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    Home » Cookies

    Key Lime Cookies with Coconut

    Published: Jan 28, 2023 · Updated: Apr 15, 2025 · by Barbara · This post may contain links on which I could make a small commission if an item is purchased · 2 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    My father's birthday was two weeks ago, so I took him to the Bonefish Grill for dinner. It was a wonderful dinner; we got the key lime cake for dessert. I have always enjoyed key lime anything, but this cake was fantastic!

    Key lime cookies with coconut buttercream frosting and toasted coconut on top.

    So, of course, my brain kicked in, thinking how I could make this a cookie. My first stop was Wegman's to see if they had key limes. They did, indeed. Now to plan out my cookie recipe.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients for Key Lime Cookie
    • Coconut Buttercream Frosting Ingredients
    • Juice and Zest Key Limes
    • Mixing the Cookies
    • Toasting Coconut
    • Making Coconut Buttercream Frosting
    • FAQs
    • Other Coconut Cookies to Try
    • Recipe

    Ingredients for Key Lime Cookie

    Ingredients to make Key Lime Cookies.
    Jump to Recipe for Amounts

    KEY LIME COOKIES

    • Cream Cheese
    • Butter unsalted
    • Sugar white
    • Eggs
    • Vanilla Extract
    • Key lime juice
    • Key lime zest
    • All-purpose flour
    • Baking powder
    • Kosher Salt

    Coconut Buttercream Frosting Ingredients

    Ingredients for coconut buttercream frosting.
    Jump to Recipe for Amounts

    TOASTED COCONUT

    • Unsweetened flaked coconut dry

    COCONUT BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

    • Butter unsalted
    • Powdered sugar
    • Coconut milk - I used unsweetened organic coconut milk by Thai Kitchen
    • Vanilla extract
    • Coconut extract
    • Sweetened flaked coconut moist

    Juice and Zest Key Limes

    Cutting board with a bowl of key limes, zester, empty bowl, and a juicer.

    Key limes are not very big, but having the right tools will help to get the job done faster. First, you need a zester that has a fine grater. I use Microplane Master Series for my lemons, limes, and key limes.

    When zesting, I do not zest the whole surface of the key lime. This is because you will lose any structure that the key lime has, which makes it harder to juice. So I hop around the key lime and zest maybe half of the outside.

    I purchased my favorite juicer at my local grocery store (cheap). With the built-in reamer and juice collector under it, I find this type the easiest to capture as much key lime juice as possible. However, I have tried the kind in which you put the key lime half in between two curved shapes and squeeze, but this type does not work as well with key limes.

    Mixing the Cookies

    Juice and zest your key limes and set these bowls aside. Weigh or measure the sugar into a bowl and set it aside. Next, weigh or measure the flour, baking powder, and salt into a bowl, then run a whisk through to blend.

    Butter and cream cheese mixed in a mixer bowl for the key lime cookies.

    In a mixer bowl, add the butter and cream cheese. Mix on a medium mixer speed for about a minute until the two are blended together. Now, add the sugar and blend on medium-high speed for 2 minutes. You want soft peaks.

    Key lime cookie batter getting ready to be chilled.

    Scrape down the sides, add the vanilla extract, key lime juice, and key lime zest, and mix together. I add one egg at a time until incorporated before adding the flour mixture.

    This is a soft cookie dough, so cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

    Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C or 180°C) and add parchment paper to two cookie sheet pans. Add 12 scoops to the prepared cookie sheet pan using a medium cookie scooper. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Start to watch them at 10 minutes in the oven. The bottoms should be a pale color.

    Twelve scoops of key lime cookie dough on a parchment lined sheet pan.

    Once out of the oven, move them to a cooling rack. Of course, you want the cookies completely cooled before starting the frosting. But with the cookies baked and the oven still on, this is a perfect time to toast the unsweetened flaked coconut.

