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    Home » Recipes » Key Lime Shortbread Bites

    Last updated: Sep 12, 2019 by Keri · 38 Comments

    Key Lime Shortbread Bites

    Jump to Recipe

    How about that title!!  Can you believe I'm posting a citrus recipe that does not have lemon in it?!  My good friend Holly - one of my faithful taste testers, blog readers and fellow baseball mom - requested a key lime dessert.  And she has perfect timing because I am still cranking out citrus inspired desserts like they're going out of style!

    Like these key lime shortbread bites with key lime glaze ... Yep, you're going to want to {taste this}!! 

    Key Lime Shortbread Bites
    From the Taste of Home Cookies Magazine
    Makes about 2 ½ dozen cookies
     
    1 cup butter, softened
    ¼ cup powdered sugar
    2 teaspoons key lime juice
    2 teaspoons grated key lime (or just plain ol' lime) zest
    2 cups all purpose flour
    ¼ teaspoon salt
    ½ cup chopped macadamia nuts (I omitted these in this batch because Holly doesn't like nuts.)
     
    In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.  Then, beat in lime juice and peel.  In a separate bowl, combine flour and salt and add gradually to creamed mixture.  Stir in the nuts (if you use them).
     
    I made two batches of cookies.  The second time I chilled the dough for a while (just because my pans were too hot to bake another batch on right away) and the second batch came out a little fluffier.  Moral of the story?  I would chill your dough 🙂
     
    Roll dough into 1 - 1 ½ inch balls and place 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet or baking stone.  Bake at 400* until the bottoms are lightly browned - about 8-10 minutes.  Allow cookies to cool on wire racks and make the key lime glaze ... recipe below.
     
    Key Lime Glaze
     
    2 cups powdered sugar
    ¼ cup key lime juice
    1 teaspoon finely grated lime peel
     
    Stir together and drizzle pour drench your cookies in the glaze.  Allow the glaze to set (if you can wait that long) and store in an air tight container.
     
    With their soft crumbly shortbread base and kicky key lime glaze, these really do taste like ...
     
     

    These are not a super sweet cookie ... buttery with a tangy little zip and they would be a great way to end a rich meal, serve with coffee or add to a Spring Time buffet or party table.  Oh go on ... make a batch!  Do you really need an excuse to bake cookies?

    Coming up this week?  A sweet Spring table and another citrus recipe that makes a great homemade gift!  Stay tuned and see you soon!

    Print
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    key lime shortbread cookies on plate

    Key Lime Shortbread Bites

    ★★★ 3 from 1 reviews
    • Author: Melissa Riker
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 10 minutes
    • Total Time: 20 minutes
    • Yield: 30 1x
    • Category: dessert
    • Method: baking
    • Cuisine: American
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Get a burst of sweet and citrus with these delicious Key Lime Shortbread Cookies topped with a Key Lime Glaze!


    Ingredients

    Scale
    Key Lime Shortbread Cookies
    1 cup butter, softened
    ¼ cup powdered sugar
    2 teaspoons key lime juice
    2 teaspoons grated key lime (or just plain ol' lime) zest
    2 cups all purpose flour
    ¼ teaspoon salt
    ½ cup chopped macadamia nuts (I omitted these in this batch because Holly doesn't like nuts.)
    Key Lime Glaze
    2 cups powdered sugar
    ¼ cup key lime juice
    1 teaspoon finely grated lime peel

    Instructions

    1. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
    2. Beat in lime juice and peel.
    3. In a separate bowl, combine flour and salt and add gradually to creamed mixture.
    4. Stir in the nuts (if you use them)
    5. Chill dough one hour before preparing to bake.
    6. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
    7. Roll dough into 1 - 1 ½ inch balls and place 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet or baking stone.
    8. Bake until the bottoms are lightly browned - about 8-10 minutes.
    9. Allow cookies to cool on wire racks while you make the key lime glaze.
    10. For the glaze, stir together ingredients and drizzle over your cookies.
    11. Allow the glaze to set (if you can wait that long) and store in an air tight container.

