Rant: The church picnic pie contest was a sticky situation for me

I signed up for the annual church picnic pie contest last weekend. I decided to make a lemon meringue pie from scratch. The meringue looked perfect, but when I carried it outside in the heat, it started to weep and slide off the pie before judging. I was so embarrassed, but everyone still ate it and said it tasted good. Has anyone else had a dessert fail because of weather? I need tips for summer baking now.

2 comments

2 Comments

elliot546h ago

Tell me about it, my lemon meringue turned into a sad puddle last Fourth of July! Gonna try that cornstarch trick from @scott.claire for sure.

scott.claire10h ago

Actually, meringue weeps more from humidity than just heat. Try adding a cornstarch slurry to the sugar syrup next time, it helps stabilize it.