One bite of this Keto Lemon Cream Pie and you will be hooked! It has a mouthwateringly tangy, creamy filling in a crisp keto pie crust. Honestly, it’s like sunshine on your tongue! It really doesn’t get any better than this.
There are some desserts that just stick with you. And I don’t mean this in a bad way, as in something making you too full or uncomfortable. I mean it in the sense that it was so delicious, you can’t stop thinking about it. This lemon sour cream pie is one of them.
I have a lot of great keto pie recipes, like Keto Pecan Pie and Keto Peanut Butter Pie. But if you love lemon, then this keto dessert is an absolute must. It’s been a fan favorite since I first published it in 2016.
And now I’ve tweaked the recipe just a smidge to make it better than ever!
Why we love this recipe
- Gluten-free crust: My famous almond flour pie crust is super easy and completely gluten-free and low carb.
- Smooth custard filling: The pie filling involves making a lemon custard and then folding in some sour cream. It is so velvety smooth and rich!
- Tangy lemon flavor: Pucker up, buttercup! This wonderful lemon cream pie is full of that bright, fresh citrus flavor.
- Low carb dessert: With only 5.7 grams of carbs per serving, it’s a perfect dessert for low carb and keto diets.
Reader’s Thoughts
“Made this yesterday for the first time. It was truly delicious! Served it to my non-keto friends and family and they all love it. Carolyn, you are a keto baking genius!! Thank you for working out this recipe and for sharing this and all your other great recipes.” — MjeanF
Ingredient Notes
- Sweetener: I used a combination of Swerve confectioners and some allulose to get an extra smooth, creamy filling. I also like this pie quite tangy so I only used half a cup sweetener total.
- Glucomannan: Conventional sour cream pie uses cornstarch to thicken the filling, but glucomannan helps the keto filling set properly. You can also use xanthan gum.
- Heavy cream: Heavy cream gives the pie a silky consistency.
- Egg yolks: You also need plenty of egg yolks for a custard filling like this one.
- Lemon: You can’t have lemon pie without the lemon!
- Butter: Chilled butter helps cool the custard more quickly and helps it set faster.
- Lemon extract: For more lemon flavor, I also use a little lemon extract.
- Sour cream: Use full fat sour cream as it may not set properly with anything less. I don’t recommend substituting greek yogurt for this recipe.
- Easy keto pie crust: You will want to make the fully baked version of this crust. For a nut free option you can use sunflower seed flour for the crust. It is a 1:1 ratio with almond flour, but do know that your crust will be more gray in appearance.
Step by step directions
- Whisk the sweeteners: In a large, heavy-duty saucepan, whisk together the sweeteners and glucomannan.
- Simmer the cream: Add the cream, egg yolks, lemon zest, and lemon juice and whisk to combined. Set over medium heat, whisking frequently, until the mixture begins to thicken. This takes 7 to 10 minutes. Keep a close eye on it, you do not want it to curdle.
- Add the butter: Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the butter and lemon extract. Let cool to room temperature.
- Add the sour cream: Whisk in the sour cream until no lumps remain. Pour the mixture into pie shell and refrigerate for at least 4 hours to set – the longer, the better, so overnight is best if you can wait that long.
- Serve: Top with lightly sweetened whipped cream and serve.
Tips for Success
For this recipe, you need a fully-baked pie crust. So bake it 15 to 20 minutes, until it’s a nice light golden brown. Let it cool completely.
As with any custard-like filling, you need to watch this one carefully. Don’t walk away while it’s cooking. Just hang out there right by your stove, whisking and watching, as it will likely take less than 10 minutes.
The best way I can describe knowing when it’s done is watching your whisk carefully as you move it through the custard. When it’s first cooking, it is very liquid and sloshes around the pan. When it starts to thicken, you will see the mixture move more lazily. Your whisk will almost leave tracks for a quick second. Once it hits that point, remove it from heat immediately.
Troubleshooting:
– Oh no, you over-cooked the custard and you see curdles! Quick, get it into a blender (or use an immersion blender) and blend on low until smooth.
