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Home » Recipes » Cookies

Key Lime Cookies

May 17, 2022 by brooke 9 Comments

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Key lime cookies are a soft, chewy sugar cookie loaded with zesty lime flavor and topped with a lime buttercream. They're bursting with fragrant citrus flavor!

key lime cookies with a bite taken out of one.

These key lime cookies are the perfect spring and summer cookie. The sweet and subtle lime flavor is just enough to make you feel like you're on a tropical vacation somewhere.

If you love citrus flavors and are looking to try something else, you should try my key lime pie tart with biscoff cookie crust. Or if you love lemon you should definitely try my lemon coconut white chocolate cookies, or my blackberry lemon bread that is so moist and full of flavor.

key lime cookies on a cookie sheet.

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THESE

EASY & QUICK- These cookies are so much easier to make then they look. They require no chill time, and very few ingredients.

SWEET & TART- The sweet sugar cookie paired with the tart lime juice is the perfect pair.

PERFECT FOR SUMMER- These cookies are the perfect spring and summer treat to bring and share with others.

INGREDIENT NOTES

  • Coconut Oil- I love having the little bit of coconut flavor with the lime, but if you don't like coconut just use another neutral oil such as canola.
  • Key Lime Juice & Zest- Key Limes can be hard to find year round, regular limes work just great here also.
  • Flour- Weighing flour is best if you have a scale, if you don't, lightly spoon flour into your measuring cup.
  • Sour Cream- You can also use greek yogurt for the frosting if you have that on hand.
ingredients needed to make key lime cookies

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS

STEP ONE: Preheat oven to 350 F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

STEP TWO: Place butter, oil and sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add egg and lime juice and zest, mix on medium speed for 2 minutes.

adding egg and lime to batter
after all wet ingredients have been mixed.

STEP THREE: Add baking soda, cream of tartar, salt and flour to the bowl and mix on low, being careful not to overmix. The dough will seem crumbly, but it's fine as long as it will hold in a ball. If you need to, add a bit more lemon juice to it will hold.

adding dry ingredients.
dough before scooping.

STEP FOUR: Scoop the dough into large balls. I like to use a 3 tablespoon cookie scoop. Place 8 cookie balls on your baking sheet. Flatten cookie balls with a glass until they are about ½ inch thick. I like to spray the bottom of my glass with cooking spray and dip in sugar before flattening. Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes. You're looking for a barely light golden brown outside rim. Allow to cool completely before frosting.

pressing dough with a cup
cookies before baking.

STEP FIVE: Mix together butter, sour cream, salt and 2 cups of powdered sugar on low until completely combined. Add lime juice, zest and another 1-2 cups of powdered sugar and mix on medium-high for about 2 minutes. Add more lime juice or powdered sugar to get desired consistency. Frost on cooled cookies.

frosting with cookies
frosting the cookies

EXPERT BAKING TIPS

I prefer these cookies to be chilled before eating. It is not necessary to chill them, but might be worth a try for you to see if that's how you prefer them too!

If you would rather use a regular buttercream frosting you can swap the lime juice and zest for milk and add a little vanilla to the recipe.

I have given both cups and grams as measurements. Grams will be more precise, especially when measuring flour. If you don’t have a kitchen scale, no problem! Just lightly spoon flour into your measuring cup to insure its not packed in there. Light and fluffy is the key.

FAQ

Can I use regular limes if I can't find key limes?

Yes, using regular limes works great for these cookies. Honestly I don't find there to be noticeable difference at all.

How do I know if my cookies are done baking?

The best way to tell if your cookies are baked all the way is to make sure that the middle is not glossy at all, and the edges or bottom have a slight golden brown.

What do I do if my dough is too crumbly?

The easiest way to fix crumbly dough is to add a little bit of moisture or liquid. Add a few teaspoons more of lime juice or water and that should help..

key lime cookies all lined up on a baking sheet with little lime pieces on the top.

STORING AND FREEZING

Key lime cookies can be stored at room temperature, or in the fridge, in an airtight container. They will keep fresh this way for 3-4 days.

FREEZING

These cookies will keep fresh in an airtight container in the freezer for 3-4 months. Just allow them to come to room temperature before eating!

close up of a key lime cookies from a side view.

OTHER POPULAR COOKIE RECIPES TO TRY:

Raspberry White Chocolate Cookies

Lemon Cooler Cookies

Cut Out Sugar Cookies

For more yummy treats follow me on instagram @thesaltedsweets. And be sure to tag me and comment below if you make them and love them as much as I do. 

Make sure to leave a star review below!

key lime cookies with a bite taken out of one.

