These Key Lime Cookies are soft, melt-in-your-mouth lime cookies that are gluten-free, dairy-free, and egg-free but still come with over 5 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber.

While the whole recipe is just below, don’t miss all my tips further down, including ingredient swaps, my cooking tips, and step-by-step shots!

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Ingredients and Substitutions

This paragraph gives you all my tips about picking the right ingredients. For the full recipe with measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post!Go to Full Recipe

You only need 5 simple ingredients to make this recipe. Here’s how to pick and swap them.

Almond Flour – This forms the base of your cookies, giving them a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture. You can also use cashew flour, or for a nut allergy-friendly option, sesame flour works well. Ultra-fine blanched almond flour is your best choice for the ideal texture.
Maple Syrup – This provides sweetness and helps bind the cookie dough. Other liquid sweeteners like agave syrup or coconut nectar are also fine to use here.
Melted Coconut Oil – This ingredient adds moisture and richness to the cookies. Light olive oil or melted plant-based butter are also good options if you prefer.
Lime Juice – This is key for the signature tart and refreshing flavor of these cookies. Make sure to use freshly squeezed key lime juice for the best taste.
Lime Zest – This boosts the lime flavor in the cookies. It is optional, so you can skip it if you prefer a milder lime taste.
Almond Extract – This enhances the overall flavor of the cookies, adding a subtle, nutty note that complements the lime. This is an optional ingredient, but it brings a delicious almond flavor.

And if you want to make the glazing:

Powdered Coconut Sugar – This is the base for your sweet glaze, creating a smooth, drippy consistency. To reduce sugar and calories, you can also use powdered allulose.
Lime Juice – This provides the tartness and liquid needed to create the glaze, adding another layer of lime flavor.
Vanilla Extract – This adds a touch of warmth and depth to the glaze’s flavor.

How to Make Key Lime Cookies

These cookies are super simple to whip up. Here’s how in a few pictures.

Adding liquid ingredients to Key Lime Cookie dough.

Combine the dry ingredients and pour the liquid ones.

Stir the batter until if form a sticky texture.

Flattening Key Lime Cookies on a baking sheet.

Form dough balls, place them on a baking sheet, and flatten them.

Key Lime Cookies ready to bake on a cookie sheet.

Bake the cookies for 12-14 minutes at 350°F (180°C)

Carine’s Baking Tips

Let me share a few more tips for a perfect key lime cookies.

Fresh Squeeze – Always use freshly squeezed lime juice for the best flavor and to include some of the pulp. Just be sure to watch out for and discard any lime seeds before adding the juice to your dough.
Don’t Skip Glaze – These cookies are designed to be less sweet on their own, so the glaze is essential for adding that perfect balance of sweetness and extra lime flavor.
Citrus Swap – Get creative! You can easily swap key lime juice for lemon juice or orange juice to make a variety of different citrus cookie flavors.
Dough Consistency – The cookie dough should be soft enough to roll into balls. If it feels too dry, add a tiny bit more lime juice. If it’s too wet, a small amount of extra almond flour will help bring it together.
Even Baking – Pressing the cookie dough balls slightly with the back of a spoon or your fingers before baking helps them bake more evenly and gives them a classic cookie shape.