This recipe for easy lemon cream cheese pie is amazing! Ready to chill in about 30 minutes, made with real lemon juice, all tucked into an amazing Golden Oreo cookie crust. With a little chill time, this easy lemon pie recipe will become your go-to dessert on a hot summer day.
It doesn’t matter what you call it: No Bake Lemon Pie, Lemon Cream Pie, Lemon Cheesecake Pie, Lemon Ice Box Pie, Lemon Icebox Pie recipe from Eagle Brand or Luscious Lemon Pie — you will love this perfectly sweet-tart lemon no bake pie!
Citrus cream pies are one of our favorites, our most popular recipe is this Easy Award Winning Key Lime Pie, this Old Fashioned Lemon Icebox Pie with condensed milk will become a new favorite — guaranteed! But if it’s chocolate you like, this No Bake Chocolate Pie is calling your name.
Why You Will Love this Lemon Cream Cheese Pie
Anyone can make this sweet-tart Lemon Cream Cheese pie, ready to chill in about 30 minutes!
- EASY! Lemon cream pie is the best easy summer dessert because, it is no bake and takes minutes to whip up!
- SIMPLE INGREDIENTS | Ingredients that are easy to purchase at your local grocery store!
- CREAMIER lemon cream cheese pie, because we use Italian cream cheese, Mascarpone!
- DECORATE FOR THE OCCASION | Making a 4th of July dessert? Add berries and gold star sprinkles. How about for a bridal shower, use raspberries and shaved white chocolate and sprinkle gold edible hearts!
- TASTE | The perfect balance of sweet, light, creaminess married with the tartness of the lemon juice and zest. Fabulous lemon flavor!
- MAKE AHEAD | I love make ahead desserts, make this no bake lemon the day before you need it!
Patriotic Pie
Easily dress this pie up with berries and shaved white chocolate and little edible gold stars for a fantastic Patriotic, 4th of July dessert. I’ll show you how!
Simple Ingredients
Ingredients & instructions are in the printable recipe card at the end of this post. Instead of using Eagle brand milk, I opted for Organic sweetened condensed milk.
- Golden Oreos | you can certainly use other brands as well, I’ve had success using Gluten Free cookies & Organic brands of sandwich cookies for my cookie crusts.
- Butter | you know the saying, everything is better with butter!
- Cream Cheese | I use full fat Organic cream cheese, I haven’t tried this recipe with reduced or Neufchatel, let me know if you do!
- Mascarpone Cheese | An Italian cream cheese, higher in fat and way creamier, if you cannot find it, you can substitute with regular cream cheese. It’s usually found in the deli area with other specialty cheeses, like Mozzarella, Burrata and Romano.
- Lemon Zest | I love a lot of zest when baking, I zested all of my lemons, use at least 1 tablespoon.
- Fresh Lemon Juice | You need about 4 fresh lemons to get enough juice, this is a nice tart pie. Bottled lemon juice can have an off taste, due to preservatives.
- Sweetened Condensed Milk | It provides structure and adds the perfect amount of sweetness to the cheesecake like filling. I used organic, but feel free to use the original Eagle brand sweetened condensed milk.
Optional Toppings for your lemon cream cheese pie
- Fresh Strawberries | sliced and arrange in any pattern you choose!
- Fresh Blueberries | washed and dried, place as many as you choose
- White Chocolate Bar | Use a vegetable peeler, hold the chocolate bar and peel away from you creating chocolate curls and shavings.
- Whipped Cream with wedges of lemons and some extra lemon zest
How to Make No Bake Lemon Icebox Pie
Step 1 | Make the Cookie Crust
- Place Oreo cookies into food processor and pulse until fine crumbs, or place in baggie and crush with rolling pin.
- Mix melted butter into cookie crust, pressing into a 9″ pie plate. If you would like to see more how to do it, visit this post Oreo Cookie Crust.
- Place in freezer for about 30 minutes while you make the pie filling.
Step 2 | Making the Lemon Cream Filling
- In a large bowl (my favorite) add cream cheese and mascarpone cheese, mixing with hand mixer or hand whisk (muscles!) or in a stand mixer for 1-2 minutes until light and fluffy.
- With mixer on, slowly pour in lemon juice and lemon zest until combined and smooth.
- Slowly pour in condensed milk while mixing, then increase speed on mixer to high and mix well scraping down sides once or twice, for 2 minutes until thick and smooth.
Step 3 | Making Icebox Lemon Pie Recipe from Eagle Brand
- Pour lemon cream cheese filling into prepared crust, lightly cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours, preferably 8-10 hours.
