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Easy No-Bake Lemon Icebox Pie

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This easy lemon icebox pie is creamy, tangy, and completely no-bake, a minimal effort dessert that still turns out special.

This citrus dessert is made with sweetened condensed milk, cream cheese, whipped topping, and Nellie & Joe’s Key West Lemon Juice, all piled into a graham cracker crust and chilled until sliceable. 

If you’ve made my key lime pie before, this is the lemony cousin and it's just as simple, reliable and perfect when you want something bright and fresh without turning on the oven.

lemon icebox pie made with Nellie and Joe’s Key West Lemon Juice on black plate with fork.
Easy Lemon Icebox Pie is creamy + tart with sweetened condensed milk and Nellie and Joe's Key West Lemon Juice.
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If you love citrus desserts, you might also like my no-bake version of key lime pie or Lemon Bars with Graham Cracker Crust, Lemon Bars or roundup of easy lemon deserts.

This is the sister recipe to my Nellie & Joe's Famous Key Lime Pie Recipe (Just 3 Ingredients), which is another dessert made with Nellie & Joe's but using their key lime juice.

Before You Start

  • This is a no-bake pie but it needs time to chill so it sets properly.
  • You can use a store-bought graham cracker crust or homemade crust.
  • The filling is smooth and creamy with a soft set, closer to a mousse than a firm custard.
  • For cleaner slices, chill longer or pop it in the freezer briefly before serving.

Ingredients You'll Need

  • Sweetened condensed milk – Adds sweetness and helps the filling set
  • Cream cheese – Gives structure and a slightly tangy, creamy texture
  • Whipped topping – Lightens the filling and keeps it fluffy
  • Nellie & Joe’s Key West Lemon Juice – Consistent tart lemon flavor (fresh juice works, but results can vary). Find it in the grocery store with the mixers.
  • Graham cracker crust – Classic base that holds everything together
  • Lemon zest (optional) – Boosts lemon flavor without adding extra liquid

See recipe for ingredient amounts

lemon icebox pie ingredients
Easy Lemon Icebox Pie is creamy + tart with sweetened condensed milk and Nellie and Joe's Key West Lemon Juice.

What is Nellie & Joe's Key West Lemon Juice?

Nellie & Joe's Key West Lemon Juice is a bottled lemon juice known for its bright, tart flavor. It's made from concentrate, but it tastes fresh and is perfect for pies like this. You'll usually find it in the cocktail mixer aisle of your grocery store.

Why This Pie Works

This pie sets without baking thanks to the combination of cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk. The whipped topping keeps it light, while the lemon juice adds enough acidity to balance the sweetness.

The result is a smooth, sliceable filling that holds its shape once chilled—no eggs, no gelatin, and no baking required.

How to Make Lemon Ice Box Pie

  1. Beat the cream cheese until smooth and lump-free.
  2. Mix in the sweetened condensed milk until fully combined.
  3. Add the lemon juice and blend until thick and creamy.
  4. Fold in the whipped topping until light and fluffy.
  5. Spoon the filling into the graham cracker crust and smooth the top.
  6. Chill for at least 4 hours  or until set

For best slices, chill overnight or freeze for 30–60 minutes before serving.

Squeeze a bit of fresh lemon juice to the pie mixture to add a bit of extra flavor.
nellie and joe's key lime juice over a bowl of condensed milk
Add a ½ cup of Nellie and Joe's Key West Lemon Juice to the sweetened condensed milk you've poured into a large mixing bowl.

whipped cream in a bowl with pie ingredients
You'll add a container of whipped topping to the pie mixture before pouring into your pie crust and chilling the pie.
lemon zest in a glass bowl on top of icebox lemon pie ingredients
Add lemon zest to your pie batter for a bit of freshness.
You'll combine all the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl: condensed milk, lemon juice, cream cheese and whipped topping and mix with a hand mixer or stand mixer until smooth. Add a bit of lemon zest and pour into a graham cracker pie crust.
ice box lemon pie surrounded by three slices on black plates
Lemon Icebox Pie will be your new favorite dessert.

Can I use fresh lemon juice instead of bottled?

