Can I make any of the lemon meringue pie in advance?

[McKayz]

We're having my Mum, stepdad and brother for dinner Wednesday. I'm going to make a lemon meringue pie for dessert as we all love it.

I am wondering though if I could make the pastry and lemon parts in the morning and then just do the meringue in the evening?

Any ideas if that's ok?

yes, you can make the pastry and the lemon filling in advance.

you could even make the meringue, and freeze the entire thing, defrosting it in the fridge.

Should I just keep it in the fridge until I do the meringue?

You need to make the whole thing early or it will not set

How do you make meringue early? When I tried before it collapsed and was a mess.

YOu can make it all today if you want, it will still be fine for Wednesday.

You make the whole pie including the meringue, then cook it and let it cool. It will set as it cools, but it needs a good few hours to set. Put it in the fridge as soon as it's cool enough. The meringue shouldn't collapse once it's cooked and cooled.

The recipe I use needs only one hour tops to set after it's come out of the oven.

sorry, i meant to cook it - the meringue on the top of the cake isn't crunchy, it's more soft and sticky.

what I meant was what shineypenny said - make the whole thing and cook it and freeze it.

Make all of it bar the meringue and freeze it. Then make an Italian meringue and use a blow torch to brown it slightly.

Can I make it all now and leave in fridge for this evening?

I didn't get round to making it the other day to freeze.

yes, that should be fine :)