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Light and buttery Coconut Key Lime Meltaways
Coconut Key Lime Meltaways – a delicious bite-sized cookie with a big tropical flavor.
What a terrific flavor combination in one sweet little bite! There cookies are called meltaways for good reason. They truly melt in your mouth and are dangerously easy to pop in there, one after another.
The delicious cookie dough is tender with a shortbread-like texture. The flavor is buttery with a zing from the key lime zest and juice, and a hint of coconut from the extract and shredded coconut on top.
While the cookie dough is not very sweet, it takes on the simple icing and shredded sweetened coconut perfectly.
Use fresh key limes for the best flavor.
We use fresh key limes for this recipe but if you can’t get find them in your stores, the cookies will still be great made with regular limes.
Don’t skip the extra zest on top however! Every component from the zest to the coconut works together to give you the full meltaway tropical experience!
These cookies are very easy to make and store well once the icing dries. You may not need to worry about storing them for long however, as these Coconut Key Lime Meltaways are memorable and delicious!
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Coconut Key Lime Meltaways
Ingredients
For the cookie dough:
- 14 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon key lime zest packed
- 2 tablespoons fresh key lime juice
- ½ teaspoon coconut extract
- 1 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For the icing:
- 1 cup powdered sugar (more or less for desired consistency)
- ½ teaspoon coconut extract
- 2 tablespoons fresh key lime juice (more or less as needed)
- ½ cup sweetened shredded coconut for garnish
- 1 teaspoon key lime zest for garnish
Instructions
To make the cookie dough:
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy. Add ½ cup of powdered sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl and blend again until incorporated.
- Add 1 tablespoon of lime zest, 2 tablespoons lime juice and ½ teaspoon coconut extract. Gently mix on low until incorporated, scraping down sides with a spatula as needed.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch and salt. Add the flour mixture in four batches to the creamed butter and lime mixture. Blend on medium-low until each addition is incorporated. Scrape the dough into a ball, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- To bake the cookies, preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Scoop a level spoonful of dough using a 1-inch cookie scoop. Roll each into a tight ball and place two inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. Press each dough ball gently with the flat bottom of a small glass or measuring cup to the desired thickness. Bake for 11 to 13 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges. Slide the parchment paper onto a wire rack to cool.
- Repeat with a new piece of parchment paper placed on a cooled cookie sheet. Cool cookies completely if planning to top with icing. Alternatively, you can also toss the warm cookies in powdered sugar instead.
To make the icing:
- Whisk together 1 cup of powdered sugar, ½ teaspoon coconut extract and the remaining 2 tablespoons fresh key lime juice. Add more lime juice or sugar as needed to reach the desired consistency. Spread the icing on the cooled cookies and immediately top with shredded coconut and lime zest. Allow the icing to fully set then store the cookies in a cool location or refrigerate for longer storage.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Here are a few more of our favorite cookies you might enjoy:
Lemon Meltaways – a light and buttery little bite of sunshine! The perfect cure for when you need a little something sweet.
Lemon Coolers – hot from the oven, these melt-in-your mouth cookies are tossed in a mixture of crystallized lemon and powdered sugar for the most incredible intense lemon flavor ever!
White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies with Coconut – this cookie is a shinning star of the dessert tray! Delicious jumbo-sized thick and chewy cookies that rival any from the gourmet bake shop.
I love lime and coconut together, and if you do too you’ll want to check out this creative, easy Lime Coconut Buttermilk Pie.
My mouth is watering over these lovely Coconut Lime Squares. Think tropical vacation in every bite!
And finally, for a savory treat be sure to try this Spicy Coconut & Lime Grilled Shrimp Scampi recipe.
Mimi says
These are absolutely beautiful cookies! Love your photos.
Tricia Buice says
Thank you so much Mimi 😉
Becky says
How many cookies does a batch make? Becky in Ft . Wayne, IN
Tricia Buice says
Hi Becky – this recipe makes about 36 cookies.
KW says
Im curious about the coconut lemon meltaways ingredients. It say 14 tablespoons of butter for a recipe for 36 bitesized cookies.. That seems like alot of butter compared to the amts of other ingredients.
Tricia Buice says
Hi KW – these are buttery cookies! The ratio of fat to sugar and flour is perfect, and the recipe is correct as written. It’s less than 1 cup of butter, which seems about right. Thanks for the great question.
Lori @ RecipeGirl says
I’ve always loved regular lime meltaways, but adding coconut is another story! Yum!
Tricia Buice says
Thanks Lori – it’s a delicious combination 😉
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers says
Lime is such a perfect Summer flavour. So fresh and bright! And so lovely with the coconut 🙂
Tricia Buice says
Me too Jennifer – thanks!
Gerlinde @ Sunnycovechef says
What a delicious looking cookie Tricia, I love to have one right now. Pinned!
Tricia Buice says
Thanks Gerlinde!
Liz says
I think the last time I made lime meltaways was way before I was blogging. This is a delicious reminder to add them to my baking list! Pinning!
Tricia Buice says
Such a great cookie Liz – thanks!
monique says
I have made Martha’s I bet yours are just as good if not better;)
Tricia Buice says
I’ll have to go check her recipe out Monique – thank you!
sue @theviewfromgreatisland says
I saw these on facebook and rushed right over, they look incredibly refreshing, what a perfect flavor for a summer cookie!
Tricia Buice says
Aww thanks Sue! They’re a terrific little bite of tropical bliss – short from a trip to the beach of course 😉
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
My mouth is watering! I haven’t baked any cookies in a while…these look so tempting with coconut and lime. Gorgeous shots, Tricia.
Tricia Buice says
Thanks Angie – we find them very tempting. Thank you and happy Friday!
Larry says
Just reading your first paragraph made my mouth start to water and that was before the pics had even loaded.
Tricia Buice says
That is the sweetest comment Larry – thank you. Safe travels!