Make-Ahead Lime Meltaway Cookies

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Christmas cookies, cookies, lime, shortbread

Prep Time: 25

Cook Time: 10

Chilling time: 30

Total Time: 1 5

Servings: cookies

Calories: 64kcal

Author: clevelandcooking

Indulge in the sweet and tangy flavor of homemade lime meltaway cookies. A perfect treat for the holidays or any time of year.

Cream butter and ⅓ cup of the powdered sugar with a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment.
Add lime juice, lime zest, and vanilla. Mix until combined.
In an appropriately sized bowl, sift or whisk together flour, corn starch, and salt.
Add flour mixture to butter mixture and mix on slow speed until combined.
Roll dough to 1/4 inch between 2 pieces of parchment paper and chill for 30 minutes.
When dough is chilled, cut dough into 1 1/2 to 2 inch rounds.
Place rounds on a parchment lined baking sheet one inch apart.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 8-10 minutes or until just lightly golden brown at the edges
After baking, let cookies cool for 15 minutes on a wire rack.
The rest of the powdered sugar can be sprinkled on. The other option is to place the powdered sugar in a plastic bag and add the cookies. Shake carefully not to break the cookies.

Can I make the lime meltaway cookie dough ahead of time? Yes, absolutely! The dough for these lime meltaway cookies can be prepared ahead of time and needs to chill for at least an hour, but can be kept in the refrigerator for up to three days before baking.
Why is it important to zest limes before juicing them? Zesting before juicing is a crucial tip because it's much easier to remove the flavorful zest from a whole, firm lime. Once a lime is juiced, it becomes soft and difficult to zest effectively.
What's the best way to combine the ingredients for the dough? Start by creaming the butter with part of the powdered sugar, then add vanilla, lime juice, and zest. Whisk together the dry ingredients (flour, cornstarch, salt) separately before gradually adding them to the wet mixture until a smooth dough forms.
How do I ensure consistent thickness when rolling out the dough? For consistent 1/4-inch thickness, you can use 1/4-inch square dowels placed on either side of your dough as guides while rolling. This helps achieve an even thickness, leading to uniformly baked cookies.
How many cookies does this recipe yield? When the dough is cut into 1 1/2 to 2-inch rounds, this recipe should yield approximately 40 delicious lime meltaway cookies.