    Keywords: key lime shortbread, key lime glaze

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Nicola says

      April 16, 2012 at 3:55 pm

      I have several limes sat in the fridge at home just waiting to be made into these cookies! Keep the citrus-themed recipes coming - I love them.

      Reply
    2. Sarah Carletti says

      April 17, 2012 at 10:50 am

      They look wonderful. I love lime!

      Reply
    3. suzyhomemaker says

      April 18, 2012 at 12:16 am

      I love shortbread. These look so yummy. I am definitely pinning this one.

      Reply
    4. Sue @ Cakeballs, cookies and more says

      April 18, 2012 at 1:48 pm

      they sound great, and like a nice twist on an old favorite.

      Reply
    5. SayNotSweetAnne says

      April 18, 2012 at 1:49 pm

      I freaking love lime. Like, seriously, probably more than I should. And lemon. And shortcake... so you can see why this most just looks AMAZING! Someday soon I'll work up the energy to actually bake something- great job! Oh, and I'd be honored if you had the time to stop by my debut episode of Sweet Sharing Monday (weekly party w features!) - http://saynotsweetanne.com/2012/sweet-sharing-monday/

      Reply
    6. Cranberry Morning says

      April 19, 2012 at 2:42 am

      Don't those look amazing!! Love lime. Found you on Creative Princess. 🙂

      Reply
    7. Jenny@daysofchalkandchocolate says

      April 19, 2012 at 12:19 pm

      Love key lime! I would love to make these for my daughter's birthday party in June. Great idea!

      Reply
    8. Balancing says

      April 19, 2012 at 3:38 pm

      oh my - bring on the calories - they look awesome!

      Reply
    9. Jill @Two Yellow Birds Decor says

      April 19, 2012 at 8:59 pm

      Those sound AMAZING!!! YUM! Thanks so much for sharing at Thursday's Temptation.
      Jill

      Reply
    10. Missy Shay says

      April 20, 2012 at 10:58 am

      These look delicious! I'm pinning this recipe!

      Reply
    11. Anita Stafford says

      April 20, 2012 at 1:59 pm

      These cookies sound great, I have good luck with taste of home recipes!

      Reply
    12. Rachel {BubblyNatureCreations.com} says

      April 20, 2012 at 8:04 pm

      Ok... I am sold. I am making these this week!!!! I have to! yummmy! Thanks for sharing and I will let you know how I them- which I am sure that I will! 🙂

      Reply
    13. Heather @ A Cupcake Love Affair says

      April 20, 2012 at 8:42 pm

      I love shortbread and these sound perfect for summer! Found you through Bubbly Nature Creations!! 🙂

      Heather
      www.cupcakeloveaffair.blogspot.com

      Reply
    14. Nicole says

      April 21, 2012 at 9:07 am

      Wow, just the title sounds delicious!

      Reply
    15. Carol, The Answer Is Chocolate says

      April 21, 2012 at 2:44 pm

      I love it "Vacation in a cookie" how perfect and the cookies sound yummy!

      Reply
    16. Winnie says

      April 22, 2012 at 6:28 pm

      I'd really like to taste these cookies!
      It's a bit hard to get lime here and I'm so curious about these cookies

      Reply
    17. Joan@chocolateandmore says

      April 22, 2012 at 6:50 pm

      I love the idea of using limes, still, tangy but with that tiny twist. Will have to give these a try.

      Reply
    18. Bonnie and Trish @ Uncommon says

      April 24, 2012 at 12:21 am

      Oh my goodness... this looks so amazing! I love anything shortbread, key lime, with glaze, so this is the bomb! Thanks so much for sharing!

      Take care,

      Trish

      ps. I just read your little blurb about leaving comments... too funny! I am so glad that I am awesome, and pretty, and smell good! I have to say that the other moms at school drop-off in the morning might disagree! 🙂

      Reply
    19. Alison @ Oopsey Daisy says

      April 24, 2012 at 8:21 am

      Oooo yum! I love key lime anything... Thanks for sharing at oopsey daisy!

