My original version (posted in 2009)
1 store bought or homemade baked pastry crust
1 1/2 c sugar
6 T cornstarch
1/2 t salt
1 c water
2 T real butter
2 t grated lemon peel or 1 t dried
2/3 c lemon juice
12 oz. cream cheese
3/4 c powdered sugar
3/4 c heavy cream, whipped
1 T lemon juice or 1/2 t vanilla
Combine
the sugar, cornstarch and salt in a saucepan on the stove. Stir in the
water and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat and cook
and stir for about 2 minutes until smooth. It should be thick and
clear. Remove from heat, stir in the butter, lemon peel and lemon
juice. I like to add 2 drops of yellow food color to the curd at this
point to give it a nice yellow color. Cool to room temperature (about
an hour). In a mixing bowl combine the cream cheese (softened) and
powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Fold in the whipped cream and
lemon juice or use the vanilla - I make it both ways. Save about 1/2 -
3/4 cup of the whipped cream for garnish. Spread the rest into the
baked and cooled pie crust shell. Top with the lemon filling. Chill at
least 6-8 hours. Pipe stars on the top with the reserved whipped
cream.
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FAST FORWARD to low carb and sugar free days...
Just recently I posted my recipe for an old fashioned chocolate fudge pie in which I said of the crusts; "if you are going to make one... make two!" and save it for a future dessert. That was in this post.
I made a simple almond flour pie crust using 1 1/4 almond flour, 1/4 c zero carb vanilla whey protein powder, 1/4 t salt, 1/3 c sweetener and about 1/4 plus 1 T melted butter; mix in bowl until it comes together and press into a glass or non-stick pie tin. Pre-bake about 12 minutes or until gold brown at 350 degrees. Let cool completely before either using or tucking away into the freezer for a future recipe.
I used that one because I already had it made and in the freezer; but I really love my other pie crust for this pie as well; If you want more of a traditional crust I have another favorite pie crust post here: pie crust.
My lower carb version
1 pre baked pie crust (just above)
1 1/2 c natural sweeteners
6 T cornstarch
1/2 t salt
1 c water
2 T real butter
2 t grated lemon peel or 1 t dried
2/3 c fresh lemon juice
12 oz. cream cheese
3/4 c powdered sweeteners
3/4 c heavy cream, whipped
1 T lemon juice or 1/2 t vanilla
Combine
the sweetener, cornstarch and salt in a saucepan on the stove. Stir in the
water and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat and cook
and stir for about 2 minutes until smooth. It should be thick and
clear.
Remove from heat, stir in the butter, lemon peel and lemon juice. Cool to room temperature (about an hour). In a mixing bowl combine the cream cheese (softened) and powdered sweetener and beat until smooth. Fold in the whipped cream and lemon juice or use the vanilla - I make it both ways. Save about 1/2 - 3/4 cup of the whipped cream for garnish. Spread the rest into the baked and cooled pie crust shell. Top with the lemon filling. Chill at least 6-8 hours. Pipe stars on the top with the reserved whipped cream.
I took the pre-made crust out of the freezer and let it set on the counter while I made the rest of the pie
Mmmm.... the whipped cream and cream cheese part of the recipe
Spread the whipped cream and cream cheese layer on the crust
Topped with the lemon filling and then the reserved whipped cream either dolloped on top, spread on top or pipe some whipped cream stars on top.
**Note: For people who don't love lemon
I didn't take a photo of the filling by itself but I had taken a video and posted it on my Instagram account so I screenshot a quick photo from it. Blurry, but you can see it in the making. It's basically a sugar free cranberry sauce recipe with blueberries for part of the cranberries.
