We celebrated our one year wedding anniversary in Key West and I’ve been obsessed with key lime flavor ever since. Go beyond your traditional pie and make these green Key Lime Crinkle Cookies for a zesty dessert. They’re tangy and sweet with a great shade of green. Serve them as a summertime treat or even make them for St. Patrick’s Day. You can’t beat the chewy soft texture and color.

Crinkle cookies are a lot of fun to bake and watch how they come out with the textured topping. The green cookie dough batter is rolled in powdered sugar (and green sanding sugar for these) to create the crinkle appearance. As they expand when baking, the ridges appear. The added touch of green sanding sugar gives the cookies a bit of sparkle too.

You can read more about the science behind crinkle cookies too – if you’re interested!

I make these Key Lime Crinkle Cookies for St. Patrick’s Day parties too. It’s hard to find a green dessert and these are always a hit. Even my kids love them. Who says you can’t throw a little key lime into an Irish holiday? If you need a green dessert – these cookies are the way to go!

Looking for even more summertime desserts? I’ve got you covered:

• 4-Ingredient Frozen Lemon Pie
• Luscious Layered Orange Cake
• Lemon Cake Mix Cookies

How To Make Key Lime Crinkle Cookies

The secret to great cookies is using a fantastic cookie tray for baking. I love to add a silicone baking mat, on top of my tray, before my cookies bake. Using this technique really produces the best cookies possible. Nothing will stick and they’ll come out great without much effort or fuss. 

What To Serve With Key Lime Cookies

These are amazing with a fresh glass of ice cold milk and my favorite way to enjoy them. They’re a lighter dessert and perfect with a light dinner. We’ve had them as dessert with fresh crab legs and mani burgers – it’s the perfect complete meal in my book.

How To Keep Key Lime Crinkle Cookies Fresh

After your cookies have cooled, store them in an air-tight container. You can enjoy them warm, but let them cool completely before storing them. They’ll stay fresh for 3-4 days to enjoy again.

Can You Freeze Key Lime Crinkle Cookie Dough?

Yes! You can freeze the cookie dough – but make sure you do so before adding the powdered sugar. Instead of refrigerating for 45 minutes, just go ahead and freeze it right away. Let it thaw in the refrigerator and then bake as directed.

What You Need From The Grocery Store:

• All-purpose Flour

• Baking Powder

• Salt

• Unsalted Butter

• Granulated Sugar

• Eggs 

• Key Limes + Juice

• Green food coloring

• Powdered Sugar

• Green Sanding Sugar

Step-By-Step Directions To Make Key Lime Crinkle Cookies

In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder and salt. Beat the butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.

Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the lime zest and juice, then beat in the food coloring. Reduce the mixer speed to low; gradually add the flour mixture, beating until just combined. Cover and refrigerate until firm, for 45 minutes.

Preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with silicone baking mats. Combine the powdered sugar and sanding sugar in a small bowl. Roll 1-inch balls of dough in the sugar mixture and coat completely. Arrange the cookies 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.

Bake until the cookies are puffed and cracked on top and golden around the edges, 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to racks to cool completely.