      Reply
    20. Six Sisters says

      April 25, 2012 at 1:38 am

      These cookies look so yummy! We are so happy to have you link up to our "Strut Your Stuff Saturday." We hope you'll be back!! -The Sisters

      Reply
    21. Shannah @ Just Us Four says

      April 27, 2012 at 6:01 pm

      Yum, these sound so delicious. Would you consider linking it up to my Pinworthy Projects Linky Party over at Just Us Four?

      Reply
    22. cupsbykim says

      April 29, 2012 at 3:05 am

      So glad you stopped by Sweet & Simple Sunday, just wanted to let you know you are one of my features this week!!

      Reply
    23. Recipes We Love says

      May 06, 2012 at 12:33 pm

      Oh MY YUM.... I wish I had this RIGHT NOW

      Reply
    24. Anonymous says

      June 11, 2012 at 6:34 am

      Yummy, just making these now for a morning tea tomorrow 🙂 I tried a bit of the glaze as I was making it and can definitely confirm that they are a vacation in a cookie! Thanks for a great recipe!

      Reply
    25. Anonymous says

      August 22, 2012 at 7:44 am

      ive made these twice now! Everyone loves them! i added more juice and zest to the actual cookies this time. It just tastes a little better (besides i had extra). thanks SO much!(:

      Reply
      • keri @ shaken together says

        August 22, 2012 at 8:39 am

        YAY!! Thanks for letting me know that you made and loved a shaken together recipe!! Totally just made my day 🙂

        Reply
    26. Anonymous says

      December 03, 2012 at 1:07 am

      I'm a type 1 diabetic and I do all of the cooking in my house, but I took pity on my family for having to follow my diet and made these just as you directed. Though I didn't try them myself, I can tell you everyone absolutely loved them and the whole batch lasted about half an hour. Thank you!

      Reply
      • keri @ shaken together says

        December 03, 2012 at 1:16 am

        You just made my day! I'm so glad your family enjoyed these!!

        Reply
      • Anonymous says

        December 03, 2012 at 7:17 pm

        Made a second batch with splenda. Found my new treat!

        Reply
        • C Wilson says

          November 16, 2015 at 6:07 pm

          R: Using Splenda - was this the baking formula or from the pkt?

          I'm diabetic, myself, and have some key lime juice & zest to use up, so this is most helpful - will make a double batch, so I can have some on hand to bake off, during the holidays, thank you!

          Reply
    27. Kim Kinney says

      May 19, 2013 at 11:06 pm

      Absolutely delicious! Thank you for this recipe =)

      Reply
    28. Jess says

      August 12, 2013 at 3:26 am

      Does using whole wheat flour vs. regular flour change the texture or taste of these cookies?

      Reply
      • Keri says

        August 12, 2013 at 9:14 am

        Hi Jess - I haven't baked these cookies with whole wheat flour, so I can't say for sure. If you try it, I would love to hear how they came out!

        Reply
    29. Nikki says

      September 05, 2013 at 6:24 pm

      Hmm. I just made these (they're in the oven now) and I didn't get anywhere near 2-2 1/2 dozen. I only got sixteen. I wonder if my cookies are too big?

      Reply
    30. Daphne says

      November 09, 2014 at 4:58 pm

      Hello readers! Has anyone out there actually MADE these cookies? If so, please comment on the actual results. Looking forward to those reviews! 🙂

      Reply
    31. Daphne says

      November 09, 2014 at 5:01 pm

      Ah-HA! There they are.... tried and true. Now I'm anxious to bake a batch...TODAY!! 🙂

      Reply
    32. barb says

      February 03, 2015 at 8:27 am

      These are amazing!! Can you bake ahead and freeze??

      Reply
    33. Jennifer says

      March 19, 2022 at 11:51 am

      These cookies taste delicious. The icing is a must because the cookies alone need a little something. The powdered sugar makes them VERY delicate and difficult to pick up without breaking. I tried cooking a little more, raising and lowering the temp and time a bit, and they were still quite prone to breaking. Next time I will use granulated sugar to see if that helps give them a little strength. All in all, still a delightful cookie.

      ★★★

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Melissa! I have a passion for helping people find easy and delicious recipes to feed their families without a lot of fuss!

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