Key Lime Cookies

brooke
Key lime cookies are a soft, chewy sugar cookie loaded with zesty lime flavor and topped with a lime buttercream. They're bursting with fragrant citrus flavor!
4.91 from 10 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 8 mins
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 14
Calories 370 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

Key Lime Cookies

  • ¼ cup butter room temp
  • ⅓ cup coconut oil any vegetable oil will work if you don't like coconut
  • ⅓ cup powdered sugar
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon key lime juice and zest from the lime can use a regular lime
  • 1 large egg room temp
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2¾ cups all-purpose flour

Key Lime Frosting

  • ½ cup butter room temp
  • 2 tablespoon sour cream
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 3-4 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoon key lime juice and zest from a lime can use regular limes

Instructions
 

To make cookies:

  • Preheat oven to 350 F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • Place butter, oil and sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes.
  • Add egg and lime juice and zest, mix on medium speed for 2 minutes.
  • Add baking soda, cream of tartar, salt and flour to the bowl and mix on low, being careful not to overmix. The dough will seem crumbly, but it's fine as long as it will hold in a ball. If you need to, add a bit more lime juice til it will hold.
  • Scoop the dough into large balls. I like to use a 3 tablespoon cookie scoop.
  • Place 8 cookie balls on your baking sheet. Flatten cookie balls with a glass until they are about ½ inch thick. I like to spray the bottom of my glass with cooking spray and dip in sugar before flattening. Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes. You're looking for a barely light golden brown outside rim. Allow to cool completely before frosting.

To make frosting:

  • Mix together butter, sour cream, salt and 2 cups of powdered sugar on low until completely combined. Add lime juice, zest and another 1-2 cups of powdered sugar and mix on medium-high for about 2 minutes. Add more lime juice or powdered sugar to get desired consistency. Frost on cooled cookies.
  • I like to eat these cookies chilled, but you whatever you prefer is great!

Notes

I prefer these cookies to be chilled before eating. It is not necessary to chill them, but might be worth a try for you to see if that's how you prefer them too! Just place them in an airtight container after the frosting has set and they should keep fresh in there for 3-4 days, or in the freezer for longer.
It is best for butter and eggs to be at room temperature before starting to mix.
If you would rather use a regular buttercream frosting you can swap the lime juice and zest for milk and add a little vanilla to the recipe.
I have given both cups and grams as measurements. Grams will be more precise, especially when measuring flour. If you don’t have a kitchen scale, no problem! Just lightly spoon flour into your measuring cup to insure its not packed in there. Light and fluffy is the key.

Nutrition

Calories: 370kcalCarbohydrates: 58gProtein: 3gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 249mgPotassium: 46mgFiber: 1gSugar: 39gVitamin A: 334IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 11mgIron: 1mg
Keyword key lime, key lime cookies, key lime frosting
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tyler

    May 18, 2022 at 10:07 am

    5 stars
    Amazing

    Reply
  2. Dana Marchant

    May 18, 2022 at 11:28 am

    5 stars
    Having sampled these cookies .... I imagined myself sitting on the beach, under the umbrella, waves lapping in the background ... and devouring a dozen of these. So good. Tart enough. Soft enough. Not too sweet. Perfection!

    Reply
  3. Sandy

    May 18, 2022 at 5:29 pm

    5 stars
    Fantastic cookies! Love them and will make again and again!

    Reply
  4. Camille Knudsen

    May 22, 2022 at 1:28 am

    5 stars
    The key lime flavor in the cookies are spot on! A perfect touch of lime that isn’t too overpowering. And the coconut oil in the cookie batter leaves a gentle hint of coconut. Mine don’t look as pretty as Brooke’s, but I’m sure I’ll do better next time because I will be making these again. 🙂

    Reply
  5. Andrea

    May 23, 2022 at 1:32 pm

    We loved these! I set them in the fridge to chill and the next time I checked on them 1/2 the cookies had mysteriously disappeared and no one claimed eating them-but they did all say they were delicious. They’ll be a repeat recipe for all the summer get togethers.

    Reply
  6. Hillary

    June 01, 2022 at 10:20 pm

    5 stars
    Ok, ok, ok ... *these* cookies taste like sunshine and summertime!!! The perfect balance of key lime flavors and what a PERFECT cookie texture! Refrigerating is a MUST. So very sweet, but so very delightful!

    Reply
    • brooke

      June 03, 2022 at 6:08 pm

      thank you so so much Hillary!!

      Reply
  7. Meagan

    June 10, 2022 at 10:13 am

    5 stars
    These cookies were delicious! I felt like I was at crumbl. I will definitely make these again.

    Reply
    • brooke

      June 13, 2022 at 8:00 am

      Yay! So glad you loved them!

      Reply

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Hi! I'm Brooke,

Welcome to the SALTED sweets! I am a self-taught baker, dessert lover, and mom of three. My hope is to share my love language of sweet and simple baked goods with you. More about me...

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