Lemon Cheesecake Pie Filling

Jul 30, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Pies tarts Origin: Tahitian Vanilla: Extract Easy

A classic lemon cheesecake pie filling for one 9-inch pie. Best with Tahitian vanilla (floral, cherry, anise); any pure vanilla works. Makes one 9-inch pie (8 servings).

Prep 20 min

Cook 35 min

Chill 5 hr

Total 5 hr 55 min

Servings 8

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

1.09-inch graham cracker crust, homemade or store-bought
16.0 oz (454.0 g)cream cheese, softened
½ cup (100.0 g)granulated sugar
2.0 (100.0 g)large eggs, at room temperature
1.0 tbsplemon zest, finely grated
2.0 tbsp (30.0 ml)fresh lemon juice
1.0 tsp (5.0 ml)VanillaGoods pure vanilla extract
⅛ tspfine sea salt

Make it at home

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Instructions

Heat the oven to 325°F.
Beat the cream cheese and sugar on medium-low speed until smooth, scraping the bowl.
Beat in the lemon zest, lemon juice, vanilla, and salt, then the eggs one at a time, on low speed just until blended. Don't overbeat.
Pour into the crust.
Bake until the edge is set and the center still wobbles slightly, 30 to 35 minutes.
Cool on a rack for 1 hour, then refrigerate until cold and firm, at least 4 hours.

Tips

Vanilla swap: use vanilla bean paste 1:1 in place of the extract for visible specks, or the seeds of 1 vanilla bean for each tablespoon of extract.
Best vanilla for this: Tahitian (floral, cherry, anise), or Madagascar (rich, creamy, classic). Any pure vanilla works.
Storage: Refrigerate, covered, for up to 4 days.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make lemon cheesecake pie filling?

Plan on 20 minutes of prep and 35 minutes of cooking, plus 5 hours to chill. It makes one 9-inch pie (8 servings).

How should I store lemon cheesecake pie filling?

Refrigerate, covered, for up to 4 days.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

use vanilla bean paste 1:1 in place of the extract for visible specks, or the seeds of 1 vanilla bean for each tablespoon of extract.

A classic lemon cheesecake pie filling for one 9-inch pie. Best with Tahitian vanilla (floral, cherry, anise); any pure vanilla works. Makes one 9-inch pie (8 servings).

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 8 servings this recipe makes.

403 Calories / serving

27.4g Fat

34.3g Carbs

6.5g Protein

23.4g Sugar

Whole recipe (8 servings): ~3224 cal · 219g fat · 274g carbs · 52g protein · 187g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 403 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 76 min·4.4 mi·~8900 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 55 min·2.8 mi·~5500 steps
Moderate cycling 41 min·8.2 mi
Swimming laps 56 min
Jogging 39 min·3.3 mi·~6250 steps
Stair climbing 37 min·~3350 steps
Dancing 66 min
Bodyweight circuit training 41 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 94 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.