Shaker lemon pie facts for kids
Traditional Shaker lemon pie
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| Alternative names | Ohio lemon pie |
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| Type | Pie |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | Midwestern United States |
| Serving temperature | Warm |
| Main ingredients | lemons, white sugar, and eggs |
Shaker lemon pie, also known as Ohio lemon pie, is a special kind of fruit pie. It comes from the Midwest part of the United States. This pie is famous for using the whole lemon, including the peel!
Where Did Shaker Lemon Pie Come From?
This unique pie was first made by a group of people called the Shakers. They were a religious community who lived in different parts of the United States. The Shakers were very good at growing fruits. Because of this, they created many different kinds of pies throughout the year.
However, lemons do not grow well in the Midwest where many Shaker communities lived. So, they had to buy lemons from other places. Some old stories say that lemons were the very first food the Shaker community of North Union ever bought!
Over time, two main types of lemon pie were made by the Shakers. One was like a regular lemon meringue pie. The other, more simple version, used the entire lemon. This second version is the Shaker lemon pie we know today.
How Is Shaker Lemon Pie Made?
The original recipe for Shaker lemon pie uses just a few simple ingredients. These are lemons, white sugar, and eggs.
First, the whole lemons are sliced very, very thinly. This includes the peel! Then, these thin lemon slices are gently mixed with sugar. This mixture is left to sit for at least four hours, or even a whole day. The longer it sits, the better it gets.
While it sits, the mixture should be stirred every few hours. Any seeds from the lemons are picked out. During this time, the sugar melts and the lemon peel becomes soft.
After the lemon and sugar mixture has softened, beaten eggs are added. This filling is then poured into a pie crust. A top crust, either a full one or a lattice (criss-cross) design, is added. Finally, the pie is baked until it's golden brown.
The filling inside the pie becomes a mix between a sweet marmalade and a creamy lemon curd. Shaker lemon pie tastes best when it is served warm.
Modern Twists
Today, some people like to change the recipe a little bit. They might use different kinds of lemons, like Meyer lemons. Sometimes, they use brown sugar instead of white sugar. Other flavors, like ginger or blackberries, can also be added to make new versions of this classic pie.
