These lime coconut cookies combine lime zest and juice with toasted coconut for a simple and chewy cookie. A bright and citrus flavored cookie that tastes like you're on a tropical vacation.
Lime coconut cookies are the epitome of a perfect spring or summer cookie. They're loaded with both lime and coconut flavor, and not overly sweet. They're a quick and easy cookie to throw together in one bowl, and no mixer needed.
If you're a coconut lover like me than I'd highly suggest trying my white chocolate coconut cookies, raspberry coconut cake or my coconut lime cheesecake bars.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Chewy: The coconut and lime juice in these cookies makes them so chewy and keeps them extra moist.
- No Chilling Required: The cookie dough doesn't need to be chilled, so you can be eating these cookies in less than an hour.
- Coconut & Lime: The best combo of flavors that compliment each other so well.
Ingredient Notes
Full ingredient measurements and instructions can be found in the recipe card below.
- Coconut: I like using the sweetened shredded coconut for these so it's small little flakes. You're going to toast the coconut ahead of time like I do for my Coconut Cake.
- Butter: I always use salted butter, but unsalted works great too.
- Lime: You will use both the zest and the juice from 1-2 limes.
- Sugars: You will use both brown sugar and granulated sugar for these cookies.
- Coconut Extract: I love the additional coconut flavor this brings, but you can sub in vanilla extract instead if preferred.
Step by Step Instructions
- Step 1: Start by toasting the coconut. Melt 1 teaspoon of butter in a small frying pan, add in the coconut and cook over low-medium heat for about 5 minutes until nice and golden. Make sure you are stirring it continuously and watching it. Once done spread it out on some wax paper or a paper towel to cool while you make the cookie dough.
- Step 2: Place sugars in a medium mixing bowl and add 1 tablespoon of lime zest. Rub with your fingers until the zest has become flavorful and mixed into the sugars.
- Step 3: Add the butter to the bowl and beat together until light, about 3 minutes. You can also mix this by hand. Add the egg, lime juice and coconut extract and mix again.
- Step 4: Slowly mix in flour, salt and soda, being careful not to over mix. I usually stop when I still have some flour remnants around the bowl. Fold in toasted coconut.
- Step 5: Scoop the dough into large balls, I like to use a 3 tablespoon cookie scoop for these.
- Step 6: Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes. You're looking for a nice light golden brown around the edges. Let them sit on the pan after baking to finish cooking slightly in the middle.
Expert Baking Tips
- The butter and eggs should still be slightly chilled from the fridge. I try to let them sit out for about 15 minutes before I begin my cookie making! The chilled butter will help hold these cookies together more.
- Using the coconut extract helps to give a coconut flavor to the dough. But if you don't have that these are really good with vanilla extract also.
- If your cookies don't come out in a perfect circle, just run a spatula or knife around them right out of the oven to help create the perfect shape.
FAQ
No, toasting is not necessary.
Cookies often spread too thin when there isn't enough flour added to the batter. Another issue could be that your baking powder or soda is expired.
Yes, any citrus (lemon, orange or grapefruit) would be a great substitution in these cookies.
Storing & Freezing
These lime coconut cookies will remain fresh if stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days. I also love to prep the cookie dough in advance and store it in the fridge for up to a week if planning ahead.
You can freeze your cookies in an airtight container for 2-3 months with them remaining fresh. You can also freeze the cookie dough balls if you would like to bake them one at a time. If baking the cookies from frozen I would bake them at 325 instead of 350.
Other Popular Recipes to Try
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Lime Coconut Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup (45 g) sweetened shredded coconut toasted
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup (73.33 g) brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon (1 large) lime zest
- ½ cup (113.5 g) salted butter slightly chilled
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) coconut extract can use vanilla
- 1 tablespoon (1 tablespoon) lime juice about one large lime
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) salt
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) baking soda
- 1½ cups (187.5 g) all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Start by toasting the coconut. Melt 1 teaspoon of butter in a small frying pan, add in the coconut and cook over low-medium heat for about 5 minutes until nice and golden. Make sure you are stirring it continuously and watching it. Once done spread it out on some wax paper or a paper towel to cool while you make the cookie dough.
- Place sugars in a medium mixing bowl and add 1 tablespoon of lime zest. Rub with your fingers until the zest has become flavorful and mixed into the sugars.
- Add the butter to the bowl and beat together until light, about 3 minutes. You can also mix this by hand. Add the egg, lime juice and coconut extract and mix again.
- Slowly mix in flour, salt and soda, being careful not to over mix. I usually stop when I still have some flour remnants around the bowl. Fold in toasted coconut.
- Scoop the dough into large balls, I like to use a 3 tablespoon cookie scoop for these.
- Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes. You're looking for a nice light golden brown around the edges. Let them sit on the pan after baking to finish cooking slightly in the middle.
Sandy
I love this flavor combination! So happy I can have it in cookie form! These are so good!
Lonna S
What a great cookie for Cinco de Mayo! I love the hint of lime taste!
Erin M.
I love coconut and these cookies are so easy and delicious!
Janee
This is like summer in a cookie! Love this flavor combo!
Ryleigh
Love this quick recipe! Something different and bright in a cookie and so easy to whip up. The chewy coconut in the cookie makes them so yum.
Theresa
Everyone loved these! Such a nice refreshing treat and a little “something different”! Perfect for spring/summer!
Brooke B
A Light and Fresh Cookie. Perfect for Mother’s Day brunch.
Adrienne
These are so quick and easy to make and have such perfect lime zing!
Christin E.
A cookie flavor I never knew I needed. I made these for Mother's Day and they were enjoyed by all. I did not have coconut flavoring so used vanilla and they were great!
Stephanie Wright
Delicious! My husband and boys had them gone in a day!
Karen Farnsworth
Delicious and beautifully balanced! Love all things coconut and the lime is so refreshing!
Rachel
Perfect texture. I didn't have coconut extract but used vanilla. Will try again with coconut. I think it will enhance the flavor that much more.
Elisa Tod
My husband loved! They were different and delicious, but not my favourite. The toasted coconut and lime were different and delicious but a little extra work.
Debbie Wronka
Loved by friends I made them for! Perfect combo of summer flavors!
Giada
The use of toasted coconut adds a wonderful crunch and depth to the final product. They are delicious!
Ashley Poynor
Loved them! They are summer in a cookie 🙂
Chelsea Hill
Such a perfect tropical treat! It was easy to make, and my family loved it. Texture was great and so was the flavor. Definitely making these again!
Katie B
Delicious lime flavor! They are so soft and flavorful. Next time, I would probably add in some white chocolate chips to the batter. This was a very light, refreshing cookie perfect for summer.
Joan
Love the lime and coconut combination. Fun cookie for the start of summer. The toasted coconut is a great touch.
Elisa M.
So yummy! Work a hint of line and coconut, I was whisked away too a tropical island!
Shauna Phillips
Made these a couple times this month for different events and they were a hit! Loved the toasted coconut.
Andrea
One of our favorite flavor combos, and this cookie made it even better. Put them in the fridge and ate them slightly chilled-so good!
Heidi McConaghie
These were the perfect cookie to start off the summer! I made a double batch and they were amazing!
Jennifer
My word! The Salted sweets has done it AGAIN!! These are absolutely amazing! Tender, yet crisp edges, with a "take me to the Caribbean" taste!
Thank you!