Key Lime Pie Cookies are a delicious and easy-to-make dessert that is perfect for any occasion. With a buttery cookie base, tangy lime filling, and sweet lime frosting, these lime cookies are sure to be a hit with anyone who loves the taste of key lime pie!

To make this recipe for frosted sugar cookies, you will need a few simple ingredients, including butter, sugars, an egg, lime zest, lime juice, flour, and salt. With these ingredients in hand, you can easily whip up a batch of these delicious key lime cookies in no time.

The BEST Key Lime Cookies Recipe

These Key Lime Pie Cookies are a delicious and flavorful treat that combines the tangy taste of lime with the sweetness of brown sugar and the richness of butter. The cookies have a soft and chewy texture that is sure to satisfy any sweet tooth. The lime zest adds a burst of citrus flavor to every bite, while the combination of dark brown sugar and white sugar gives the cookies a caramel-like sweetness.

The combination of textures, from the soft and chewy cookie to the creamy filling and smooth frosting, creates a delightful eating experience that is sure to please.

Why This Recipe Works

The recipe is more simple than you’d think. While the cookies look and sound like something you’d purchase from a gourmet cookie bakery, they’re actually made using very simple ingredients and easy to follow steps, making them perfect for the at home chef.
Bursting with Flavor. Thanks to the lime zest, lime juice, and sweetened condensed milk, these cookies are bursting with tangy and sweet flavor. The frosting is also very flavorful, with a perfect balance of sweetness and tanginess. If you are a fan of key lime pie, then you will love the flavor of these cookies.
Perfect for Any Occasion. These key lime pie cookies are perfect for any occasion, from a casual afternoon snack to a fancy dessert for a dinner party. They are also a great option for holiday gatherings or potlucks. No matter where or when you serve them, these cookies are sure to be a hit!

Key Lime Cookie Ingredients

Butter: You will need ½ cup (one stick) of unsalted softened butter for this recipe.

Sugars: Use ¾ cups of dark brown sugar and ¼ cup of granulated white sugar to make these cookies sweet, chewy, and flavorful.

Egg: 1 large egg will bind the ingredients together well and add richness to every bite.

Lime zest: The zest from 1 lime will add a nice subtle citrus flavor to every cookie.

Flour: Add in 2 cups of all-purpose flour for the structural base of this cookie dough.

Salt: ½ teaspoon of salt will help balance all the incredible flavors in this recipe.

Baking powder: Using ½ teaspoon of baking powder helps the cookies puff up and rise as they bake.

Lime Filling

Lime juice: You need half of the juice you get from one squeezed lime, this is roughly 1 tablespoon.

Condensed milk: Use one 14-ounce-sized can of sweetened condensed milk to make the filling thick and sweet.

Lime Frosting

Butter: To make the frosting rich and flavorful, use ½ cup of softened butter (one stick).

Powdered sugar: Adding 4-5 cups of powdered sugar will make the frosting smooth and sweet.

Lime juice: For more amazing flavor and the perfect consistency, use ½ cup of lime juice.

How to Make Key Lime Cookies

Prep

Get started by preparing the lime zest and juice you will need for the following steps. You need the zest from one lime for the dough, use the fine side of the grater, set the zest aside.

For the filling, you need the juice from one lime. Squeeze the lime you just zested into a small bowl, set this aside as well.

Now, you need ½ cup of lime juice for the frosting, juice 1-2 limes, depending on their size, until you’ve procured the required amount of juice.

Cookie dough

In a large bowl, cream the butter and both sugars, with an electric mixer, until light and fluffy.

Then beat in the egg and lime zest and mix until combined.

Next, add in the flour, baking powder, and salt, mixing until just combined. The dough will be very crumbly.

Proceed to divide the dough into 6 equal-sized portions (or 12 portions for smaller cookies).

Flatten the balls slightly, place them onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, and press an indent into the center of each dough ball (I use my large cookie scoop for this).

After the dough is shaped and indented, place the baking sheet in the refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes.

Prep filling

Prepare the lime filling so that it has a chance to rest in the fridge before use.

In a small bowl, whip together the condensed milk and lime juice with an electric mixer or whisk, and then cover the bowl. Place into the fridge to chill until needed.

*Key lime pie cookies made with a sugar cookie base & topped with key lime filling and a lime buttercream! Tangy, sweet lime cookies that are perfect for summer.*

Bake

Get the oven preheating to 350 degrees F.

Pull the cookies from the fridge and place in the preheated oven to bake for 15-18 minutes. The edges should be just barely golden brown. For smaller cookies, bake for 9-12 minutes depending on the size of the cookies.

Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes and then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Buttercream frosting

Prepare the lime frosting by mixing the butter with an electric mixer until fluffy.

Then add in the powdered sugar and beat again to combine. After that, add in the lime juice and mix.

Continue to transfer the frosting into a piping bag or a ziplocked baggie with the corner snipped off. Pipe the frosting around the edges of each cookie and then spoon some of the lime filling into the middle of each frosting circle.

Garnish the tops of each cookie with more lime zest, if desired. Place the cookies into the fridge for 20 minutes to set.

Serve and enjoy!

How long are key lime pie cookies good for?

If stored in an airtight container at room temperature, Key Lime Pie Cookies can last for up to 1 week. I recommend keeping them stored in the fridge because that will help to keep the filling from softening, this will also extend their shelf life by a few days.

What are Key Limes?

Key limes are a green lime that turns yellow when ripe. They’re actually much smaller than a standard lime, meaning you’ll need a lot more of them to get the job done but it is well worth it. Every little key lime is packed with a sweet lime citrus flavor you can’t get anywhere else. Key limes are grown on trees in Asia (not the Florida keys) and they’re a seasonal fruit worth trying. You can usually find them available from June-September.

Can I use regular limes?

Yes, you can use regular limes if you can’t find Key limes. However, the flavor of the cookies may be slightly different. Just make sure you are using fresh lime not bottled lime juice. There is a pretty large flavor difference between fresh limes and bottled concentrates.

How do I prevent my Key lime pie cookies from being too runny?

To prevent your Key Lime Pie Cookies from being too runny, make sure to use the correct amount of lime juice and condensed milk. Also, be sure to let the cookies cool completely before adding the frosting.

What do I do if my filling is still runny?

If you find that your lime filling is still too soft or runny and hasn’t properly set, then you will need to stir in one tablespoon of powdered sugar at a time until the filling has thickened.

What are tips for making healthier Key lime pie cookies?

To make a healthier version of Key Lime Pie Cookies, you can try using almond flour instead of all-purpose flour, and coconut sugar instead of brown sugar. You can also use Greek yogurt instead of butter in the frosting to reduce the amount of fat. Additionally, you can reduce the amount of sugar in the recipe or use a sugar substitute. Be aware that any changes to the recipe could result in a different taste and texture of the final treats.

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Looking for more cookies with fruit? We’ve got you covered!

Key Lime Pie Cookies are a wonderful and almost gourmet tasting treat you can make in your own kitchen. You are going to love these lime cookies, just watched how quickly they disappear!

KEY LIME PIE COOKIES

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The BEST Key Lime Cookies Recipe

Why This Recipe Works