Vibrant green limes are at their best in late spring. Try them in lime meltaways, which get their name from the buttery, tender cookie that melts on the tongue. The dough can be made in minutes, and the cookies keep fresh for a few days.
Too much lime in the dough can turn it bitter, so to showcase the citrus fruit, make a glaze to brush over the cookies. Do it twice — once straight from the oven so a little soaks into the dough underneath, and again after the cookies have cooled to settle on top. A garnish of fresh green lime zest gives the cookies a decorative spring look. Makes 28-30 cookies.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 egg, room temperature
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
THE GLAZE
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 teaspoon lime zest, plus more for garnish
1/4 cup powdered sugar
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with silpat or parchment; set aside.
Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and powdered sugar until well combined and light, about 2-3 minutes. Add the egg, beat slightly, then add the milk, lime juice and vanilla. Beat until the liquids are partially incorporated — it’s OK if the batter looks a little lumpy.
Slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, beating on low speed just until combined, taking care not to overmix.
Scoop by rounded tablespoons at least 2 inches apart onto the prepared baking sheets, and bake until the bottoms of the cookies turn golden brown, about 10 minutes (check by lifting carefully with a spatula).
While cookies are baking, make the glaze by whisking together lime juice, 1 teaspoon zest and powdered sugar.
When the cookies are done, remove them from the oven and immediately brush once with a light coating of the glaze. Move cookies to wire racks. When completely cooled, brush with another layer of the glaze, and sprinkle with lime zest.
Per cookie: 66 calories, 1 g protein, 8 g carbohydrate, 3 g fat (2 g saturated), 15 mg cholesterol, 76 mg sodium, 0 g fiber.
