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Lime Thumbprint Cookies

Lime Thumbprint Cookies have got to be some of my favorite cookies I’ve baked this year!

I made them twice in the past couple weeks, because I wanted to get a couple things right.

Lime Thumbprint Cookies with White Chocolate Glaze flatlay

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The first recipe I made, the cookies were fine. They were delicious. I just thought they spread out too much when baked. The cookies weren’t holding a sturdier shape.

I had used a basic cookie sugar recipe, that called for eggs in the dough.

So I figured I’d change my recipe. This time, I’d leave the eggs out.

Finally, I arrived to my desired results. Cookies that are fluffy, soft, but can hold a nice shape, with a sweet bump, instead of spreading out.

Let me give you a couple of tips for making beautiful cookies.

I’ve probably already said these tips in some other posts, so I apologize for getting repetitive. However, repetition is the mother of perfection. So, listen up if you want to make PERFECT cookies!

Lime thumbprint cookies with white chocolate drizzle

My two best tips for making beautiful cookies

  • Don’t overmix your dough once you add the flour. When flour gets hydrated, it starts to develop gluten, which are proteins that provide elasticity to the baked goods. The more you mix the dough, or batter, after the flour has been added, the more gluten you develop. Therefore, for some types of baked goods, such as cakes, biscuits, cookies, you don’t want to overmix the flour with the other ingredients. Because you are looking for a softer, more crumbly structure.
  • Always bake your cookies out of the freezer! Trust me on this one! For cookies that have a butter base, like this one, it’s best to freeze your cookies until solid before baking. That’s because, if the cookies are soft, the minute you insert them in the oven, the butter will start to melt, and your cookie won’t be able to hold a nice shape. Whereas, if you bake your cookies out of the freezer, the butter in the dough will be solid, giving time for the cookie structure to form before the butter starts to melt.

Now those tips are valid for most cookies, specially butter based ones!

Another special tip I have specifically for these Lime Thumbprint Cookies and any other Thumbprint cookie, is to use a 1/2 teaspoon to make the indentation on top of the cookie. You can use your thumb if you want to, but the teaspoon will really help to form a beautiful round shape!

You might want to coat the back of the teaspoon in flour before making the indentation, as it might be sticky with some cookie dough. Then, you can use your thumbs to slightly press down any little dough pieces that might have lifted up.

making thumbprint cookies

The Filling

These Lime Thumbprint Cookies felt right from the beginning. I had some lime pie filling leftover after I had made some mini Lime Tarts for a friend, so I figured I’d use my pie filling to make some other goodies.

When you make this recipe, you might have a bit of leftover of the Lime Filling. I’d recommend that you either leave it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, and make more Lime Thumbprint Cookies. Or, you can use the filling to make Lime Tarts, simply fill the pre-baked tart shells with the filling, bake them for 5-8 minutes, and voila!

Lime thumbprint cookies with white chocolate drizzle

Alternatively, you can store leftover Lime Filling in the freezer for up to 3 months, very well packaged. And then, you can make delicious Lime Thumbprint Cookies whenever.

The dough is pretty freezer friendly too. So, if you don’t feel like baking all of the cookies, just package the dough really well and leave it in the freezer for up to 2 months.

These cookies will surprise and enchant everyone that tries them! Put them in a box and go gift them to a friend (not without sneaking a couple for yourself first!).

Lime Thumbprint cookies in a cookie box

And, if you’re into making cookie boxes for people, you can think about my Homemade Oreos, Dulce de Leche filled Snickerdoodles, or these delicious Orange Cranberry Madeleines! You know what? Just make them all and send a box over to me!

Lime Thumbprint Cookies with White Chocolate Glaze flatlay

Lime Thumbprint Cookies

These Lime Thumbprint Cookies are delicious, soft, and chewy! Put them in a beautiful box and gift them to a friend, or serve them for tea time!
5 from 9 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 32 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine cookies
Servings 24 cookies
Calories 250 kcal

Ingredients
  

Thumbprint Cookie Dough
  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • Zest of 1 lime
Lime Filling
  • 1 can condensed milk
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 cup lime juice about 1 lime
  • Zest of 1 lime
Glaze
  • 1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips melted and slightly cooled

