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Soft and chewy cookies bursting with fresh key lime flavor, topped with a zesty lime glaze. Quick to prepare and perfect for a refreshing treat.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 115 grams unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 150 grams light brown sugar
  • 1 large egg, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or ½ teaspoon vanilla extract plus ½ teaspoon lime extract for extra zing)
  • Zest of 3–4 fresh key limes (or regular limes)
  • 219 grams all-purpose flour (measured precisely or spooned and leveled)
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 120 grams powdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar), plus extra for adjusting glaze thickness
  • 40–60 ml fresh key lime juice (or regular lime juice) for glaze, adjusted to preferred thickness

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C).
  2. Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl and set aside.
  3. Beat butter and light brown sugar on high speed using an electric mixer for 1–2 minutes until light and fluffy.
  4. Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat until smoothly combined.
  5. Stir in the fresh key lime zest.
  6. Gradually add the flour mixture in thirds, mixing just until blended; avoid overmixing.
  7. Pull the dough together and roll into 1½-inch balls by hand.
  8. Place dough balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them apart. If dough spreads too much, chill for 15 minutes before baking.
  9. Bake at 350°F for 9–11 minutes until cookies are just set but still soft and puffy; edges should not brown for a soft, chewy texture.
  10. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 2–3 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  11. Whisk together glaze ingredients: lime juice, powdered sugar, and optional lime zest, adjusting liquid and powdered sugar to reach desired thickness.
  12. Let the glaze rest 5–10 minutes to thicken slightly.
  13. Dip or spread glaze over completely cooled cookies and sprinkle with extra lime zest if desired.
  14. Allow the icing to set fully before serving.

Notes

Use regular limes if key limes are unavailable; flavor will be less floral but still bright and refreshing., Substitute half vanilla extract with lime extract to boost lime aroma., Add-ins and flavor twists: fold in ½ cup white chocolate chips, mix in ⅓ to ½ cup sweetened shredded coconut, sprinkle crushed graham crackers on glaze, or roll dough balls in sugar and lime zest before baking for texture variation., Cookies can be made larger (~3 inches) and baked a few extra minutes or pressed into an 8×8 pan for lime bars., Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature up to 4-5 days. Refrigerate up to 5 days or freeze dough or baked cookies; glaze can be added after thawing if desired., Roll dough balls by hand for a prettier appearance rather than using a scoop., Avoid overbaking to preserve soft, chewy texture; pull cookies from oven when edges are set but centers remain soft.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://sweetandsupper.com/key-lime-cookies/