Citrus Cooler Cookies

Special cookies to share with family and friends.

These little lime flavored shortbread cookies are a homemade version of the old Sunshine Citrus Cooler Cookies. Similar to Mexican Tea Cakes, these cookies are "glazed" with a lime scented sugar coating while they are hot. I chose to make mine with limes, but lemons, tangerines, or grapefruits would be delicious too!

Makes 3 dozen cookies

1½ cups all-purpose flour
1½ teaspoons baking powder
1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
3 tablespoons lime zest
1 large egg
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon kosher or sea salt
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 cup confectioners' sugar

Preheat oven to 325° Fahrenheit. Whisk the flour and baking powder together in a medium-sized bowl and set aside. Beat the sugar, butter, and 1 tablespoon of lime zest with a mixer set to medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg, vanilla, and salt until thoroughly combined. Add the flour mixture, in thirds, until incorporated. Add the lime juice and mix until dough forms a ball.

Roll dough into ¾-inch balls (a small cookie scoop is helpful) and flatten slightly onto baking pan lined with parchment paper approximately 2-inches apart. Bake until golden, about 16 to 18 minutes.

While the cookies bake, combine the confectioners' sugar and remaining lime zest in a large bowl until well combined. Be sure to distribute the zest evenly throughout the sugar.

Remove cookies from the oven and toss them, in batches, with the sugar mixture while they are still hot. Dust off excess sugar mixture and cool completely, before transferring to an airtight container.