Instructions
 

Thumbprint Cookie Dough
  • Cream butter in the bowl of a stand mixer, at medium speed for about 1 minute. Add sugar and keep creaming for another minute or two, until mixture is very fluffy and lightened in color.
  • Add vanilla. Mix for 30 seconds on low.
  • Add flour, salt, and lime zest.
  • Mix for 30 seconds on low.
  • Finish mixing with a spatula if not all flour has been incorporated yet.
  • Remember you don’t want to overmix your cookie dough once you add the flour in. Mix it until ingredients are just incorporated.
  • Shape dough like a disk. Transfer to a zip loc bag, or wrap it in plastic wrap.
  • Refrigerate dough for 30 min-1 hour.
  • You want the dough to have chilled a little bit, but not completely. If you do let the dough chill completely for a few hours or overnight, then take it out of the fridge at least 1 hour before you want to shape your cookies.
  • After resting the dough for 30-60 min, remove it from the refrigerator. You want the dough to be still soft, and just slightly chilled. If dough is hardened, then let it sit on top of the counter for a few minutes before proceeding.
  • Grab your cookie scoop, tablespoon sized. Scoop balls and roll them between your hands to smooth them out. That’s why the dough needs to be soft, because if it’s too hard, you won’t be able to form perfect balls.
  • Place balls on baking sheets, about 3 inches apart.
  • Now, use the back of a 1/2 teaspoon to create an indentation on top of each cookie dough ball.
  • You might have to coat the back of the 1/2 teaspoon in flour before pressing it down on top of the cookie dough, because it might start sticking.
  • If you want, you can use your thumbs, by all means, the cookie is called THUMBprint anyway. However, I like how the 1/2 teaspoon does such a good job at creating a perfectly round indentation.
  • Scoop some of the lime filling on top of cookies.
  • Stick baking sheets in the freezer for 15 minutes each before baking.
  • Pre-heat the oven to 350F while cookies chill.
  • Bake cold cookies for 10-12 minutes, when they start to get brown around the edges and slightly golden all over.
  • Remove from the oven. Let it cool. Melt white chocolate and let it cool for 5 minutes if they are too hot.
  • Place white chocolate in a small piping bag. Cut a small hole on the end of the bag.
  • Drizzle over chocolate and let it set.
  • Store cookies in an air tight container, in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days.
  • You can leave it at room temperature if it’s going to be enjoyed within a few hours.
  • They are really delicious when they are very fresh and soft.
Lime Filling
  • To make the lime filling, simply mix all ingredients together. Keep filling covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Keep it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
  • You will probably have more filling than what you need for these cookies. You may freeze the leftovers, or bake it in tart shells, or make more cookies, of course! You will fall in love with these cookies!

Notes

Not only can you freeze the Lime Filling, you can also freeze the cookie dough in case you don’t want to bake all the cookies at once. Dough will keep well in the freezer for up to 2 months, as long as it’s nicely packaged. To use out of the freezer, simply let it thaw on the fridge overnight, or on top of the counter for a couple hours.
Keyword cookies, lime, thumbprint, whitechocolate

 

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15 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    These are an amazing idea! I make a lot of key lime pies and never thought about cookies!! Perfect for just a bite! Thanks for the recipe!!

  2. 5 stars
    I totally love the idea of making them all and sending some to you lol. Lovely recipe you have here. Thanks for the tips never baked cookies straight from the freezer and I would be doing that when next I bake a butter based cookie. Your idea about using the 1/2 tsp for indenting is genius. Thanks

  3. 5 stars
    That filling sounds divine! And I love your tip about baking the cookies straight out of the freezer…I’ll try it out with my next butter based cookies. Thanks a ton 🙂

  4. Have you ever tried these cookies using Gluten Free flour? If so, what kind of gluten free flour did you use?

    1. I’ve never tried making them with gluten free flour. I have made other treats with gluten free flour, though. I would simply use King Arthur Gluten free multi purpose flour, and add 1 or 2 teaspoons of xanthan gum to the cookie dough! Thank you!

      1. These sound so delicious! I can’ wait to try them!! Could I also use the base for this cookie recipe and instead of lime filling do a raspberry jam? If so, would the process of freezing them before baking still be the same, meaning filling them with the jam, freezing them and then baking them? Thank you!!

  5. Hi Camila!
    I tried these chookies and they were amazing!!! I’ve been using different fillings as well and they’re so good. I wanted to make a chocolate version of these and was wondering if I needed to substitute some of the all purpose flour for some cocoa powder or just simply add cocoa powder to the base recipe? I was also wondering if I could maybe fill them with strawberry ganache (using fruit pureé) and make a sort of chocolate strawberry thumprint for Valentine’s? Would love to read your thoughts on this. Thank you!! 😊

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