Key Lime Cookies

If you like the flavors of key lime pie, you'll love these Key Lime Pie Cookies! These are soft, pillowy sugar cookies with bright, zesty key lime flavors.

Citrus desserts are full of zesty, puckery, sweet yumminess. They sing of spring and summer days, sunshine, and happy days.

Lemons are popular to use in baked goods, especially lemon cookies like these Lemon Crinkle Cookies and in the Sunshine Lemon Loaf recipe on page 17 of my cookbook, The Super Easy Teen Baking Cookbook.

Orange is a classic, and is the perfect citrus for Mini Citrus Bundt Cakes and Orange Sorbet.

And limes? They're a great alternative to lemons, like in these Mini Lime Tarts. And, in this tasty Key Lime Cookies recipe! They have the best flavor, and are melt-in-your-mouth delicious!

🌟 Why you'll love this recipe

These chewy key lime cookies are sure to become a regular in your baking rotation. They might just become your new favorite cookie!

• These chewy cookies are soft, pillowy, and absolutely addictively delicious!
• This is an easy recipe that you can make in under an hour.
• You can chill the dough or not chill the dough -- it's up to you! (see the FAQ section for details).
• Each chewy sugar cookie is full of big, zesty key lime flavor.
• The dough can be frozen, and so can baked cookies (after being cooled).

🛒 Ingredient notes

Key limes - Key limes are smaller than regular limes (see photo of key limes above), and have a much stronger aroma and flavor. A little bit of key lime goes a long way. If you can't find fresh key limes, you can substitute regular limes with a 1:1 ration for juice and zest.

• Eggs - One egg plus one egg yolk is needed to help give these cookies structure. Make sure the eggs are brought to room temperature before using. Room temperature eggs mix more evenly, giving you a smooth batter and fluffier cookies.
• Butter - Use unsalted butter that is softened to room temperature. It should be soft enough for an indentation to appear when you press a finger into it, but not too soft that your finger easily presses through the butter. If the butter is too soft, the cookies will likely spread too thin.
• Salt - Fine sea salt (not course) lends a softer salty balance of flavor to these cookies. You can use table salt or kosher salt instead if you prefer.

✅ Step-by-step instructions

Here are some step-by-step photos to show you how to make this easy key lime cookie recipe. You'll find the full list of ingredients and more detailed instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

1. In a shallow bowl, add ¼ cup of granulated sugar and mix in the ½ teaspoon of fresh lime zest into the sugar; set aside.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and remaining 1 teaspoon zest. Set aside.

3. In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and remaining 1 cup of sugar for about 3 to 4 minutes, until light yellow and fluffy, scraping down the sides with a spatula as necessary.

4. Add the egg, egg yolk, vanilla, and key lime juice. Mix on low until the ingredients are well incorporated.

5. Gradually add in the dry ingredients (the flour mixture) until the batter is creamy and consistent.

6. Transfer dough to a bowl and cover with plastic wrap, or form dough into a log and wrap in parchment paper. Chill dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes up to 2 hours.

Before taking the dough out of the refrigerator, preheat your oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

7. Take the dough out of the refrigerator and use a scoop or a spoon to scoop out approximately one heaping tablespoon full of dough to form a ball.

8. Roll dough ball into the prepared shallow bowl that has the ¼ cup granulated sugar with ½ teaspoon lime zest, until coated on all sides.

9. Place onto the prepared lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough, placing dough balls approximately 2 inches apart since the dough will spread.

Bake at 350°F for 10 to 12 minutes, just until the centers are no longer glossy. If baking two pans at a time, be sure to rotate each cookie sheet from one rack to the other, and from back to front, halfway through the baking time.

Allow cookies to cool on the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQs

🍽 Serving ideas

These key lime sugar cookies are delicious on their own, but also make a festive addition to any brunch, spring or summer soiree, picnic, or celebration.

Serve them at the dessert table along with Mini Fruit Tarts and a blueberry galette.

Main courses that would pair well leading up to these cookies include Air Fryer Crab Legs, Prawns Canapé, and Garlic Butter Chicken Bites.

Or pack a picnic lunch along with Chicken Salad Sandwiches or BLT Pasta Salad, Fruit Salad, and these yummy sugar cookies with lime!

🥂 Best wine pairings

You could also enjoy these lime cookies with a chilled, off-dry Riesling. Cheers!

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Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!