Chocolate Key Lime Sugar Cookies

Hey Besties! I’m so excited to share my recipe for chocolate key lime sugar cookies with you! This flavor combination has been on my list for quite awhile and it turned out even better than I imagined! Now, you may be wondering why I decided to pair a key lime pie cookie with chocolate. This recipe was inspired by the time I had the opportunity to try key lime pie on a stick! This DELICIOUS treat, more common in the Florida Keys, is all the flavor of key lime pie but dipped in chocolate. I knew I had to turn this into a cookie! That said, if you ever want a true key lime pie-flavored cookie, you could certainly pair the key lime royal icing with my vanilla sugar cookie recipe as well! Let’s dive in!

You’ll start with my no-chill, no-spread chocolate sugar cookie is a fan favorite and SO easy to make! It’s soft and moist like a brownie with all the convenience of a cookie! The secret ingredient that enhances the rich chocolate flavor is espresso powder! Stay with me, I know what you’re thinking, and I can promise you, you will not taste a hint of coffee! Espresso powder is commonly used in chocolate baked goods to enhance the rich flavor. I also prefer to use Dutch processed cocoa powder, but you can use regular unsweetened cocoa powder as well.

For the key lime royal icing, LorAnn’s Key Lime Super Strength Flavor is the secret ingredient! You can flavor it as subtle or as strong as you’d like. Just remember, these super strength flavors are much more potent than extracts, so a little goes a long way! For more on using emulsions and super strength flavors, read THIS post which will tell you everything you need to know. And rest assured, using water-based super strength flavors will not affect how your royal icing dries!

I hope you love these chocolate key lime sugar cookies as much as we do! They are such a refreshing twist on a sweet sunshine treat!

Chocolate Key Lime Cookies

The citrus punch of key lime is perfectly, yet unexpectedly, paired with a melt in your mouth chocolate cookie! A fun summer twist!

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 7 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 24 depending on cookie size

Ingredients

  

Chocolate Sugar Cookies

• 1 cup Salted Butter Chilled, Cubed
• 1 cup Granulated Sugar
• 1 Large Egg Chilled
• 1 tbsp Vanilla Extract
• 1/2 cup Dutch Processed Cocoa Powder
• 2 tsp Baking Powder
• 1 tsp Espresso Powder
• 2.5 cups All-Purpose Flour

Key Lime Royal Icing

• 5 tbsp Meringue Powder
• 1 tbsp Light Corn Syrup
• 1 tsp Clear Vanilla Extract
• 1 cup Water
• 2 lbs Powdered Sugar
• 10 drops LorAnn's Key Lime Super Strength Flavor You can use more or less to taste, but keep in mind a little goes a long way!

Instructions

 

Chocolate Sugar Cookies

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• I bake on my favorite perforated baking mats to eliminate any chance of spread, for even baking and pretty undersides of our cookies!
• In your mixer bowl (or large bowl with hand-mixer) cream butter and sugar until smooth, about 1 minute
• Beat in vanilla and eggs
• Add cocoa powder and mix until incorporated
• Add baking powder and espresso powder mix until incorporated
• Add flour and mix until dough is pulling away from the sides of the bowl
• Divide dough into 2 sections and roll out each on wax paper or other prepared surface to 1/4" thick. This dough should require very little additional flour to roll out. I love that it is not sticky!
• Cut into desired shapes; this dough does not spread! I always suggest baking similar-sized cookies together.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 6-7 minutes (depending on cookie size)
• Cool cookies on cookie sheet until firm enough to transfer to cooling rack.

Key Lime Royal Icing

• Combine meringue powder, light corn syrup, clear vanilla extract, water and key lime super strength flavor in mixing bowl.
• Using a whisk, mix until ingredients are foamy. This is essentially reconstituting the egg whites in the meringue powder.
• Add the powdered sugar
• Using your whisk, mix until powdered sugar is slightly incorporated (and won't fly everywhere)
• Beat for 5 minutes on medium-high
• Icing will thicken, whiten and will have soft peaks once ready
• Your Royal Icing will now be ready to color and thin to your desired consistencies for decorating!

Notes

Cookie Consistency Notes:

The dough should be pulling away from the sides of the mixer. If dough is not pulling away on its own, add flour 1 Tablespoon at a time until it does. It should not take much.

If dough seems too crumbly or dry, it has not come together yet. Mix for another minute.

Keyword Chocolate Key Lime Sugar Cookies

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