to serve up at all your backyard barbecues, picnics, or summertime shindigs.
Truthfully though, this zesty lemonade pie is so refreshing and such an absolute breeze to throw together, you’ll probably want it in your life all summer long. Treat yourself to a slice when you need some sweet sunshine in dessert form, or present it as the ultimate crowd-pleasing warm weather grand finale. Either way, it’s guaranteed to disappear at record-breaking speeds once folks get a taste.
No-Bake Lemonade Pie
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cup milk
- 2 3.4 oz packages instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1 6 oz frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
- 1 8 oz container frozen whipped topping, thawed
- 1 graham cracker pie crust
Garnish (optional):
- Lemon slices
- Candied lemon peel or zest
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the milk and pudding mixes for 2 minutes until thick and smooth.
- Pour in the thawed lemonade concentrate and whisk for 1-2 more minutes until fully incorporated and lemon-flavored.
- Fold in the thawed whipped topping until no streaks remain.
- Pour the lemonade pie filling into the graham cracker crust, smoothing it into an even layer.
- Refrigerate for at least 4 hours until completely set and chilled.
- Garnish with lemon slices and candied lemon peel if desired.
- For a frozen lemonade pie, place it in the freezer for 2-3 hours before slicing and serving.
That’s it! This sunny, creamy no-bake lemonade pie is the easiest way to get your sweet-tart citrus dessert fix all summer long. So bright, refreshing and delightfully lush.