- Decorate if desired with fruit or whipped cream just prior to serving.
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How to Make Stable Whipped Cream
- Add heavy whipping cream to a bowl or stand mixer, using the whisk attachment beat until thickened, then add vanilla extract and powdered sugar to desired taste. Continue whipping until stiff peaks form, just before it turns to butter, it should be really thick.
- Spoon into plastic bag or piping bag with desired tip and either store in fridge until ready to use, or pipe in desired pattern. ==>> See my post on how to make the best homemade Cool Whip or Stabilized Whipped Cream! <<==
Tips
- This pie will thicken and firm as it cools, and you need at least 4 hours of chill time, of course it still tastes amazing, but the pieces will be easier to serve the longer you chill it.
- When incorporating your lemon juice and condensed milk, be sure to do it slowly, whisking or mixing well while you are adding, then continue to mix for several minutes, this will bind the ingredients together better.
- For a more tart lemon cream pie, add more zest, adding much more lemon juice will thin out the ingredients.
Frequently Asked Questions
I grew up with my mom making the lemon luscious pie, creamy and delicious, but it’s is a bake recipe, as it has eggs in it, which is not a bad thing, I just wanted to bring you a simple, easy recipe!
Gluten free absolutely! The filling is naturally gluten free, just replace the cookies with your favorite gluten free sandwich cookies or even GF graham crackers (see my recipe in Key Lime Pie).
Dairy Free | try using plant based butter in the crust (make sure the cookies don’t have dairy), swap plant based cream cheese for both cheeses and use Coconut Sweetened Condensed milk in stead of regular.
When I made this for my book club, I think I had at least 3 of my girlfriends ask if you removed the cream in the cookies, no, you leave it in when making a cookie crust, it helps bind the crust together along with the butter.
It really depends on the freshness of the lemon and the size of a lemon. Generally speaking a medium fresh lemon will yield about 2 ½ tablespoons.
When choosing your lemons, choose those that are firm, but yield to some pressure, you do not want a lemon with a really thick rind, there is probably more rind than lemon.
To get more juice from your lemon, try these two tricks: 1) Place lemon on cutting board or counter and firmly roll with palm of hand until it starts to yield slightly. 2) Place lemon in microwave for about 10 seconds, then roll and squeeze.
Recommended Tools
You don’t really need any special tools for this luscious lemon pie, but here are a few that will make it easier!
- 9″ Pie Plate | I have made this pie in both a shallow 9″ inch pie plate as well as a deep dish, both work, one might have a little thinner crust than the other. You can also make this Lemon Cream Pie in a 8-9 inch square baking dish, you will just have squares instead of pie slices, and they will be thicker and maybe fall apart on you. Nuttin’ wrong with that!
- Zest Tool | I love my Microplane Zester! This is a lifesaver when it comes to zesting citrus, makes it so simple!
- Lemon Juicer | I use and love this hand-held juicer, since it turns the lemon or lime inside out, you get the most juice from your citrus.
- Batter Bowl | A good sturdy batter bowl is essential for so many baking tasks, you will love this one with a lid!
- Mixer | You can use a stand mixer, but honestly this is so easy to do with a hand mixer!
- Spatula | A sturdy, wide spatula is helpful to scrape out all of that wonderful lemon cream mixture!
Storage instructions
Make up this no bake lemon icebox pie up to 24 hours ahead of time, but at least 4 hours. Keep covered and refrigerate any leftovers. This is delicious and fine to eat up to 7 days after making, though the cookie crust might be a bit soggy.
Red White and Blueberry Cream Pie
Easily transform this lemon ice box pie into a red, white and blueberry cream pie!
Simply slice strawberries and arrange in any patter, adding fresh blueberries and if desired, some shaved white chocolate and gold edible sprinkles. It’s the perfect Patriotic dessert!
Lemon Lover?
If you are a lemon lover like I am, you will love these lemon forward recipes!
- Old Fashioned Lemon Squares | easily adapt to be gluten free, these are the best lemon bars!
- Lemon Gelato Ice Cream | Creamy, dreamy, all natural ingredients!
- Luscious Lemon Curd | if you are a lemon lover you will love this easy stove top lemon curd!
- Cranberry Lemon Drop Martini | deliciously refreshing!
- Lemon Shortbread Sandwich Cookies | dainty, light shortbread cookies with an out of this world lemon buttercream.
