vanilla-lime cream cookies

I've been seeing a bunch of recipes lately using fresh citrus zest and it made me want to try and create a cookie--a creamy limey cookie.
I based these cookies off the very popular coconut cream cheese cookies.
With that said, if you do make these cookies, try adding a handful or two of toasted coconut in there.
Why I didn't do that I haven't a clue, but foodie hindsight is 20/20 right?


I baked some at a higher temp to see if I could get a crispy cookie since these are chewy by nature.
If you want crispier cookies bake at 375 degrees for 10-14 minutes.


I used 2 heaping tablespoons of fresh lime zest; I wanted a good amount of twang in there.

Using a combination of pure vanilla extract and vanilla bean paste really helped the vanilla flavor shine through.



vanilla-lime cream cookies
based on the coconut cream cheese cookies
print recipe

2 cups + 2 TB flour
1/2 ts baking soda
1/2 ts (oversized) salt
12 TB (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
8 oz. cream cheese softened
¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
½ cup sugar
2 TB of fresh lime zest
the juice of 3 limes
1 ts pure vanilla extract
1 ts vanilla bean paste

cook notes: 
For crispier cookies, bake at 375 for 10-14 minutes.
For chewy cookies see instructions at bottom.
You can easily use lemon zest or orange zest.

Whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl; set aside.
With stand mixer, or by hand mix butter and cream cheese together until smooth.
Add in both sugars and beat until thoroughly combined.
Beat in vanilla extract, vanilla paste, lime juice and zest until combined.
Add dry ingredients & beat at low speed just until combined.
Cover dough securely with plastic wrap and chill two hours or overnight.
When ready to bake cookies preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Drop dough in round dough balls with a slight flatten, onto parchment lined baking sheets.  Bake for 12-14 minutes or until edges are set and bottoms are light brown. Do NOT overbake!
Cool cookies on sheets until able to lift without breaking and place on wire rack to cool.
Should make about 28-30 cookies.