    Toasting Coconut

    This only takes a few minutes and adds great flavor to the top of the cookies. I take the cookie sheet pan and add a piece of parchment paper to cover the bottom. You can also use tin foil, but I prefer parchment paper.

    Spread the coconut around the pan, so they are not clumped together.

    Spreading the unsweetened flaky coconut before getting toasted.
    Toasted coconut on a parchment-lined sheet pan.

    Bake at 350°F (175°C or 180°C) for 2 to 3 minutes. Keep an eye on it because the coconut can get brown quickly. I pick up the parchment paper by two sides and lift it right out and slide the coconut right into a bowl.

    Check if the cookies have cooled; it is time to start the frosting.

    Making Coconut Buttercream Frosting

    Add the butter to your mixer bowl. First, I ensure the butter is soft enough if it spreads around the bottom of the mixer bowl after turning the mixer on for a minute. Then I scrape down the sides and add the powdered sugar, coconut milk, vanilla extract, and coconut extract.

    Coconut buttercream frosting in the mixer bowl just before adding the sweetened coconut.

    You want to start at a slow mixer speed and incorporate everything before turning the speed up to medium. Mix for about 2 minutes. It should be creamy and smooth looking. Finally, add the sweetened flaked coconut and mix for about 15 seconds.

    Key lime cookie beside a cookie with coconut frosting and the third cookie has frosting and toasted coconut on top.

    Now, taking a butter knife, add the frosting to the top of a cookie and then add some of the toasted coconuts on top of the frosting. I press down a little on the toasted coconuts, so they stick to the frosting.

    twenty finished key lime cookies on a wire rack.

    Enjoy the cookies!

    FAQs

    Can I use regular lime juice instead of key lime juice?

    Since key limes are grown in the Florida Keys and have a shorter growing season than regular limes, you may need to use regular limes if your recipe calls for key limes. I work my baking of these cookies during the key lime season mainly because there is a difference in taste between the two limes. The key lime is smaller, has a more tart taste, and slightly sweeter than regular limes.

    What other choices do I have besides coconut frosting?

    You could add key lime juice and zest when making the buttercream frosting and leave out the coconut. You could also make a cream cheese frosting for your key lime cookies.

    Can I add other ingredients to the key lime cookies?

    Yes, you can add nuts like macadamia, hazelnuts, or pecans. White chocolate chips are another great additive to this cookie. You might also like to add some dried fruit like figs or dates.

    How do I store the key lime cookies?

    When there is cream cheese in cookies, you need to keep the cookies in a closed container, but if they get too soft, crack the lid to allow air to get in. This works both ways if your container top allows air to get in and the cookies start to dry out, snap the lid on tight, and they will soften up.

    Other Coconut Cookies to Try

    • Papaya coconut and macadamia nut cookies sitting on a plate.
      Papaya Coconut and Macadamia Nut Cookies
    • Pineapple coconut with lemon glaze cookie close-up.
      Pineapple Coconut with Lemon Glaze Cookies
    • A group of a coconut almond chocolate cream cheese cookie on a wooden board.
      Coconut Almond Chocolate Cream Cheese Cookies
    • Creamy coconut pineapple macaroon on a white plate.
      Creamy Coconut Pineapple Macaroons

    Recipe

    Key lime cookies with coconut buttercream frosting and toasted coconut on top.
    QR Code

    Key Lime Cookies with Coconut

    Barbara Hall
    Moist, soft cookies with a great key lime taste and creamy smooth coconut buttercream frosting. To top the cookie off is toasted coconut sprinkled on top.
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    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 45 minutes mins
    Total Bake Time 33 minutes mins
    Chill 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 48 minutes mins
    Course Cookies
    Cuisine American
    Servings 30 cookies
    Calories 211 kcal