– Oh no, you undercooked the custard and the pie didn’t set properly! Simply stick it in the freezer and serve it frozen. It will be delicious!
Sweetener options
The pie crust requires an erythritol based sweetener to crisp up properly. Any amount of allulose will make it quite soft.
For the filling, I recommend a mix of erythritol and allulose (or xylitol). This helps provide enough structure but also keeps the filling from re-crystallizing as it cools. I don’t recommend using only allulose, as it may never firm up properly. If you use only erythritol, I recommend using a powdered version and only whisking it at the end of cooking the custard.
If that sounds confusing, please leave a comment and I will explain further what I mean.
Frequently Asked Questions
I recommend making this pie one day in advance of serving, as it firms up better overnight. I don’t suggest making it ahead much more than that, unless you plan to freeze it. Creamy custard desserts like this should be served and consumed within 4 to 5 days.
Store the pie in the fridge at all times. It will last for up to 4 days. You can also freeze this pie for up to a month. Wrap it up tightly to avoid freezer burn and only add the whipped cream when ready to serve.
This keto lemon pie recipe has 5.7g of carbs and 1.8g of fiber per serving. That comes to 3.9g net carbs per serving.
More Keto Lemon Desserts
Keto Lemon Pie Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 tbsp (91 g) powdered sweetener
- 2 to 4 tbsp allulose, or xylitol
- 1/2 tsp (0.25 tsp) glucomannan, (can sub xanthan gum, see notes)
- 3/4 cup (177.44 ml) heavy cream
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- 1/2 cup (118.29 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 4 large (4) egg yolks
- 3 tbsp (42.61 g) butter, chilled and cut into pieces
- 3/4 tsp (1 tsp) lemon extract
- 1 cup (230 g) full fat sour cream
- 1 keto pie crust, fully baked
Instructions
- In a large, heavy-duty saucepan, whisk together the sweeteners and glucomannan.
- Add the cream, egg yolks, lemon zest, and lemon juice and whisk to combined. Set over medium heat, whisking frequently, until the mixture begins to thicken. This takes 7 to 10 minutes. Keep a close eye on it, you do not want it to curdle.
- Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the butter and lemon extract. Let cool to room temperature.
- Whisk in the sour cream until no lumps remain. Pour the mixture into pie shell and refrigerate for at least 4 hours to set – the longer, the better, so overnight is best if you can wait that long.
- Top with lightly sweetened whipped cream.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.
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This is my hubby’s favorite. I have learned that if I whisk the xanthan together with the sweetener, I never have to worry about lumps.
The only downside to this recipe is that it usually takes us a few days to finish it, and the Swerve re-crystallization gets really bad by the end of it. I’m making it for Thanksgiving, and I’m going to try allulose to see if it will maintain its texture. (Sorry, Carolyn, I know you’re a Swerve gal, but…)
Okay Judy, piece of advice… do HALF Swerve and half allulose. If you do it with all allulose, it will never set! Also, do it at least a day in advance and freeze it to help set the filling.
Thanks, Carolyn – sorry I didn’t see your reply in time. I did use all allulose, but I had taken your earlier comments to heart, so I doubled the xanthan to help with the setup, and cooked the egg/cream mixture a little longer than usual. It’s rare that I would try to tweak one of your recipes, but I had to try to eliminate the grittiness. So far, so good, no re-crystallization at all.
Excellent!
I made this last night and it turned out almost perfect. It tastes delicious but I do have a couple questions. My filling has a slight graininess to it. Is that the alternative sweetener or did I do something, possibly over cook? Also it’s set but fairly soft. Is that the way it’s suppose to be. Thanks for a Great recipe
yes, that’s the way it’s supposed to be.
I have a pint of soured heavy whippi88ng cream.
can I add a tsp of soda to one cup of the soured cream to make it work like regular sweet whipping cream. In non Keto recipes I have done tis often with good result.
