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Easy Recipes Lemon Meringue Cheesecake

A luscious cheesecake with a tangy lemon curd topping and billowy meringue. This showstopping dessert is surprisingly easy to make and perfect for any celebration.
Prep Time40 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time1 hour 55 minutes
Course: Desserts
Cuisine: American
Keywords: air fryer desserts easy recipes, dinner recipes, easy recipes, food receipt easy recipes, quick and easy recipes, recipes for dinner, sweet easy recipes
Servings: 12 slices
Author: Betty

Ingredients

Crust

  • 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
  • 2 tablespoons white sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

Filling

  • 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Lemon Curd

  • 4 large egg yolks
  • 2/3 cup white sugar
  • 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces

Meringue

  • 4 large egg whites
  • 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 6 tablespoons white sugar

Instructions

Crust

  1. Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C). Grease a 9-inch springform pan.
  2. In a bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and sugar. Stir in melted butter until evenly moistened.
  3. Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Let cool.

Filling

  1. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar and cornstarch; beat until blended.
  2. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
  3. Blend in sour cream and vanilla until smooth.
  4. Pour batter over crust and smooth the top.
  5. Bake for about 55 minutes, until the center is almost set. Cool for 10 minutes.
  6. Run a knife around the edge to loosen. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

Lemon Curd

  1. In a saucepan over medium heat, whisk together egg yolks, sugar, lemon juice, and zest.
  2. Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens, about 5 minutes.
  3. Remove from heat and stir in butter until smooth.
  4. Let cool to room temperature.

Meringue

  1. Preheat broiler.
  2. In a clean bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar on medium speed until soft peaks form.
  3. Gradually add sugar and beat until stiff, glossy peaks form.

Assembly

  1. Spread lemon curd evenly over the chilled cheesecake.
  2. Top with meringue, spreading to the edges to seal.
  3. Broil 1–2 minutes until meringue is lightly browned. Watch carefully!
  4. Chill until ready to serve.

Notes

For best results, prepare the lemon curd and crust in advance. Keep the cheesecake refrigerated until serving.