Grandma’s Lemon Custard Pie with Lemon Curd Topping is a creamy lightly lemon custard pie with a nice tart lemon curd topping. And a pretty easy to make pie as well. This one is a keeper, just like Grandma said it would be!
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Some of my friends and I got together and thought we would share some of our Grandmas’ recipes. Make sure you scroll all the way to the bottom to see all the delicious and amazing recipes from our Grandmas!
You know, this was a lot of fun for me. I went back and did a little research before working on my recipe. Back before I wrote a blog, I use to make recipe books by hand. there was a new one every Christmas, for maybe 4 or 5 years in a row. One of those books I dedicated to my family’s recipes.
Looking through those books inspired me to share some of those recipes. Take a look back at my Skinny Potato and Onion Bake (one of my favorites!), and my mom’s Creamy Chicken Pimento Spread and Crescent Chicken Squares.
Recipe Notes:
This is a simple custard pie, with a light lemony flavor. I like to just pour the filling into the uncooked pie and bake it all together. I prefer a little bit of a pie soaked crust. But, if you prefer to pre-bake the crust, and get a crisper crust, please feel free.
The topping is a simple lemon curd, the kind Granny used to make. While you’re cooking it, it may develop little lumps, that’s ok, they will work themselves out as it cooks.
The food coloring in the lemon curd is totally optional. It makes a nice pretty yellow color. I’ve used it in all my pictures of this pie.

Check out all the delicious recipes from our Grandmas:
- Grandma’s War Time Peanut Drop Cookies from Lovefoodies
- Grandma’s Lemon Custard Pie from Life Currents
- Grandma’s Light-as-a-Feather Doughnut Recipe from Blessed Beyond Crazy
- Granny’s Ooey Gooey Oatmeal Bars from Who Needs A Cape?
- Granny Gertrude’s Blueberry Rice Pudding from Hot Eats and Cool Reads
- Grandma’s Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake from Savory Experiments
Lemon desserts you’ll love!
Grandma’s Lemon Custard Pie with Lemon Curd Topping
Lemon Soufflé Cheesecake
Lemon Ice Cream
Meyer Lemon Brûlée Tart
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Grandma’s Lemon Custard Pie with Lemon Curd Topping Recipe:

Grandma’s Lemon Custard Pie with Lemon Curd Topping
Grandma’s Lemon Custard Pie with Lemon Curd Topping is easy to make and really pretty to look at. Not to mention that it's lemony delicious!
Ingredients
Lemon Custard Pie:
- 2 cups whole milk
- 3 large eggs
- 3 large egg yolks
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon extract
- 1/8 teaspoon fine grain salt
- 1 homemade or store-bought Pie Crust in a deep dish pie pan unbaked
Lemon Curd Topping:
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoons granulated sugar divided use
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
- 2 to 3 drops yellow food coloring optional
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325° F.
- Pour the milk in a small saucepan, and over a medium heat, bring to a simmer.
- While the milk is heating, whisk the eggs, egg yolks, sugar, lemon extract, and salt together in a large bowl, and gradually add the hot milk to the egg mixture, stirring constantly. Pour the custard into the prepared pie crust.
- Bake, about 25-35 minutes, or until the center of the custard is set, but still jiggles a bit, like gelatin. Remove from oven and let cool completely on a cooling rack, then refrigerate. Once the pie is cold, begin the lemon curd topping.
- For lemon curd topping, combine ½ cup granulated sugar, cornstarch, and salt, and water in a small saucepan, stirring until smooth. Bring mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat, and add the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly, about 2 minutes. Remove sugar mixture from heat, and stir in butter, lemon zest, and food coloring, if using until butter is melted. Gently stir in lemon juice. Let lemon curd cool to room temperature, about ½ hour. Pour lemon curd topping over cooled custard pie. Refrigerate overnight.
Lovefoodies says
This looks so good and grandma recipes are always the BEST!
Linda Wiseman says
Lemon is always a favorite flavor and this recipe looks simply amazing!
Jessica says
I think I can taste the lemon through my computer screen! I’m keeping this one around for summertime!
Carolyn says
I love lemon desserts!
Lori Vachon says
Lemon is definitey one of my favorite flavors in desserts, this looks amazingly delicious!
Sheena says
I love custard and lemon, so this pie sounds like a match made in heaven! Delicious!
Darlene Record says
What size pie pan do you use for this beautiful pie???
Debi says
Darlene, thanks so much. I always use a deep dish pie pan. I just went an measured it, it’s 9-inches across.
Julie Menghini says
What a beautiful pie! We love lemon curd and this will make the perfect dessert for our Easter table! I love old family recipes and can’t wait to dive into the rest of them!
Sandra Shaffer says
Lemon curd and lemon custard? Grandma knows how to make a delicious pie! My mom just gave me tons of fresh lemons. Yay! It’s time to bake!
Lisa@Lisa's Dinnertime Dish says
I love lemon cream pie and the homemade lemon curd makes it even better!
kylee says
We loved this – my son said it was like sunshine! Thanks for a great recipe.
Jennifer Stewart says
Lip smacking goodness right here! We do get the best recipes handed down to us.
michele says
Our lemon tree was overabundant so I whipped this up yesterday. Three of us pretty much demolished it in 24 hours… so so good!
Brandi Burgess says
This is lemon heaven right here!!!!!
Deb says
Grandma’s recipes are the BEST! I can’t wait to try this with all of the lemons I have!!!
Deanna says
I love anything lemon! This lemon pie is tops on my list!
Darlene Record says
This is by far the most delicious lemon custard pie ever!!! Made it a few times, and it is a bomb for flavor!! I’m making it again today because it is my birthday choice for dessert!!!
Debi says
Darlene, thank you so much! You have totally made my day! 🙂