Lemon Berry Cream Pie in a Jar

I hope you all are enjoying a nice relaxing week celebrating the 4th of July and if you aren’t celebrating quite yet then by all means stick around and see how you can whip up a festive, beautiful and rather delicious  4th of July treat just in the nick of time!

Since the subject of discussion is cream pies I am not going to drag out this post. Parades await me, kids need me and a lake is beckoning me so I will be short and sweet. Summer is all about refreshing and easy sweet treats. No one wants to stand in front of a hot stove or oven waiting their life away while all the fun is to be had outside. Cream pies are a staple for summer.  They are perfect make-ahead treats for backyard barbecues and cookouts and although quite easy to make- they taste as if you have slaved in the kitchen for days. Bursting with decadent ingredients and amazing flavors cream pies of any variety are the way to go!

My Berry Lemon Cream Pie is so delicious you will be tempted to eat dessert first! Homemade Lemon Pudding with the flavor of honey and vanilla produces the perfect level of citrus without being to overpowering  in this simple-to-fix cream pie. The graham crumbs add that small hint of texture one expects from a regular cream pie crust and the berries are well- a MUST!  Just like with any pie crust, you are more than welcome to use crushed Oreos, crushed nuts, or your favorite type of cookie for the crumb layers.  It’s not about “which crumb topping” you use but what makes you happy! Graham crackers make me happy so I stuck with that!

Happy Independence Day! May the Lord bless those who have served and currently serving in our country.

Lemon Berry Cream Pie in a Jar
 
Ingredients
  • 2 large boxes of lemon pudding mix OR
  • Homemade Lemon Pudding: (Highly Recommended)
  • ¾ cup plus 2 TBSP sugar
  • ¼ cup corn starch
  • 2½ cups milk
  • ¼ tsp plus ⅛ tsp of salt
  • 3 large egg yolks beaten
  • Juice of 1 fresh lemon
  • 2 tsp freshly grated lemon zest
  • 2 TBSP unsalted butter
  • 1 lb of blueberries, rinsed
  • 1 lb strawberries, rinsed and sliced
  • 1½ cups of graham cracker crumbs
Instructions
  1. Whisk together the sugar and corn starch in a medium saucepan over medium to low heat. Heat the milk in the microwave for 15-20 seconds. Slowly add the milk and whisk until combined and smooth- 2 minutes. Now its time to temper so we don't end up with scrambled eggs. Take ½ cup to 1 cup of the milk mixture and add to the bowl of beaten eggs, whisking continously for 1-2 minutes. Now return the mixture back to the saucepan and finish whisking it til combined. Add in the salt and lemon zest then reduce heat to low and while continuing to whisk the pudding until thick in texture (it should coat the back of a spoon).
  2. Add the butter and lemon juice and whisk until combined. Do you get the theme here? WHISK! Allow to cool then refrigerate for at least 2 hours before you begin assembling your pies.
  3. To assemble: Sprinkle spoonful or two of graham cracker crumbs (or crumbs of your choosing) into the bottom of your jar. Arrange the sliced strawberries around the outer edge. Top with a spoonful or two of the lemon pudding. Repeat with the graham cracker crumbs then blueberries then pudding then blueberries again. If you decided to use different fruit then by all means you can and may assemble to your liking based on if you want more or less of each component.

27 comments

  1. val

    Desserts in jars just taste better, don’t they? So cute.

  2. jackie @ marin mama cooks

    Happy 4th of July girl! These are the most adorable things I think I’ve ever seen! I love that you also implemented all the red, white and blue colors by using seasonal fruit.
    I also agree that summer desserts should be easy and refreshing. My favorite summer dessert to make is my frozen s’mores. They are a crowd pleaser!
    I just helped my best girlfriend unpack and organize her kitchen in her new house (she just moved in Sunday) and I actually cooked her family up a meal there as well. It was the best and I wish we lived closer so I could have done the same for you! 🙂
    Have a wonderful 4th of July with your family girl! xoxo, Jackie

    1. kbelleicious

      This reply is so late but just had to do it anyway! Love that you are such a loving and helpful friend- if only you would have been here around the end of June to help me move in our new house! i would have put you to work girl!