- Copycat Chick-Fil-A Frosted Lemonade | cool, lemony and so much cheaper than Chick-Fil-A
- Zucchini Lemon Bread with lemon Glaze | use up that summer zucchini in this delicious bright quick bread.
Variations & Substitutions
- Make using a homemade graham cracker crust, follow the how to on my Key Lime Pie recipe, the crust will need to be baked and cooled, so keep that in mind.
- Swap out the lemons with limes! Use the same amounts, according to your personal taste, Lime no bake pie recipe!
- Make using chocolate Oreo’s versus Golden Oreo’s for a striking lemon yellow and black dessert.
If you liked this no bake lemon pie recipe, more great desserts!
- Fried Ice Cream Cake | Another make ahead winner!!
- Dirt Cake | this one is decorated for Easter, but the cake is scrumptious anytime of year!
- Old Fashioned Chocolate Ice Cream or Vanilla Bean Ice Cream | creamy, easy and so delicious!
- Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding | creamy, old-fashioned and delicious!
- Mile High Mud Pie Ice Cream Cake | hands down our favorite dessert!
- French Silk Pies | Make as bars or mini pies, these are creamy and so delicious!
Like this recipe?
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No Bake Lemon Icebox Pie Recipe
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Ingredients
Golden Oreo Cookie Crust
- 24 Golden Oreo Sandwich Cookies finely crushed, do not remove the cream.
- 4-6 tablespoons butter melted | More if you want your crust to really stick together.
Lemon Filling
- 8 oz cream cheese softened | I used Organic full fat
- ½ cup Mascarpone cheese 4 oz, softened
- 1-4 tablespoons lemon zest use more for tart pie, I used 4
- ⅔ cup lemon juice fresh squeezed
- 14 ounce sweetened condensed milk I used organic
Stable Whipping Cream (Optional)
- 8 oz Heavy Whipping Cream I used organic, very cold
- 1-2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3-4 tablespoons powdered sugar
Optional Toppings
- 1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- 1 small bar white chocolate for shaving
- [Edible Gold Stars]
Instructions
Oreo Cookie Crust
- Place Oreo cookies into food processor and pulse until fine crumbs, or place in baggie and crush with rolling pin.
- Mix melted butter into cookie crust, then mix well and place in 9" pie plate, pressing well to form a crust. If you would like to see more how to do it, visit this post Oreo Cookie Crust. Add a little extra butter (up to 2 tablespoons) if you want your crust to really stick together.
- Place in freezer for about 30 minutes while you make the pie filling.
Lemon Icebox Pie Filling
- In a large mixing bowl add cream cheese and Mascarpone cheese and mix with hand mixer or hand whisk (muscles!) or in a stand mixer for 1-2 minutes until light and fluffy.
- With mixer on, slowly pour in lemon juice and lemon zest until combined and smooth.
- Slowly pour in condensed milk while mixing, once all sweetened condensed milk is mixed, increase speed on mixer to high and mix well scraping down sides once or twice, for 2 minutes until thick and smooth.
- Pour lemon cream cheese filling into the prepared cookie crust, lightly cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours, preferably 8-10 hours.
- Decorate if desired with fruit or whipped cream just prior to serving.
Make Stabilized Whipped Cream
- Add heavy whipping cream to a bowl or stand mixer, using the whisk attachment beat until thickened, then add vanilla extract and powdered sugar to desired taste, continue whipping until stiff peaks form, just before it turns to butter.
- Spoon into plastic bag or piping bag with desired tip and either store in fridge until ready to use, or pipe in desired pattern.
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Video
Notes
- This pie will thicken and firm as it cools, and you need at least 4 hours of chill time, of course it still tastes amazing, but the pieces will be easier to serve the longer you chill it.
- When incorporating your lemon juice and condensed milk, be sure to do it slowly, whisking or mixing well while you are adding, then continue to mix for several minutes, this will bind the ingredients together better.
- For a more tart lemon cream pie, add more zest, adding too much more lemon juice will thin out the ingredients.
Gluten and/or Dairy Free Lemon Pie
Gluten free | The filling is naturally gluten free, just replace the cookies with your favorite gluten free sandwich cookies or even GF graham crackers, see my recipe in Key Lime Pie.Dairy Free | try using plant based butter in the crust (make sure the cookies don’t have dairy), swap plant based cream cheese for both cheeses and use Coconut Sweetened Condensed milk in stead of regular.
Nutrition
Jayne Reuer
This is the absolutely the best dessert I’ve ever eaten. The lemon gives it a hint of flavor without overwhelming it. Any fresh berries are great with it. I have experimented with different cookies for the crust. My favorite is the Lotus Biscoff cookies. I’ve made this almost every week since first trying it at Easter. Best dessert ever!
