Lime Shortbread Cookies with Lime Frosting

These Shortbread Cookies with Lime Cream Cheese Frosting are delightful. The cookies just melt in your mouth, and the frosting is out of this world!

There’s a good reason shortbread cookies are so beloved. First of all, they call for simple ingredients and are easy to make. But most importantly they are tender and buttery and just melt in your mouth!

Add some amazing frosting, and a simple buttery cookie is transformed into a treat worthy of special occasions.

Trust me, this lime cream cheese frosting is epic! It’s one of my favorites to date. It is tart and sweet, and the lime zest adds the perfect fresh citrus flavor.

You will not be able to resist eating a spoonful unless you have willpower of steel. Which clearly I do not. haha

How to make key lime shortbread cookies

1. PREP – Let the butter sit on the counter until it is soft. Zest and juice the limes.
2. COOKIE DOUGH – Cream butter and confectioners’ sugar at medium-high until very smooth. Add the flour, cornstarch, salt, and lime zest; stir until dough forms a ball. Divide in half. Roll dough into two equal logs on a clean counter top.
3. CHILL – Wrap each dough log in plastic wrap.  Transfer dough to the refrigerator and chill for at least two hours. When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
4. CUT – Use a sharp knife to cut the logs into 1/4-inch slices. Place slices on a parchment or silicone lined cookie sheet at least and inch and a half apart.
5. BAKE – Bake the cookies at 350° for 8-10 minutes, or until they are barely golden brown around the edges.
6. COOL– After 2-3 minutes, transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
7. FROST – Beat butter, cream cheese, and salt in a small bowl till smooth and creamy. Add the lime zest and enough powdered sugar to make a spreadable frosting.

Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. I recommend placing parchment paper or waxed paper between each layer.

LIME SHORTBREAD RECIPE VARIATIONS:

• Try orange zest or lemon zest for a different flavor.
• If you use unsalted butter, add an additional 1/2 teaspoon salt to the dough, and a pinch to the frosting.
• Instead of frosting the cookies, you can roll the logs in coarse sugar or green sprinkles. Or you can roll the baked cookies in powdered sugar.

Recipe published March 2016, updated January 2025.

More citrus desserts:

• Easiest Ever Key Lime Pie
• Lemon Sugar Cookies
• Key Lime Pie Bars
• Lemon Brownies
• Lime Coconut White Chocolate Cookie Recipe
• Butter Cookies with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
• Lemon Pound Cake

Lime Shortbread Cookies

Kara

Buttery shortbread cookies topped with lime frosting. A great cookie recipe any time of year!

4.70 from 10 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 9 minutes mins

Additional Time 2 hours hrs

Total Time 2 hours hrs 29 minutes mins

Course Dessert: Cookies

Cuisine American

Servings 36 cookies (approximately)

Calories 130 kcal

Equipment

• Wilton Icing Spatula, 13-Inch, Angled Spatula
• Silicone Baking Mat
• Microplane Zester/Grater

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

Cookies:

• 1 cup salted butter softened to room temperature
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1 ½ cups flour
• ½ cup cornstarch
• dash salt

Lime Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 2 Tbsp salted butter softened
• 4 oz cream cheese softened to room temperature
• dash salt
• zest of 1 lime
• 2 ¾ cups confectioners’ sugar more or less

Instructions

 

• In a large bowl, beat butter and powdered sugar till creamy. Stir in flour, cornstarch, and salt till well combined.
• Divide dough into two equal portions. Roll out into two logs that are 1" in diameter. (Chill shortbread dough for a few minutes if it is too sticky.)
• Wrap logs in sheets of plastic wrap and chill for at least two hours, or up to three days.
• When ready to bake the cookies, heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Cut the logs into 1/4-inch slices and place on an un-greased cookie sheet an inch or two apart. (I line mine with silpat mats.) Bake at 350° for about 8-10 minutes or till edges just start to brown. Cool completely on a wire rack.
• Frosting: Beat butter, cream cheese, and salt in a small bowl till smooth and creamy. Add lime zest and enough powdered sugar to make a spreadable frosting.
• Spread frosting on top of each cookie.

Notes

You can store cookies at room temperature for up to a week in an airtight container. Place parchment or wax paper between layers.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 130kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 1gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 56mgPotassium: 12mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 219IUCalcium: 6mgIron: 0.3mg

Keyword shortbread cookies with lime

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Classic shortbread gets an update with the tangy zest of key lime. These delightful bite-sized treats might just become your favorite cookies right from the first batch!