Also Can I use the soured cream as the sour cream or do I need the thicker cultured sour cream that we buy in a bowl? Thaks a bunch.
Made this today and first time I was disappointed. My crust was beautiful but my filling was runny
Sounds like you didn’t cook it quite long enough. Sorry to hear it!
that’s exactly what happened to mine. I thought it was the allulose I used as sweetener. the recipe says cook the custard until thick – mine was nice and thick, then I took it off.
So… if you subbed allulose, then that’s the problem right there. It simply doesn’t set very quickly and keeps things much gooier. Please read this: https://alldayidreamaboutfood.com/best-keto-sweeteners/
Could I substitute whole mild strained greek yogurt for sour cream?
Probably… I haven’t tried. As long as it’s REALLY thick! 🙂
I know it’s been a while, just wanted to let you know that yogurt works. I didn’t have full fat yogurt, but I tried vanilla-flavored Oikos (in the little cups) and it still worked pretty well. It didn’t get super set, but I think that was because I didn’t cook it enough.
Great, thank you!
Does the powdered Swerve stay smooth and will it not crystalize in this recipe? I’m learning, but i made a lemon curd last year and once cooled it became gravel. Is Swerve best to cook with lemon?
It should be fine.
Made this yesterday for the first time. It was truly delicious! served ot to my non-keto friends and family and they all love it. Carolyn, you are a keto baking genius!! Thank you for working out this recipe and for sharing this and all your other great recipes.
Finally a Keto dessert that is honestly delicious and one anyone can enjoy. This makes me want to try more from this site bc the descriptive adjectives of food could be accurate!! Thank you!
I have made several of your recipes and there’s not a one that wasn’t great!
The Lemon Cheesecake Bars have been a staple lately. I told my husband I could make the Kentucky Butter Cake to change it up. He said, “you won’t hurt my feelings if you make this again”. One a week for quite some time now. I am going to slip this in on him as a surprise.
Thank you so much for all your hard work!
Robin Harris
Thanks!
This recipe is amazing, and so fresh. Also this is the best crust we have tried .
Thank you for this delicious pie, the whole family can love!
Hi! Love your recipes. Do you think I could sub Greek yogurt for the sour cream for increased protein?
Thanks,
Maureen
I honestly can’t say without trying it myself!
definitely one of the best keto desserts I’ve ever made! after rave reviews last week, I decided to make 3 more batches and make in take out foil containers so i could deliver half-sized pies to friends on March 14th for π Day! (march is 3rd month, so 14th day = 3.14) no one believed it was healthy cuz it tasted too good!! thank you sooooo much for sharing this dreamy recipe!
What size pie pan is the recipe for?
Standard pie pan, which is always 9 inches.
This is one of the best desserts I’ve made! I’ve made it 3 times in the past 2 weeks! My non keto friends just devoured it and said it was the best key lime pie they have had. This past weekend I added lime juice and zest and key lime extract for when my friends came over, it was absolutely amazing!! I’m making it again tomorrow for my daughter’s birthday, just made the crust and will make the filling tomorrow! Made your gruyere cheese and caramelized onion quiche yesterday too and we had it with Savoy cabbage and Heinz baked beans (it’s a British thing) it was a big hit, the best quiche by far! Thank you so much for your delicious recipes, my family and are so happy!
So good! I make this one over and over!
Made this yesterday, without the crust and divided into small cups. Love lemon and had extra egg yolks. My question…. What macro calculator do you use? When I put it in Carbmanager,, the macros were over 13 per container.
Carb Manager is the worst! It doesn’t take into account that erythritol carbs shouldn’t be counted. People freak out all the time about this. They really need to get with the program.
I use a software program I had to pay for called MacGourmet, and it pulls directly from the USDA database. Please refer to the nutritional disclaimer at the end of every post.
Thank you Carolyn. More and more I’ve become dissatisfied with CarbManager. I figured that out after a bit of research. I appreciate all your hard work to provide delicious recipes that are healthy and share-worrjy. We enjoy many of them, daily.