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Lemon Meringue Squares

Bake with Anna Olson • Food • Newsletter • Recipes

These lemon meringue squares are a dressier version of a lemon square and are topped with a cooked marshmallow layer.
For a simpler, more traditional lemon square, simply omit the meringue marshmallow layer.

Makes 1 8-inch pan 9 servings

Ingredients

  • Crust:
    • 2/3 cup graham cracker crumbs
    • ½ cup all purpose flour
    • ½ cup flaked sweetened coconut
    • 1 tbsp sugar
    • 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • Filling:
    • 1 300 mL tin sweetened condensed milk
    • 5 large egg yolks (save whites for meringue)
    • 2/3 cup fresh lemon juice
    • 2 tsp lemon zest
  • Marshmallow Layer:
    • 5 Tbsp cold water
    • 2 ¼ tsp gelatin powder
    • 1 tsp meringue powder
    • ½ cup sugar
    • ¼ cup white corn syrup
    • pinch salt

Method

  1. For the crust, preheat oven to 350 °F and lightly grease and 8-inch square pan and line with parchment paper so that it comes up the sides of the pan. Toss all the crust ingredients until well-combined and press into the prepared pan. Bake for 12 minutes and cool while preparing the lemon filling.
  2. For the filling, reduce the oven to 325 °F. Whisk all the filling ingredients together and pour into the cooled crust. Bake for 20 minutes, until set but with a little jiggle in the centre, then cool to room temperature before chilling for at least an hour.
  3. For the marshmallow meringue, stir 3 Tbsp of the cold water with the gelatin and the meringue powder in a large bowl or the bowl of a mixer fitted with the whip attachment and set aside.
  4. Bring the remaining 2 Tbsp of water, the sugar and the corn syrup to a boil and boil uncovered and without stirring until it reaches a temperature of 240 °F on a candy thermometer. While whipping, carefully pour the hot sugar into the bowl with the gelatin and whip this on high speed until tripled in volume and cooled, about 5 minutes.
  5. Remove the lemon square from the fridge. Dollop the marshmallow on top of the filling and spread even. Let chill until set.
  6. Use a blowtorch to lightly brown the marshmallow and chill until ready to slice and serve. The squares will keep for up to 3 days refrigerated.