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lime glazed shortbread cookies on a plate
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4.94 from 15 votes

Lime-Glazed Easy Shortbread Cookies

It's hard to believe these buttery, zesty melt-in-your-mouth Lime-Glazed Easy Shortbread Cookies are made in 30 minutes with just 6 ingredients. Perfect for a tea, shower, potluck, or holiday cookie-exchange. And the perfect gift.
Prep Time8 minutes
Cook Time16 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Dessert, Treat
Cuisine: American
Servings (change as needed): 35 cookies
Author: Cheryl Avrich
US Measures - Metric

Ingredients

  • 1 cup room temperature salted butter (2 sticks) If using unsalted, add 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup icing (confectioners) sugar
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon lime zest

Lime Glaze

  • 1/2 cup icing (confectioner) sugar)
  • 4 teaspoon lime juice
  • 2 teaspoon lime zest
  • 2 teaspoon maple syrup (OPTIONAL)
  • 1/2 tablespoon light corn syrup (OPTIONAL) - makes glaze glossy
US Measures - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350F/176.7C
  • MAKE COOKIE DOUGH: In a processor, process butter and icing sugar until creamy smooth, about 1 minute. Add vanilla, cornstarch, lime zest and flour. Pulse with quick on/off turns just until dough starts to get crumbly and ingredients are combined. Empty onto a cutting board or parchment paper and gently shape dough together into one big blob.
  • FORM COOKIES: Line a large cookie sheet or baking pan (17" x 12") with parchment paper. Or use two pans. Using clean hands, break off a small piece of dough, roll into a 1 1/2 inch/3.8 cm ball. Place on cookie sheet. Repeat until all dough is gone. I make 35 balls that all fit in one large plan. With tines of a fork, flatten balls to just over 1/4 inch/6.3mm and make a criss-cross pattern. (Tip: dip fork into flour if dough is sticky).
  • BAKE AND COOL: Bake cookies in middle rack for 16 minutes or until edges are starting to lightly brown. Transfer to cooling rack.
  • MAKE GLAZE: While cookies are baking, mix glaze ingredients together with whisk or fork. When cookies are cooled (if you can wait!), brush glaze on each cookie with a pastry brush. Glaze will harden in about 30 minutes.

Notes

To make ahead, store/freeze: Completely cool cookies. Store them in ziploc bag or airtight container on the counter at room temperature for up to 5 days. Cookies can be frozen for up to 3 months. Some people crisp them up in a 300F/149C oven for 4 minutes - if you do, add the glaze after you re-bake/crisp them, not before. 
Nutrition Values include maple syrup and corn syrup in glaze. 
Calories: 89kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 47mg | Potassium: 7mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 162IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 1mg