Lime Meltaways

These Lime Meltaways are the perfect Christmas cookie. They simply melt in your mouth and if you love lime flavor then this cookie is for you.

No more chocolate today, my friends. Today these cookies are all about limes. We need variety in our cookies, and a lime is something you don’t see often in a cookie.

Which is a shame because the brightness and acidity combined with that unique lime flavor is perfect. The name itself suggests they simply melt in your mouth, and they do. I love these cookies, such a refreshing change.

What Are Lime Meltaways?

So what exactly are meltaways, you may be asking? Well they are the sweet little hybrid between a shortbread and a Mexican wedding cookie – texture wise at least. They’re perfectly buttery, sweet, rich, yet disappear in an instant.

Our secret weapon today is cornstarch! It will act as a binder for our light little cookies while also ensure they melt away as soon as they meet your mouth.

Ingredients

Detailed measurements and instructions can be found on the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.

• Butter – Unsalted butter that’s at room temperature, be sure to pull it out of your fridge in advance.
• Vanilla – The secret weapon flavor booster in most baked goods. Extract will work just fine.
• Flour – I used all purpose for this recipe
• Lime – Freshly squeezed lime juice and lime zest.
• Sugar – Confectioners sugar, also known as powdered or icing sugar. This will ensure our cookies melt in our mouth – yum!
• Salt – All baked goods need salt, it helps balance the sweetness and ensure our flavors shine.
• Cornstarch – it will soften the harsh proteins of flour, thus making a more tender baked cookie.

How To Make Lime Meltaways

1. Combine the wet and dry: In a mixer, cream the butter and 1/3 cup of the icing sugar until fluffy. Add the lime zest, lime juice, vanilla and beat until fluffy. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch and salt then add to the butter mixture and beat on low speed until combined.
2. Roll dough into two 2 inch diameter logs and cover with wrap and chill for at least an hour.
3. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Slice the dough into 1/8 inch thick rounds. Place cookies on baking sheets about 1 inch apart.
4. Bake cookies until golden, about 15 minutes then cool on a wire rack.
5. Finish the cookies: Place remaining 2/3 cup powdered sugar in a resealable plastic bag. While still warm place the cookies in the sugar-filled bag, and toss to coat.

Gluten Free

You can make these lime meltaways gluten free by just substituing the flour with your favorite gluten free flour 1:1.

What Else Can I Use In My Cookies?

If you’re not a big lime fan, or if you’d like to mix in some other exciting flavors here’s some picture perfect suggestions.

• Vanilla, just keep it plain and ax the lime
• Pecans either finely ground or roughly chopped
• Mint
• Chocolate
• Coffee
• Nutella

Storing Leftovers

You can store them in an air tight container at room temperature for about 3 days, if they’ll last that long. If you notice that the powdered sugar on them melts into the cookie, don’t worry. Just sprinkle them with more, or simply roll them through a bit more powdered sugar. Nobody will notice or mind!

Freezer

You can store these in an airtight container for up to 3 months in the freezer!

Craving More Holiday Treats?

• Classic Shortbread Cookies
• Chocolate Pecan Snowballs
• Thumbprint Cookies
• Chocolate Rumballs
• Red Velvet Kiss Cookies
• Rugelach Cookies
• Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
• Mexican Wedding Cookies
• Peanut Butter Cookies