A tiny leaf emerges from a branch. Buds form and hold blossoms until they are ready to pop open. Spring brings and array of color against a background of green. Trees, plants, grass, and flowers come to life after winter dormancy. You go outside and feel warmth instead of brutal cold. The season is inspiring in so many ways. It could be the spark of a new painting, poem, sculpture, project, or even a recipe. Lime sugar cookies are what I was inspired to bake for my favorite time of year.
I look outside and see new growth with each passing day. Phlox will soon turn to a mass of tiny purple flowers. Peonies, mums, poppies, hostas, daisies, daffodils, and more shoot up from the ground. Leaves are spouting on trees. Celebrating spring with cookies meant baking ones that represented my view of the season. I think of green, flowers, and the world being brighter. The cookies had to be shaped like flowers with specks of green and brightness from citrus.
Lime sugar cookies are easy to make. They are basic cut-out cookies decorated with sanding sugar. The process begins with making lime sugar. Zest is rubbed into granulated sugar to release the oils which bumps up the flavor. I learned the method with Tangerine Yogurt Cake and have used it many times since. The dough is much softer than typical roll and cut cookie dough. I had my concerns however it firmed up while chilling. Be sure to flour your work surface well and move the dough around as you are rolling it to keep it from sticking.
How are the cookies? Lime gives it such a nice tart kick to balance out the sweetness. They are crispy and yet have lightness to the texture. Baking powder is what makes them puff ever so slightly. Sanding sugar puts an added crunch on top. And they represented spring so much that I had to do one photo with flowers.
Do you enjoy baking? If so, are you seeking recipes for springtime sweets? All you have to do is scroll down to find a list and links to ones by Sunday Supper contributors. We are partnering with Dixie Crystals to share ones for the season. There's exciting news too! If you are a food blogger you can enter to win big prizes in a baking contest. First place wins a $500 gift card, ticket to the Food and Wine Conference, and more. Take a look by clicking here: Brownie Dessert Contest
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Lime Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons grated lime zest
- ½ cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup fresh lime juice
- Coarse sanding sugar
Instructions
- Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.
- Use your fingers to rub the lime zest into the sugar in a large bowl. Add butter and beat until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs and lime juice and beat until combined.
- Add flour mixture and beat until smooth. Dough will be soft and sticky.
- Divide dough in half. Shape each half into round disks and wrap each half in plastic wrap. Refrigerate dough overnight.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or non-stick liner.
- Remove 1 wrapped pack of dough from refrigerator.
- Sprinkle rolling pin and work surface with flour. Roll out dough to ¼-inch thick. Move the dough around frequently to make sure it is not sticking.
- Use shaped cookie cutters to cut cookies.
- Place cookies at least 1-inch apart on a baking sheets. Sprinkle with sanding sugar.
- Bake 12 to 14 minutes, until cookies are just beginning to turn light brown around the edges. Rotate baking sheets halfway through baking for even baking.
- Cool cookies on baking sheet for 1 minute then transfer to a wire rack. Cool completely.
- Repeat steps with remaining dough. You can gather up excess dough after cutting the cookies, shape into another disk, and roll out for more cookies.
- Cool baking sheets completely between batches.
Notes
Recipe adapted from one in the Martha Stewart's Cookies
cookbook (affiliate link to Amazon).
Are you ready to make springtime sweets? Check out these recipes by Sunday Supper contributors featuring Dixie Crystals sugar:
- Blueberry Buckle Coffee Cake by Neighborfood
- Butterscotch Chocolate Caramel Cookie Cups by The Messy Baker
- Chewy Lemon Sugar Cookies by Alida's Kitchen
- Coconut Lime Meltaway Cookie Bars by Chocolate Moosey
- Flan in Moscato Wine Sauce by Family Foodie
- Fresh Strawberry Tartlets by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Gluten-Free Deep Dish Carrot Cakes for Two by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
- Hazelnut Chocolate Chip Bundt by In The Kitchen With KP
- Lemon Cornmeal Sandwich Cookies by girlichef
- Lemon Roulade by Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
- Lime Sugar Cookies by Magnolia Days
- Meyer Lemon Bars with Poppyseed Crust by Foxes Love Lemons
- Meyer Lemon Cheesecake Bars by The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
- Mixed Berry Crumble by The Dinner-Mom
- No-Bake Banana Split Dessert Cups by The Weekend Gourmet
- Poached Pear Bread by Momma's Meals
- Springtime French Macarons by Hip Foodie Mom
- Strawberry Cheesecake Bites by Supper For A Steal
- Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes by The Foodie Army Wife
- Strawberry Rhubarb Upside Down Cake by Cindy's Recipes and Writings
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Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Dixie Crystals. All opinions are my own.
