Cornmeal Lime Cookies
These cookies have a soft crumbly texture and deliver a punch of tart lime flavor.
When it comes to cookies, chocolate chip gets all the glory. I love a good chocolate chip cookie as much as the next gal, but there are so,so many other great cookies that deserve their day in the sun.
Like these light and zesty cornmeal lime cookies!
They’ve been on my site for over 5 years and I thought it was only fair to take them out of the archives, dust ’em off, and remind us all of how fabulous they are.
I can’t take credit for this recipe, however. It comes from Joanne Chang of the renowned Flour Bakery in Boston and I snagged it from her cookbook Flour: A Baker’s Collection of Spectacular Recipes. The last time I was in Boston I was thrilled to see these cornmeal lime cookies behind the display case and I can report that this recipe is every bit as delicious as the original.
True story— while I was at Flour Bakery I also picked up a box of several cookies to bring home and share with my family. Only, I ate every single one on the flight home. We’re talking maybe six or seven cookies, all by myself, in just a few hours. Oops.
These cornmeal lime cookies are simple and unique. They’re cake-like with a subtle cornbread-esque texture and lots of lime flavor throughout, and I just love the drizzle of lime icing. These cookies are perfect for any occasion— a picnic, barbecue, or whenever that cookie craving hits!
baking tip:The importance of creaming butter and sugar when making cookies
When you beat butter and sugar together in a cookie recipe, you’re not just combining ingredients. You’re aerating the dough, and creating tiny pockets of air that puff up once the cookies hit the oven. When not done properly, your cookies will end up dense and flat, and no one wants that! Here are a few things to remember to ensure you’re creaming the right way:
- Make sure your butter is at room temperature, but not too warm. Here’s 4 ways to bring butter to room temperature quickly.
- Use an electric mixer! Doing it by hand it just far too difficult to do sufficiently, make it easier on yourself.
- Beat for 4-5 minutes. You’re looking for a pale, fluffy mixture.
- Don’t forget to scrape down the bowl, 1-2 times during creaming and 1 more time after adding the eggs. This way you’ll have a consistent dough.
- Use cold eggs to bring the temperature of the butter back down after it’s been creamed with the sugar.
Cornmeal Lime Cookies
Ingredients:
For the cookies:
- 1 cup (228 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons (175 grams) sugar
- 2 tablespoons lime zest (from about 4 limes)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups (240 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (100 grams) cornmeal
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
For the glaze:
- 1 cup (140 grams) powdered sugar, sifted
- Juice of 1 lime
- Zest of 1 lime
- Milk
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- With an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar on high until light and fluffy, 3-4 minutes. Add the lime zest and mix for about 1 minute. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each, then the vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt. Add to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Place rounded tablespoons of dough on the prepared sheet pan about 2 inches apart. Gently press each ball with the palm of your hand to flatten slightly.
- Bake until the edges are just turning golden brown and centers are still pale, about 17-20 minutes. Do not over bake. Let cool on the sheet pan for 15 minutes, then remove to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- To make the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar, lime zest, and lime juice. Add milk 1 teaspoon at a time to reach the consistency you want. It should be thin enough to spread over the cookies.
- Glaze the cookies on a wire rack with a sheet pan placed underneath to catch excess glaze. Let the glaze harden for several minutes before serving.
- These cookies are best served the day they are made, but will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for a few days.
Have you tried this recipe?
I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below, send me an email, or take a photo and tag it on instagram with #completelydelicious.
This recipe was originally published April 2012.
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glad you got your mojo back 🙂 We all fail in the kitchen from time to time. At least you didn’t set your oven on fire (I’ve done that!)
I had a baking fail recently too. I made a very anticipated batch of muffins and when they were all done, I took a big bite but then it tasted completely off. I realized moments later that I completely forgot to add the sugar. I got so pissed I dumped the entire batch in the trash. But then other food bloggers said I should have just slathered butter on it. Maybe I shouldn’t have gotten so angry, right?
Anyway, these cookies look quite tasty. I absolutely love the addition of cornmeal in these.
These look wonderful, I always love to use lime and cornmeal in desserts. And, whenever I have a baking (or cooking) disaster, I always resort to chocolate chip cookies later that day or week, because I know I can make those taste good.
these look awesome! i have a real lime lover at home who will love these!!
I know what it feels like to temporarily lose your baking/cooking mojo. I think it happens to the best of us. These look delightful and lime is the only citrus my husband will eat. Your pictures are always so lovely.
I made these late last night (sans the icing), and they turned out so well that I had to knock on my neighbour’s door at 11pm to offer her a few! That really nice cakey-crumbliness is great, and they’re not overly sweet, which is usually my main gripe when baking biscuits. I will definitely be making these again. Thank you so much for sharing!