Sweetheart Lime Shortbread Cookies Food

LIME MELTAWAYS

Steps:

• In a large bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and 1/3 cup of the powdered sugar on medium-high speed until light and pale, about 2-3 minutes.
• Add the lime zest, lime juice, and vanilla and mix again, scraping down the sides of the bowl.
• Add the flour, cornstarch, and salt, mixing until combined. At first it might not seem like the dough will come together, but let it keep mixing and it will form into a nice dough, about the consistency of play-dough.
• Divide the dough into 2 equal pieces and roll each half into a 1 1/4-inch diameter log (about 9-inches long each). Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 1 hour to chill.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Unwrap the two logs of dough and slice into 1/4-inch discs using a sharp knife. Place the disks on parchment-lined baking sheets and bake for 13-14 minutes until barely golden around the edges.
• Cool for 8-10 minutes, then transfer half of the cookies to a large ziploc bag along with the reserved 2/3 cup of powdered sugar. Toss gently to coat each cookie with powdered sugar, then remove the cookies to a plate and repeat with the remaining cookies. A few of the cookies will probably break while being tossed with the powdered sugar, but they still taste good!
• Store in an airtight container on the counter for up to 2 weeks. Supposedly they taste even better after a week or two since the lime flavor comes through stronger, but I haven't been able to keep any around that long!

ICED LIME SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• In a bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Add vanilla and lime zest and stir to combine.
• In a separate bowl, sift (or whisk) together flour and salt. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture and mix until a dough forms. Dough may look crumbly, but will hold together when pinched between two fingers.
• Shape into a long, round tube about 2 inches thick and wrap in wax paper. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
• Remove dough from refrigerator and unwrap. Using a sharp knife, slice dough into 1/4 inch slices and place on lined baking sheet.
• Bake for 10-12 minutes or until cookies barely begin to brown around edges. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 2-3 minutes before removing from sheet to cool completely.

LIME BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 12x15-inch baking dish.
• Mix 2 cups flour, 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, and salt in a bowl; cut in butter with a pastry cutter until crust mixture resembles crumbs. Pat crust evenly into bottom of the prepared baking dish.
• Bake crust in the preheated oven for 10 minutes.
• Whisk eggs, 1/3 cup lime juice, 1/4 cup flour, white sugar, 2 teaspoons lime peel, baking powder, and food coloring in a bowl; pour over the crust.
• Return baking dish to oven; bake until filling is set, about 25 minutes. Cool thoroughly.
• Whisk 1 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, 1 tablespoon lime juice, and 1 teaspoon grated lime peel to make a smooth glaze; spread evenly over cooled lime bars. Let glaze set before serving.

LIME MELTAWAYS FROM ''THE MARTHA STEWART SHOW''

Steps:

• Put butter and 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, and mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy. Add lime zest and juice and vanilla, and mix until fluffy.
• Whisk together flour, cornstarch, and salt in a bowl. Add to butter mixture, and mix on low speed until just combined.
• Divide dough in half. Place each half on an 8-by-12-inch sheet of parchment paper. Roll in parchment to form a log 1 1/4 inches in diameter, pressing a ruler along edge of parchment at each turn to narrow log. Refrigerate logs until cold and firm, at least 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove parchment from logs; cut into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Space rounds 1 inch apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake cookies until barely golden, about 13 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Transfer cookies to wire racks to cool slightly, 8 to 10 minutes. While still warm, toss cookies with remaining 2/3 cup sugar in a resealable plastic bag. Cookies can be stored in airtight containers at room temperature up to 2 weeks.

SWEETHEART (SWEET & TART!) LEMON SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. Position rack in middle of oven. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Sift flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl, and set aside.
• In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla, until smooth and creamy - about 1 minute. Stop the mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl as needed during mixing.
• On low speed, add the flour mixture, mixing until it is incorporated and the dough holds together in large clumps and comes away from the side of the bowl.
• Form the dough into a smooth ball. Lightly flour the rolling surface and rolling pin. Roll the dough out to an EVEN ¼-inch+ thickness. Using a 3-inch long heart-shaped cutter, cut out the hearts. Use a thin metal spatula to transfer them to the prepared baking sheets, placing them about 1"apart. Gather together the dough scraps, roll, and cut out additional hearts.
• Bake one sheet at a time, until the edges and bottoms of the cookies are lightly browned, about 20 minutes. Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then use a wide, metal spatula to transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Glaze: In a small bowl, stir the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest (or vanilla) together with enough cream to form a thick, spreadable glaze. Use a thin metal spatula to spread HALF (right or left half) of each cookie heart with glaze. Let the cookies sit until the glaze is firm. Cookies can be layered between sheets of waxed paper in a tightly covered container and stored at room temperature for up to 4 days. Makes apx. (24) 3-4" cookies.

LIME SHORTBREAD WITH DRIED CHERRIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until blended. Beat in lime zest and extracts. In another bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Stir in cherries., Divide dough in half; shape each into a 7-in.-long roll. Wrap in plastic; refrigerate 3-4 hours or until firm. , Preheat oven to 350°. Unwrap and cut dough crosswise into 1/4-in. slices. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 9-11 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool. Freeze option: Place wrapped logs in resealable plastic freezer bag; freeze. To use, unwrap frozen logs and cut into slices. If necessary, let dough stand a few minutes at room temperature before cutting. Bake as directed.

SWEETHEART LIME SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• TO MAKE CHOCOLATE VERSION:.
• Omit the zest and juice and add 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder and 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips. Bake as directed and drizzle with melted chocolate when cookies are cooled.
• Cookie Directions:.
• Beat together butter and sugar in a large bowl on medium until combined. Beat in zest and juice. Reduce speed to low and add flour and salt, beating until just combined. Chill, wrapped in plastic wrap, at least 1 hour or up to 2 days.
• Preheat oven to 325 F and arrange 2 racks in center. Line 2 large cookie sheets with parchment paper; set aside. Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/4 inch thickness. Using a 2 1/4 inch heart shaped cookie cutter, cut out shapes and place 1/2 inch apart on prepared cookie sheets. Chill 10 minutes in freezer or 20 minutes in fridge.
• Bake until cookies are set and just golden around the edges, 18 to 20 minutes. Cool slightly; using a metal spatula, carefully transfer cookies to racks and cool completely. Dust with sugar up to 5 hours before serving.

JALAPENO-LIME SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Mix flour, butter, sugar, jalapeno, lime zest and juice, and salt together in a large bowl.
• Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place on ungreased cookie sheets; flatten slightly with a thumb print to accommodate icing.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden and set, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove cookies from the oven and let cool at least 10 minutes.
• Combine confectioners' sugar, lime juice, jalapeno, and lime zest in a bowl. Drizzle icing onto cooled cookies.