I love that not only did you give these cookies a Springtime twist with the lime, but you also made them into flowers!! So perfect!
Thanks Alida! And now I want to get more flower shaped cookie cutters.
I love the citrus sugar technique and will have to remember it. These are so bright and are making me forget about the dreary weather outside today!
Yes, goodbye dreary weather and hello cheery cookies.
These cookies just make you smile (and want to take a bite)! Love the lime!
Thanks Marjory and your kind words made me smile.
Sugar cookies always remind me of my grandma! She made the absolute best and I have never been able to recreate them. I love yours with lime. I'm a huge fan of lime. Maybe I should try out with some key lime juice!
I think these would be fabulous with key lime juice. What a great idea!
Renee,
love your lime sugar cookies!! so pretty and what a great way to ring in Spring!
Thanks Alice! And I even ate some of these cookies on the first day of spring.
Love lime, Renee! Never tried it in cookies!
It's great so give it a try. I'm sure you will enjoy it very much.
We love cut out cookies around here...but I tend to make them only around Christmas. Your springy flowers with the lime infusion sounds fantastic, Renee!!!
Well Liz you are just going to have to break out those cookie cutters all throughout the year.
Oh what I wouldn't do for one of these with a cup of coffee in the afternoon!!!
Yep, they would make a lovely afternoon coffee time treat (or with tea too).
Mmmmm, I love springtime (minus the allergies) and lime is definitely a flavor I love this time of year. These cookies are the perfect way to enjoy it!
Springtime brings allergies to me too. I wish we could skip that part with all the pollen. Necessary evil I suppose.
I love the idea of the lime! I've always loved lemon and never once thought of lime! It's calling Spring!
Just remember it next time you are thinking about using lemon. It's a refreshing change and usually subs out nicely.
These are so pretty! They would also be perfect for when I have Mojito Mondays in the summer 🙂 The sanding sugar on top really makes them beautiful.
Oh yes! I love the idea of pairing these cookies with a mojito.
You make the best cookies!
Aw, shucks, thanks Dorothy.
Your description made me long for spring! We had a little dusting of snow on the ground this morning. 🙁 At least I've gotten to read a lot of gloriously spring-like recipes like this one!
Well, I think it is time to talk to Mother Nature and tell her to stop with the snow and bring on the warmth of spring to you.
Sooo delicate and lovely. Yes, Spring and these cookies make a day brighter. And so do you!
Oh thank you so much Kim - you are so kind.
Not only does this recipe sound great, I love how you cut them into flowers.
Thanks. I've had that cookie cutter for a while and couldn't wait to use it for a spring or summer recipe.
who doesn't love a sugar cookie and to add lime and sugar on top? Just fabulous!
Thanks Susan and I really like the sugar on top of these cookies. It worked out to be the perfect topping.
Your cookies look beautiful!
Thanks a bunch Shaina
Beautiful cookies Renee! I just love lime in every way, sweet or savory. And in baking it adds such a vibrant flavor to otherwise sweet recipes. Perfect for spring, my favorite season too! After a horrendously hot summer, fall is such a welcome season here.
Thanks Paula. Lime seems to take such a back seat to lemon in many recipes. I like how it has much more tartness and try to use it often.
Wonderful tip about making lime sugar. These cookies are beautiful!
Thanks Sarah and the lime sugar technique works so well for recipes with citrus zest and sugar.
I can't wait for bright flowers and warmer weather. These cookies are gorgeous, Renee. I love that you used lime. Pinned.
Thanks Jennie. It's really warming up nicely here in the South. Hopefully it will be that way soon in your area too.
What a delightful, pretty, sweet and 'green' way to welcome beloved spring after such a wicked winter! Lime is such a favorite flavor of mine and I can't wait to try this recipe Renee!
Hugs,
Roz
Thanks so much Roz!
These are beautiful cookies, Renee!
Thank you so much Christine
These are wonderful cookies! My notes are: 1) the dough is really sticky and requires extra flour for rolling. Don't worry if it won't easily divide - just refrigerate the whole batch and work with portions at a time. 2) Do not over bake - pull them out when there is a slight golden around the edges. They're still good, but when they are just done they are amazing! 3) Skip the sanding sugar and mix up a little confectioners sugar/lime juice/lime zest glaze to amp up the lime flavor. Great treats!!!!