Key Lime Cookies

AUTHOR:Maike Corbett PUBLISHED: MODIFIED:
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These buttery, flaky, and crumbly Key Lime Cookies are incredibly easy to make, eat, and share. And they are the perfect afternoon treat.

And like the Chai Spiced Cookies, these cookies are just as easy to prepare. You’ll need five simple ingredients to make these wonderfully sweet and lightly tangy cookies.

A bowl of freshly baked key lime cookies

The subtly tart lime flavors are balanced with a sweet coating of powdered sugar.

During the fall and winter months, I love making lots of fun cookies.

Just like the Strudel Cookies, the Key Lime Cookies are great because they also work great as a summer cookie recipe.

Key lime cookies are a great summer treat. Enjoy them with some of your favorite delicious cold iced tea.

Why This Recipe Works

  • EASY INGREDIENTS – The ingredients needed for this recipe are simple and commonly found in most kitchens.
  • QUICK PREP – This recipe doesn’t take long to prepare, making it great for
  • GREAT FOR PARTIES – These key lime cookies can be served at any event or occasion.

RELATED: Easy Key Lime Pie

Ingredients

Please check the recipe card below for a detailed, printable ingredient list.

5-Ingredient Key Lime Cookie Recipe

FLOUR: Flour is used as a base ingredient in the cookies, providing structure and stability to the dough.

CORNSTARCH: Cornstarch helps to create a delicate and tender texture in the cookies.

BUTTER: Butter adds flavor, richness, and moisture to the cookies, making them delicious and soft.

POWDERED SUGAR: Powdered sugar adds sweetness to the cookies and helps to create a light and delicate texture.

LIME juice: Lime juice contributes a tangy and refreshing flavor to the cookies, giving them their distinctive lime taste.

LIME zest: Lime zest adds a bright and aromatic essence to the cookies, enhancing the lime flavor and providing a pleasant citrusy aroma.

How To Make Key Lime Cookies

Please check the printable recipe card below for more detailed instructions.

Step 1 - Ingredients for the key lime cookies | Step 2 - dough in the stand mixer
Step 3 - key lime dough taken out of the stand mixer | Step 4 - dough wrapped in cling film to chill in the fridge
Step 5 - Line a baking sheet with the key lime cookies - Step 6 - Move the baked cookies onto a cooling rack
  1. Combine cornstarch and flour in a bowl and set it aside.
  2. Cream together butter, powdered sugar, lime juice, and zest in a separate bowl.
  3. Gradually mix the cornstarch and flour mixture.
  4. Shape the dough into a large ball, cover it with plastic wrap, and chill it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
  5. Roll the chilled dough into 1-inch balls and place them onto a baking sheet.
  6. Bake the cookies in a preheated oven at 350° Fahrenheit for 20 minutes until they are golden brown at the bottom and lightly brown on top.

Tips and Tricks

LIMES – Finding good juicy and properly ripened limes is key for making great key lime cookies.

POWDERED SUGAR – Did you know that powdered sugar, confectioner’s sugar, and icing sugar are all the same thing?

Commonly Asked Question

I don’t have powdered sugar. Can I use regular sugar instead?

For this recipe, you need powdered sugar. But what if you don’t have any in your pantry? Don’t panic.
You can easily make your own powdered sugar! See below for details.

How To Make Powdered Sugar At Home

Use a high-speed blender like the Nutribullet or a small food processor. Combine one cup of cane sugar with 1 teaspoon of cornstarch and blend until the sugar dissolves into a fine powder.

Add a small amount of cornstarch (tapioca or potato starch works, too) to prevent the sugar from clumping.

More Easy and Delicious Desserts

CINNAMON TWISTS

CHAI COOKIES

LEMON DATE BALLS

BREAD PUDDING

BANANA NUT BREAD

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A bowl of freshly baked key lime cookies

Key Lime Cookie Balls

Author: Maike Corbett
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Chill Time 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Serving Size 24
These sweet and tangy key lime cookies are the perfect afternoon treat.
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Ingredients

  • 1½ cup flour all-purpose
  • ½ cup cornstarch
  • 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • 3 tablespoons lime juice
  • 2 teaspoons lime zest

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350° Fahrenheit. Cover a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
  • Blend butter and powdered sugar with an electric mixer at medium speed until the texture is fluffy. Add lime juice and lime zest and combine well.
  • Sift in flour and cornstarch. Once combined, remove the dough and shape with your hands in a large ball.
  • Chill for 30 minutes
  • Cut the dough in half and form little 1-inch dough balls. Place the dough balls onto the baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes.
  • Place the hot cookies on a cooling rack and dust with powdered sugar.

Video

Notes

*If you don’t own a stand mixer you can use a hand mixer instead. I have never tried it, but I think you could also use a food processor to blend your ingredients. 
**Use the flat beater attachment if you are using a KitchenAid stand mixer. 
If you are wondering if you can make the key lime cookies ahead of time. The answer is YES!
As long as you store the cookies in an airtight container, you can store them for up to 2 weeks. 
If you choose you can also freeze the cookies.  If you choose to freeze them, don’t sprinkle them with powdered sugar until after you have defrosted them. 

Nutritional Information

Calories: 117
Carbs: 11g
Fat: 8g
Protein: 1g

Nutritional Disclaimer

Cheerful Cook team members are not trained nutritionists or medical professionals. Calorie information and nutritional values are estimates. If you have nutritional concerns, we recommend using a nutritional calculator.

Maike Corbett is the founder and food blogger of Cheerful Cook, a popular recipe website featuring comfort food recipes from the US and Germany. She has been featured in numerous media outlets, including the AP Wire and MSN.

5 from 1 vote

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2 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I love a good key lime pie. And these key lime cookies are just as good. I take them to work as a treat and something to share.

    Reply