Lime Shortbread Cookies (Meltaways) - easy to make shortbread biscuits. They're deliciously sweet, with a tangy, citrusy flavor and melt in your mouth.
If you're a fan of shortbread then you should also make sure you try our: Chocolate Christmas Shortbread Biscuits, Orange Star Shortbread or Classic Christmas Shortbread.
Quick look at Lime Shortbread Cookies
- ⏲️ 5 mins hands-on time.
- 🛒 Ingredients: 7
- 🍽️ Makes: 24 cookies
- 🧑🍳 Difficulty: Easy - kid-friendly recipe.
- 🗃️ Make ahead: Make dough up to 3 days ahead of time.
My lovely aunt gifted me some of her homegrown limes.
My first thought when I have an abundance of limes is always some sort of refreshing, cool drink but as it was still chilly at the time, something that goes with a cup of tea seemed like the next best thing.
Once you take a bite into these lime meltaways you will see where they got their name from. The second a crumble hits your tongue it will begin to dissolve in sweet, citrusy deliciousness.
How To Make Lime Shortbread Cookies (Meltaways)
Step 1 - Cream the butter with the icing sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer or using a hand-mixer.
Step 2 - Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Step 3 - Add the lime zest, lime juice and vanilla & beat them through.
Step 4 - Scrape down the sides. Mix the dry ingredients together in a separate bowl then add them to the butter/sugar mix.
Step 5 - Mix until combined & there are no more dry bits.
Step 6 - Tip the dough out onto a sheet of baking paper.
Step 7 - Roll the dough into a 1 ¼ inch wide log. Wrap it up in the baking paper and let chill in the fridge for at least an hour.
Tip
Make sure you roll it really firmly. If it's a bit loose you'll end up with crumbly biscuits.
Step 8 - Remove it from the fridge once it is firm.
Step 9 - Slice the dough into ½cm thick slices.
Step 10 - Place them on a baking sheet, 2cm apart from each other.
Step 11 - Bake in a preheated 170C(375F) fan-forced oven until just lightly golden brown, about 12-15 minutes.
Step 12 - Let cool on a wire rack for 4 minutes. Once cool, dust with icing sugar if desired.
Recipe FAQs
Dough can be made up to three days in advance and kept in the fridge until you’re ready to bake it. You can also slice off just a few pieces and bake them as you want them.
Dough can also be frozen. Just wrap the log in plastic wrap then I like to use a layer of aluminium foil then label it and pop it in the freezer. To save time, I always write the baking instructions on the outside too. Thaw overnight in the fridge before baking.
You could definitely use any type of citrus you like. They'd be delicious with lemon or orange rind.
Enjoy!
What about you?
Do you think it’s stealing if it’s hanging over the fence and the tree is laden with fruit?
Recipe
Ingredients
- 168 g 6oz butter
- ⅓ cup icing sugar
- zest of 2 limes I only used one as that's all I could carry with my iPod and keys
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 ¾ cups + 2 tablespoons flour
- 2 tablespoons corn starch or corn flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅔ cup icing sugar to dust
Instructions
- Cream the butter with the icing sugar then beat in the lime zest, lime juice and vanilla.
- Mix the flour, corn flour and salt in a large bowl.
- Beat the dry ingredients into the wet.
- On a piece of baking paper, roll the dough into a 1 ¼ inch log.
- Wrap it up in the baking paper and let chill in the fridge for at least an hour.
- Slice the dough into ½cm thick slices and place them on a baking sheet, 2cm apart from each other.
- Bake in a preheated 170C(375F) fan-forced oven until just lightly golden brown, about 12-15 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack for 4 minutes.
- Dredge cookies in icing sugar to coat.
Claire Cameron says
Melt in your mouth, citrussy deliciousness.
Tania | My Kitchen Stories says
You are doing a community service there Claire. I totally love these kind of biscuits. My all time favourite.
Claire says
I shall think of it like that thanks Tania!
Hotly Spiced says
These are so perfectly sized, Claire. I do like the name. And they do look like they'd melt in your mouth. How wonderful to be given those limes xx
Claire says
I love making biscuits in the roll like this - so perfect looking. I never get that when I roll them in balls!
Alison says
I totally understand where you're coming from... rescuing fruit from an otherwise sorry demise! I was quite distressed the other month when I saw large, oranges going to waste in a neighbour's yard! Of course, I was too shy to ask if I could have them!
Claire says
Oh no Alison what a waste! I don't know how anyone could let their homegrown goodies just rot.
Chris Scheuer says
I like the thought of "rescuing" fruit. It sounds so heroic. But so would leaving some of these cookies for someone else be a heroic feat. They look wonderful. I make something similar and know how totally addicting they are!
Claire says
Haha yes I will say that I'm the hero!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
I've asked people if they were going to use all the fruit after seeing it hang on trees before but I've never snagged any over the fence. I'd be mortified if I were caught.
then... I haven't made these lime meltaways and that might change my mind!
Claire says
Haha... Mum used to drive her car to this tree near us so she could stand on the roof to get the fruit.
molly kelly says
Hi Bub,
You saved it's little life and delivered the lime to Glory...Theft is a very different issue!
They look mouth wateringly good!
Mum xx
Claire says
You're only saying that cause you're the one who taught me how to 'rescue' fruit!
x