Love that you used Biscoff cookies, such a great combo Jayne! Thank you for your sweet comment!
Spacelady
This is so yummy! My most favorite dessert ever. I’ve used Lotus Biscoff cookies for the crust, using about 24-30.
What a great flavor contrast – love this twist!! Thanks for this tip!
Debbie
This is THE BEST Lemon Icebox Pie Recipe I’ve made/tasted! I’ve been following an old church cookbook recipe for Lemon Icebox pie for over 20 years, and it’s delicious, but this recipe is the gourmet version with better ingredients! I recently made 2 for a dinner party, and everyone RAVED! My only problem, and I’m sure the problem was from my doing, was the pies were not as firm as I felt they were meant to be; they were just a tad bit soft- but NOT soupy or runny. Do you have any guesses as to what I may have done wrong? I followed the directions to the T, but I may have made a mistake when mixing the lemon cream cheese and mascarpone mixture. Thanks in advance for any advice or insight you may offer. 🍋💛🤩
Thank you so much for your kind comment, Debbie. We agree this is a winner! It is a softer pie, you probably didn’t do anything wrong. You do need to slowly add the Lemon juice and the condensed milk. Did you refrigerate at least 4 hours Before slicing? I personally like more around 8. But it’s a softer pie due to the mascarpone in general.
Cameron
Fun and yummy! Served to book club. Lots of happy people at the table — everyone loved this pie! My daughter made it and was very proud; it was beautiful (we made it in a red pie plate to contrast with the lemon wedges).
Sounds gorgeous Cameron! So glad everyone loved it! Thank you!!
Andrea
Thank you! I have so many lemons from my tree I’m always looking for lemon recipes. This looks amazing!
You will love it!
Jill
Just a fantastic recipe. I am particularly fond of the patriotic version. Going to make it this weekend for Memorial Day!
It is perfect for Memorial day!
Kris
I just made this for family and they really enjoyed it! Thank you for another fabulous recipe! 🙂
Yay! So glad to hear that!
Anita
This is such an easy and refreshing cream pie. I am going to borrow your idea with strawberries and blueberries decoration for 4th of July.
Perfect!
Jamie
I love this no-bake cake since it’s perfect for the hot summer days! The lemon flavor really comes through!
It really does!
Beth Sachs
This lemon cream pie is the most perfect summer dessert! Will make again soon.
Yay!! Thanks so much!
Jennifer
This was the perfect pie to use up the leftover Oreos! It was amazing and so easy to make. Everybody wanted seconds!
Yes, seconds are usually in demand!
Mirlene
I am a fan of no bake desserts! Saves me time when making a full course meal. Lemon cream pie is one I’ll make this weekend for my family!
Yes, totally a time saver, especially since it’s better made ahead!
kushigalu
This pie looks amazing. I am in love with flavors. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much for your kind words about my pie!
Liz
This pie is divine! I loved the buttery golden oreo crust and the mascarpone cheese made the filling sooo creamy. This is the perfect pie for summer! My kiddos keep asking me to make it again!
The perfect summer pie!
Beverly Jean Beene
Love ????
Thank you!
Tayler Ross
I made this the other day and it was a total hit with my family! So creamy and full of lemon flavor!
Makes me so happy to hear that! Thank you!
Diana Reis
Perfect no bake recipe. The filling is so creamy and the lemon is so fresh.
Thank you Diana, so glad you enjoyed it!
Claudia Lamascolo
what a creamy dream pie wow we just love lemon, I can’t wait to make this!
I know you are going to love it!
Sue
No bake pies are my favorite summer dessert!
Mine too!
Jacqueline Meldrum
That looks heavenly. I am sitting here drooling.
I hope you give it a try!
Tasia ~ two sugar bugs
This lemon pie looks amazing! I love how thick and creamy that filling is. It will be perfect for whenever the hot weather decides to arrive in the PNW.
Which can be a whole lot later than Colorado, hope you have beautiful sunny warm days soon! Thank you Tasia!
Michaela Kenkel
I love lemon anything wit my WHOLE HEART and this pie was TOP NOTCH!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
Tasia ~ two sugar bugs
This looks like a perfect summer pie! I hope you had a wonderful 4th of July!
Thank you so much Tasia! It is the perfect no bake summer pie! Hope you had a great 4th as well!
Bob
Yummy! Happy 4th!????????????????????????????????????????
Thank you Bob!! Happy 4th!