Yes, but bottled lemon juice like Nellie & Joe’s gives more consistent results. Fresh lemons can vary in acidity and flavor.

Can I freeze lemon icebox pie?

Yes. Freeze until firm, then let it sit at room temperature for 10–15 minutes before slicing.

How is this different from lemon cream pie?

Lemon cream pie is usually cooked and often includes eggs or a custard base. This icebox pie is no-bake and lighter in texture.

Do I have to use whipped topping?

You can substitute homemade whipped cream, but the pie may be slightly softer.

How long does it last in the fridge?

This pie will last two to three days in the fridge. Or slice and freeze individual pieces of pie for up to three months.

Storage

Lemon Icebox Pie should be stored in either the refrigerator or freezer.

This pie is best eaten within three days of being made.

If you're not going to eat it all right away, wrap the pie in plastic wrap. Put the wrapped pie in a freezer safe container and freeze for up to three months.

See how to freeze desserts.

Please Pin to Save for Later

no bake lemon pie using Nellie and Joe’s juice in graham cracker crust.
This creamy lemon icebox pie is the ultimate no-bake summer dessert! Made with sweetened condensed milk, cream cheese, and Nellie & Joe's Key West Lemon Juice, it's tart, smooth, and simple to prep. Chill it in the fridge or freezer and serve with whipped topping for a refreshing treat. No oven, no stress—just bright citrus flavor in every bite. Perfect for parties, BBQs, or weekend cravings. #lemonpie #nobakedessert #nellieandjoes #easyrecipes #iceboxpie

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Recipe

Yield: 8 slices

Easy Lemon Icebox Pie

slice of lemon icebox pie on a black plate

Easy Lemon Icebox Pie is creamy + tart you make with sweetened condensed milk and Nellie and Joe's Key West Lemon Juice.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Additional Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 9-inch graham cracker pie crust
  • 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
  • 8-ounce package cream cheese
  • ½ cup Nellie and Joe's Key West Lemon Juice
  • 8-ounce container whipped topping
  • Zest of one lemon plus lemon curls for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Soften the cream cheese Let the cream cheese sit at room temperature for about 1 hour so it blends smoothly.
  2. Beat cream cheese and condensed milk In a mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk until completely smooth with no lumps. This may take 3–5 minutes.
  3. Add lemon juice Mix in the Nellie & Joe’s Key West Lemon Juice until fully combined.
  4. Fold in whipped topping Gently fold in the whipped topping until the filling is light and smooth.
  5. Add lemon zest (optional) Stir in fresh lemon zest for extra flavor, if using.
  6. Fill the crust Spoon the filling into the graham cracker crust and smooth the top.
  7. Chill until set Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or until firm. For cleaner slices, chill overnight or freeze for 30–60 minutes before serving.

Recommended Products

This post and/or recipe may contain affiliate links, which means if you click through and make a purchase, I'll earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See Disclosure policy.

Nutrition Information

Yield 8 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 530Total Fat 29gSaturated Fat 17gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 10gCholesterol 51mgSodium 296mgCarbohydrates 63gFiber 1gSugar 49gProtein 9g

Nutrition information is an estimate as I am not a registered dietician.

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© Jennifer Osborn
Cuisine: American / Category: Desserts
no bake lemon pie using Nellie and Joe’s juice in graham cracker crust.

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About Jennifer Osborn

Reporter by trade, dessert blogger by compulsion. Jennifer Osborn shares dessert recipes people actually make.

Comments

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  1. Joyce Unsell says

    Why cannot you make the lemon pie just like the lime pie without cream cheese? When I was young, we made the lemon pies with the 3 ingredients and not folded Cool Whip into them like they do today, my son-in-law thinks it is too rich and fine like the lime pie is made.

    Reply

  2. Ginny Doyon says

    Can you use "Whipped" cream cheese instead of the package cream cheese?

    Reply

    • Jennifer Osborn says

      Hi Ginny,

      Are you talking about the little tubs of “whipped cream cheese”?
      I’m not sure because I haven’t tested the recipe using those—I’ve only made it using the bricks of cream cheese.
      You could try it, it might just turn out a little lighter.
      If you do, let me know how it turns out!

      Thanks,
      Jennifer

      Reply
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