By now, many of you are shopping for holiday gifts, decorating your homes, and even baking up goodies. Or maybe you’re ahead of the curve and already completed your list of holiday tasks, good for you.
Us? We're not even close!
We have our little tree up in our living room, and even a tiny, desktop tree blinking away at night in our bedroom. But because of our new Coffeehouse Mystery release, our holiday baking is coming later this month.
Today we're sharing a holiday cookie we'll be making, and (below) we'll tell you why it's one of our favorites for this time of year...
We love this cookie! And here's why:
(1) The pretty, snow-dusted orbs look impressive on holiday dessert and party trays, yet require no special decorating skills to make.
(2) These babies pack wonderful flavor into every meltaway bite. They also freeze beautifully. Yes! You can make them ahead of time, freeze them, and thaw before serving.
(3) It's a cookie outside the usual box of holiday spices. Don't get us wrong. We love gingerbread and the traditional mix of Christmas ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. We've published enough recipes using them, too. But not everyone is a fan of traditional holiday flavors. These lime meltaway cookies bring lovely flavor to the party with flecks of "green" appropriate for "red and green" Christmas colors while also adding variety to your cookie tray.
May you bake them with love and eat with holiday joy!
~ Cleo
May you bake them with love and eat with holiday joy!
~ Cleo
in a free PDF document
that you can print, save,
Lime Meltaway Cookies
Makes about 2 dozen cookies
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons fresh lime zest* (see my lime note below)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 Tablespoon fresh lime juice* (see my lime note)
For sugar-dusting:
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
2 teaspoons lime zest* (see my note)
*Lime Note: If you can’t find Key limes (best choice), simply substitute the more common (Persian) limes for this recipe. The tart flavor will be less intense, but the cookies will still taste delicious. For best results, do not use bottled or pre-packaged lime juice. Use fresh!
Warning: Lime juice may curdle your butter so follow this recipe's directions. Do not add the lime juice to the dough until the end of the mixing process.
Directions: First preheat your oven to 325° F. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar with an electric mixer. Blend in the vanilla extract, salt, and lime zest.
Add the flour and baking powder, and mix very briefly until a shaggy dough forms.
Now add your lime juice and mix until a smooth dough comes together, but do not over-mix or you will develop the gluten in the flour, and your cookies will be tough instead of tender.
Roll the dough into balls
about one inch in diameter.
Note that cookies are fragile while warm, so handle with care.
To finish, mix ½ cup confectioners’ sugar with 2 teaspoons lime zest in a shallow bowl. While cookies are still warm, gently roll them, one at a time, in the bowl of sugar and lime zest.
After all the cookies are coated, finish by sprinkling any remaining sugar-lime mixture over the cookie tops.
Eat with holiday joy!
~ Cleo Coyle
New York Times bestselling author
of The Coffeehouse Mysteries &
Haunted Bookshop Mysteries
This is us >> Alice and Marc.
Together we write as Cleo Coyle.
New York Times bestselling author
of The Coffeehouse Mysteries &
Haunted Bookshop Mysteries
of The Coffeehouse Mysteries &
Haunted Bookshop Mysteries
This is us >> Alice and Marc.
Together we write as Cleo Coyle.
CLEO IS NOW WORKING ON
HER HOLIDAY NEWSLETTER.
TO SIGN UP...
TO SIGN UP...

New Updated Version!
The Coffeehouse Mysteries are bestselling
works of amateur sleuth fiction set in a landmark
Greenwich Village coffeehouse, and each of the
18 titles includes the added bonus of recipes.
Don't miss Cleo's guest post at the award-winning blog
Dru's Book Musings. You'll have fun meeting
Cleo's amateur sleuth, Clare Cosi.
18 titles includes the added bonus of recipes.
![]() |
Click for Cleo's Free Checklist of Coffeehouse Books in Order |
GIVEAWAY NEWS!
Don't miss Cleo's guest post at the award-winning blog
Dru's Book Musings. You'll have fun meeting
Cleo's amateur sleuth, Clare Cosi.
And you'll have a chance
to win this prize package:
to win this prize package:
![]() |
Click this prize package image to jump to our guest post and enter our giveaway. Or... |
Don't delay...
The contest ends in one week.
Good luck! ~ Cleo
Yum! I'm trying different cookies this year and these are going on the list.
ReplyDeleteThat's wonderful, Alicia, thank you for giving them a try. Marc and I hope they bring comfort and joy to your holiday season!
Delete~ Cleo
Coffeehouse Mystery.com
“Where coffee and crime are always brewing…”
Cleo Coyle on Twitter
Friend or Follow Cleo Coyle on Facebook
I can just imagine the lime buzz on my tongue! Lovely.
ReplyDelete"Lime buzz!" I have never read those two words together, and yet...perfect. Exactly what it’s like. Cheers, Libby, have a delicious holiday season!
Deletexoxo
~ Cleo
Coffeehouse Mystery.com
“Where coffee and crime are always brewing…”
Cleo Coyle on Twitter
Friend or Follow Cleo Coyle on Facebook
Mmmm. I can taste that lime!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Pat, we would pass you a few cookies through the screen if we could. (Now where is that "taste here" button? :))
DeleteHappy Holidays to you!
~ Cleo
Coffeehouse Mystery.com
“Where coffee and crime are always brewing…”
Cleo Coyle on Twitter
Friend or Follow Cleo Coyle on Facebook
I don't think I have ever eaten a lime cookie before. It sounds tasty.
ReplyDeletelkish77123 at gmail dot com
Thank you, Linda. I think citrus is a nice flavor to add to a winter menu. It's bright and cheerful. I'm a fan of lime, especially, even more than lemon, and enjoy cooking with the flavor. Thanks for dropping in today...
DeleteMay your holiday season be delicious!
~ Cleo Coffeehouse Mystery.com
“Where coffee and crime are always brewing…”
Cleo Coyle on Twitter
Friend or Follow Cleo Coyle on Facebook
What a great idea! You can never go wrong with citrus for any season, but for Christmas? Even better!
ReplyDeleteWell I love key lime pie so this sounds good.
ReplyDeleteMarilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
Thank you for this egg-free cookie recipe. Happy season y'all.
ReplyDeleteI love meltaways! I've never tried this one, added it to my list for next week. =) Thank you for sharing! Happy Holidays!
ReplyDelete