  3. 2sistersrecipes

    Great idea and perfect for the 4th of July coming up !!

  4. Karen (Back Road Journal)

    We have house guests this week at the lake. If the weather is good, we will go out on our boat to watch the fireworks. These would be the perfect thing to take on the boat to enjoy before the show starts.

    1. kbelleicious

      that is exactly what we do Karen! We eat dessert and watch the fireworks on the lake in our boat!

  5. Sam @ My Carolina Kitchen

    How clever and pretty too. Love the presentation and it would be great to take along to a picnic. Happy 4th of July.
    Sam

  6. Mandy - The Complete Cook Book

    Absolutely adorable!
    🙂 Mandy xo

  7. sheila

    So delicious and perfect for a 4th of July celebration!

    1. kbelleicious

      Thanks Sheila!

  8. Kristy

    This whole little dish makes me happy! The title alone had me salivating. Lemon with berries has to be one of my favorite (if not the favorite) dessert combo. I love the red white and blue look created by using a jar too. Always so creative! Enjoy your holiday, the parades and time with the family at the lake. 🙂

    1. kbelleicious

      Lemon and berries are my favorite too. I remember a slush I used to get that was a lemonberry slush and it always made me so happy during the summer

  9. yummychunklet

    What a tasty little jar of pie!

  10. Nami | Just One Cookbook

    I’ve seen lots of yummy desserts in a jar. I love that it’s portable and party friendly. These lemon & berry cream pie in a jar looks so delicious. I can eat the whole thing myself. I love how you cut strawberries. 🙂

  11. Vicki Bensinger

    This is such a fun recipe and perfect for a picnic or anytime. I love that you can seal it up until your ready to eat it. It’s beautiful too and great for the 4th of July.

  12. Wizzy

    So very beautifully presented. Lovely summer flavours.

  13. lena

    this certainly looks inviting and so cute that you hv them packed in a jar! i know you girls are celebrating 4th July there, happy holidays , hope i’m not too late, happy celebrating!

  14. nancy at good food matters

    Love the jars!
    your lemon pudding recipe looks terrific–and relatively easy to whip up. why would anyone want to make pudding from a box? hope you had a great 4th—ours was a big rain-out, but we did need the rain.

    1. kbelleicious

      Pudding from a box is nothing compared to the real thing- I am glad you agree? although don’t tell anyone but in a pinch I have been known to use a box before:) LOL!

  15. Alicia@ eco friendly homemaking

    Oh this looks so delicious. There is just no comparison to homemade pudding. So superior over boxed pudding!!

  16. Tina @ Tina's Chic Corner

    This looks so refreshing and delicious! I’ve never made homemade pudding before so I’m excited to give that a try. 🙂

  17. Mary

    Ohhh so delicious! and what is it about dessert in a jar?? it just makes it more delicious! – LOVE this 🙂
    Mary x

  18. Asmita

    I love mini desserts. Looks adorable, is portable and so fun! I am so stealing this idea. Thank you so much for sharing.

  19. Barbara @ Barbara Bakes

    Such a fun idea. Everyone loves their own little dessert.

  20. Kiran @ KiranTarun.com

    Such a pretty layered jarred dessert!! Hope your 4th of July was just as cheerful, my friend 🙂

  21. Pure Complex

    I don’t know how I missed this post, but I am so happy I saw it today. This is the perfect lunch to take for me. I love it

  22. Roz

    You are so right Jessica . . . summer is about ‘easy’ so you can get to the lake that beckons you with your family! I love this dessert in a jar and need to try it (having never done so). Lemons and blueberries are such a perfect flavor combo too! I’m sure these were devoured immediately!

    Hope you’re doing great!!!!

    xo
    Roz

Comments are closed.