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An image of lime meltaway cookies on a plate.
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5 from 8 votes

Lime Meltaways

Bring a little citrus to your season with these Lime Meltaways! These bite-size slice-and-bake shortbread cookies are made with lime zest and coated in powdered sugar for a sweet, citrus flavor that melts in your mouth.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time13 minutes
Additional Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 28 minutes
Course: Cookies
Cuisine: American
Servings: 36 -48 Cookies
Calories: 72kcal
Author: Amy Nash

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup salted butter, softened 12 tablespoons
  • 1 cup powdered sugar divided
  • Zest of 2 limes
  • 2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 ¾ cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • In a large bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and ⅓ cup of the powdered sugar on medium-high speed until light and pale, about 2-3 minutes.
  • Add the lime zest, lime juice, and vanilla and mix again, scraping down the sides of the bowl.
  • Add the flour, cornstarch, and salt, mixing until combined. At first it might not seem like the dough will come together, but let it keep mixing and it will form into a nice dough, about the consistency of play-dough.
  • Divide the dough into 2 equal pieces and roll each half into a 1 ¼-inch diameter log (about 9-inches long each). Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 1 hour to chill.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Unwrap the two logs of dough and slice into ¼-inch discs using a sharp knife. Place the disks on parchment-lined baking sheets and bake for 13-14 minutes until barely golden around the edges.
  • Cool for 8-10 minutes, then transfer half of the cookies to a large ziploc bag along with the reserved ⅔ cup of powdered sugar. Toss gently to coat each cookie with powdered sugar, then remove the cookies to a plate and repeat with the remaining cookies. A few of the cookies will probably break while being tossed with the powdered sugar, but they still taste good!
  • Store in an airtight container on the counter for up to 2 weeks. Supposedly they taste even better after a week or two since the lime flavor comes through stronger, but I haven't been able to keep any around that long!

Notes

  • These cookies freeze well for up to 2 months.
  • These would also be delicious made with lemon, orange, or even grapefruit juice and zest.
Recipe from Life Currents, as adapted from Martha Stewart.

Nutrition

Calories: 72kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 50mg | Potassium: 9mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 119IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 1mg