Lime Sugar Cookies are sweet, soft, and bursting with bright citrus flavor! Made with lime zest, lime juice, and a buttery cookie base, this easy cookie recipe comes together quickly with just a handful of pantry staples. Add a touch of green food coloring for a fun twist, and top with the optional tangy lime glaze for an extra punch of flavor!

RECIPE HIGHLIGHTS

• Bright citrus flavor. The combination of lime juice and zest infuses every bite of these cookies with a fresh, tangy flavor that’s both unique and refreshing. It’s a welcome twist on classic sugar cookies and perfect for citrus lovers.
• Soft and chewy texture. These cookies have a tender crumb and stay soft for days thanks to the simple creaming method and just the right balance of butter, egg, and flour. Chilling the dough ensures that they bake up thick and chewy without spreading too much.
• Quick and easy. With only 10 minutes of prep time and a short bake, this recipe fits easily into busy schedules. It’s also simple enough for kids to help with — especially rolling the dough in sugar!
• Customizable and fun. Add a few drops of green food coloring for a subtle pop of color, or skip it for a more natural look. The optional glaze adds a bold lime finish, but these cookies are just as good without it.
• Great for any occasion. These cookies work beautifully for spring and summer gatherings, baby showers, St. Patrick’s Day, or whenever you want something cheerful and bright. They also freeze well, so you can make a batch ahead of time!

INGREDIENTS IN LIME SUGAR COOKIES

• Butter – Adds flavor and helps create the soft, rich texture of the cookies.
• Granulated sugar – Sweetens the cookies and gives them their classic sugar cookie flavor.
• Baking soda, cream of tartar, salt – Helps the cookies rise slightly while maintaining their chewy consistency.
• Egg – Binds the dough and contributes to the chewy texture.
• Vanilla extract – Enhances all the other flavors in the cookie without overpowering the lime.
• Lime – You’ll use both the juice and zest, which adds depth and brightness to the flavor.
• All-purpose flour – Gives structure to the cookies while keeping them soft.
• Green food coloring (optional) – Just a drop or two adds a subtle green tint that gives a visual cue for the citrus flavor inside.

Optional Glaze:

• Butter – Melted butter gives the glaze a smooth, rich consistency.
• Lime juice – Packs a tart citrus punch that complements the cookies perfectly.
• Powdered sugar – Thickens the glaze while keeping it silky and easy to drizzle.

HELPFUL TIPS FOR PERFECT LIME COOKIES

Full instructions can be found on the recipe card below, but here are a few helpful tips.

• Don’t skip the chilling. Chilling the dough helps the cookies hold their shape while baking, resulting in a thicker, chewier cookie.
• Use fresh lime. Freshly squeezed juice and zest make a big difference in flavor — bottled lime juice won’t give you the same result.
• Make the glaze your own. Adjust the glaze thickness by adding more powdered sugar or lime juice. For a bolder flavor, use lime extract.
• Watch the bake time. These cookies are best when they’re just barely set. Take them out when the centers still look slightly soft — they’ll finish setting as they cool.
• Add-ins? Try folding in white chocolate chips or shredded coconut for fun variations. You can even sandwich two cookies together with a lime buttercream.

STORAGE INSTRUCTIONS

• Room Temperature: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Keep them in a cool, dry place away from sunlight to preserve freshness.
• With Glaze: If you added the lime glaze, let it fully set before stacking to prevent sticking. You can place a sheet of parchment or wax paper between layers for extra protection.
• Freezer Storage: Place baked and fully cooled cookies in a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag. Use parchment paper between layers to prevent them from sticking together.
• Freezing Dough: You can also freeze unbaked dough balls. Roll them in sugar first, then freeze on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer to a sealed bag and bake straight from the freezer—just add 1–2 extra minutes to the bake time.
• Thawing: For best results, thaw frozen cookies at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving. They’ll still taste soft and fresh with that bright citrus flavor.

Print

Lime Sugar Cookies

Lime Sugar Cookies are soft, chewy, and bursting with fresh lime flavor. An easy citrus cookie recipe made with lime juice and zest!

Course Cookies

Cuisine American

Keyword Lime Sugar Cookies

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 24 cookies

Calories 108kcal

Author Jessica & Nellie

Ingredients

• ½ cup butter softened
• 1 cup sugar
• ¼ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp cream of tartar
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 egg
• ½ tsp vanilla
• 1 lime (all of the juice and zest)
• 1 ½ cups flour
• 1-2 drops green food coloring*

GLAZE (optional)

• 1 tbsp butter melted
• 1 lime (extract all of the juice)
• ¼-⅓ cup powdered sugar

Instructions

• Cream butter and sugar with a mixer for 2-3 minutes. Add soda, cream of tartar and salt and mix well.
• Add the egg and vanilla and mix well. 
• Zest a lime and add the zest to the dough. Squeeze the juice out of the lime and add that to the mixture also.
• Add the flour and continue to mix. Chill dough in an airtight container for 2 hours. 
• Scoop the dough by the tablespoon and roll into balls. Roll each ball in a bowl of sugar until coated on all sides. 
• Place the cookie dough balls on a cookie sheet and bake at 375° for 8-10 minutes. If you want to glaze the tops of the cookies, add the glaze while the cookies are still warm. Enjoy!

GLAZE

• Mix the butter and lime juice together. Add the powdered sugar slowly while mixing with a fork until desired consistency is reached. This recipe only makes a small amount of glaze but it has a very strong flavor so you just need a tiny amount on each cookie. You can drizzle it with a spoon if the glaze is thin enough or you can make it a little bit thicker and spread it with a knife. 

Notes

*Food coloring is completely optional, but if you don’t add any, your cookies will look like regular sugar cookies. A little bit of green food coloring makes the lime flavor a little bit less of a surprise to the taste buds! 

Nutrition

Calories: 108kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 73mg | Potassium: 23mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 145IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 0.4mg

FAQs

Can I use bottled lime juice instead of fresh lime?
Yes, you can use bottled lime juice in a pinch, but fresh lime juice and zest will give the cookies a brighter, more vibrant citrus flavor. The zest especially adds depth that bottled juice alone won’t deliver.

Do I have to chill the dough?
Chilling the dough helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking and gives them a nice thick, soft texture. You’ll get the best results if you chill for at least 2 hours.

Can I skip the glaze?
Absolutely! The cookies taste great on their own, but the lime glaze adds an extra punch of citrus flavor. It’s entirely optional and easy to adjust based on your preferences.

How do I know when the cookies are done?
The cookies should be set around the edges and look slightly underbaked in the center. They’ll continue baking a bit as they cool. Aim for 8–10 minutes in the oven, depending on your oven’s accuracy.

Can I double this recipe?
Yes! This recipe doubles beautifully. Just be sure to chill the dough and rotate your baking sheets if using multiple oven racks to ensure even baking.

More lime desserts to try:

• This tangy No-Bake Key Lime Pie comes together with just six ingredients, creating a creamy, zesty dessert with zero oven time required.
• With a soft texture and a simple powdered sugar glaze, Key Lime Bundt Cake gets its incredible flavor from sour cream, lime zest, and buttermilk.
• Key Lime Cake, made with boxed mix and fresh lime flavor, is topped with lime frosting and berries for an easy, vibrant dessert.
• Buttery sugar cookies meet creamy lime filling and whipped cream in these Key Lime Cookies, a fun twist on the classic pie.

Lime Sugar Cookies are soft, citrusy, and easy to make, with a balanced flavor that’s subtle but distinctly fresh.

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