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    Ingredients
     

    KEY LIME COOKIES

    • 8 ounces (226.8 g) Cream Cheese
    • ½ cup (113.5 g) Butter unsalted
    • 1 cup (200 g) Sugar white
    • 2 (2) Eggs
    • ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) Vanilla Extract
    • 4 Tablespoons (4 Tablespoons) Key lime juice
    • 2 teaspoons (2 teaspoons) key lime zest
    • 2 ½ cups (312.5 g) All-purpose flour
    • 2 teaspoons (2 teaspoons) Baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) Kosher Salt

    TOASTED COCONUT

    • 1 ⅓ cup (113.33 g) Unsweetened flaked coconut dry

    COCONUT BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

    • ½ cup (113.5 g) Butter unsalted
    • 2 cups (240 g) Powdered sugar
    • 2 Tablespoons (2 Tablespoons) Coconut milk
    • ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) Vanilla extract
    • ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) Coconut extract
    • ¼ cup (21.25 g) Sweetened flaked coconut moist

    Instructions
     

    KEY LIME COOKIES

    • First, zest and juice at least 8 key limes, so you have at least 4 tablespoons of juice and 2 teaspoons of zest. Weigh or measure the sugar and set it aside. Now, weigh or measure the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Run a whisk through to blend.
    • Cream (baking term) the butter and cream cheese using a mixer. Use a medium speed for about a minute. Next, scrape down the bowl sides and add the sugar. Mix on medium-high speed for 2 to 3 minutes. Next, add the vanilla extract, key lime juice, and key lime zest, mixing until incorporated.
    • Next, add one egg at a time. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and across the bottom and mix for another 30 seconds to ensure the eggs are incorporated. Finally, turn the mixer on to a slow speed and add the flour mixture. This is a soft cookie dough, so to firm up the butter, I put the cookie dough into the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
    • Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C or 180°C) and line 2 cookie sheet pans with parchment paper. Using a medium cookie scoop, add 12 cookie dough mounds to a prepared sheet pan. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Once out of the oven move the cookies to a cooling rack. Make sure the cookies are cooled before making the frosting.

    TOASTED COCONUT

    • Since the oven is still on from baking the cookies, this is the time to make the toasted coconut. Take a sheet pan and line it with tin foil or a sheet of parchment paper. Spread the unsweetened flaked dry coconut around the pan, trying to keep it a thin layer. Bake in a 350°F (175°C or 180°C) oven for 2 to 3 minutes. Keep an eye on it since the coconut is dry it will not take long to toast.

    COCONUT BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

    • Add the butter to the mixer and mix it for about a minute. You want it to spread around the bottom half of the bowl. Next, add powdered sugar, coconut milk, vanilla extract, and coconut extract. Start the mixer at a slow speed until the sugar has been incorporated. Now, turn the mixer to a medium speed for 2 minutes. The frosting should be creamy looking. Scrape down the bowl, and add the sweetened flaked coconut, blending it for about 15 seconds.
    • Put the frosting on each cookie and top it with the toasted coconut. Enjoy!

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    NUTRITION DISCLAIMER

    I am not a certified Dietitian or Nutritionist. The nutrition amounts given below are provided through a program and are only a guideline.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 211kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 2gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 100mgPotassium: 55mgFiber: 1gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 308IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Comments

      5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    1. Tara says

      April 14, 2025 at 1:20 pm

      5 stars
      I made these cookies this morning and loved them! They have a light and moist texture and came out just as pretty as the picture on the website. I added some lime juice to the icing because I like that flavor, but it is also excellent made as written.

      Reply
      • Barbara says

        April 14, 2025 at 3:40 pm

        Hi Tara, I am so glad you liked them, they were one of my late father's favorites. I really try and show bakers how my cookies look without doing much to my pictures except lighting and few spot removed if needed. - Barbara

        Reply
    Barb the owner of my cookie journey head shot.

    Hi, I'm Barbara Hall, the baker and photographer behind My Cookie Journey, a blog devoted to creating and sharing unique cookie recipes. A retired IT pro, I now spend my day's baking, styling, and snapping photos of cookies that have been featured in multiple regional magazines.

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