When I was a kid, my mom would occasionally buy those Lemon Cooler Cookies at the store. And whenever I’d open up that snack cupboard and see that sunny yellow box, I became so excited because I adored those powdered sugary dreams almost as much as I adored a fresh page of Lisa Frank stickers and Betty Spaghetti dolls.
Dude. Betty Spaghetti? I never thought I’d hear myself say that name again. They smelled so weird, didn’t they? But I loved how stringy and strange they were.
Little Hayley – always a fan of the obscure knock-off toys. Like those Barbies from the Dollar Store with eerily easily removable heads. But I digress.
Have you ever thought about the weird and somewhat disturbing fact that one day you were playing with your toys, everything was right in the world, calories still didn’t exist to you, and suddenly you stopped playing and never returned? There was a day when we set down our Legos and Barbies and never picked them up to play with them again. Or that there was a time that your parents put you down and never picked you up again. BRB, jumping in my mom’s arms now.
So there was a day when we polished off a box of those Lemon Coolers and never ever bought another box again. I don’t know why; we became preoccupied in our lives, forgot to swing by the cookie aisle, or maybe our store ran out briefly, but we never bought another box again and I had completely forgotten about these powdered sugary confections for a looong time.
And then I happened upon this weird grocery store in my town and they had the Lime Coolers, which before stumbling upon them, I had not known existed. I bought them for reminiscing purposes and was immediately transported back to my childhood, licking powdered sugar off my fingers and savoring that sweet shortbread cookie spiked with fresh lemon flavor. The lime were the same, offering that punch of bright lime flavor. I loved them… but I knew I could recreate them 🙂
And now, my friends? These Copycat Lime Cooler Cookies. They’re every bit as tender and crisp as the originals, bursting with juicy, bright lime flavor and coated in powdered sugar. They’re totally delicious and super addictive – you cannot eat just one! – and remind me of my childhood days obsessed with cookies and Lisa Frank (because what girl was not obsessed with those colorful puppy folders?).
ANYWHO. Lime Cooler Cookies. DO IT.
*slightly adapted from this recipe
- 2 cups (4 sticks) butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar, divided
- 3 & ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 2 Tbsp fresh lime zest
- ¼ cup key lime juice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with silicone liners or spray lightly with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the butter and ONE (1) cup of the powdered sugar until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add in the key lime juice, the zest and vanilla and beat to combine. Lastly, add in the flour and cornstarch until a thick dough has formed.
- Roll Tablespoon-sized balls of dough and place them 1" apart from one another onto the prepared baking sheets. Gently press them down with a sugared glass.
- Bake for approx. 9-11 minutes, rotating pans halfway through baking time, until golden brown and set. Cool completely on the baking sheets. Remove to a wire rack and one by one, gently coat in the remaining powdered sugar. Serve!
These crisp, buttery shortbread cookies are so flavorful and packed with that fresh lime punch. You’ll love them! If you don’t like lime, feel free to substitute lemon or orange for another bright citrusy spin. You could also omit the powdered sugar dusting and glaze them with a quick lime glaze. Either way, you must make them – they’re scrumptious!
Have a sweet day!!
xo, Hayley
Oh my gosh. Nostalgia just hit me in the face. Lisa Frank and Betty Spaghetti. I used to trade stickers with my sister back in the day. I don’t think that we had lemon cooler cookies in my house ever, but I need them now. 😀 I think I’lll eat a dozen while playing Donkey Kong on my SNES! 🙂
OMG YES! Donkey Kong! Loved that and all the Mario games, especially the four-in-one Mario cartridge we had where you could play the different Mario worlds. THE BEST.
I can feel my mouth pucker already! I love lime anything! Yum yum!
OMG I totally forgot about Betty Spaghetti!!! And we always had Polly Pockets! Now that I am buying these toys it always confuses me that a Polly Pocket is like just as expensive as a Barbie….when it is 1/4th the size…??
Katelyn – YES! How could I forget about Polly!? I remember when they were teeny tiny… now they’re bigger, I think? Haha thanks for stirring up those old memories for me 🙂
Absolutely love this recipe! Recently, I’ve been obsessed with LIME! Delicious!
Jeni – same here, but with LEMON! I cannot get enough! Thanks girlfriend! 🙂
You’re not a copycat, you’re a trailblazer of deliciousness!
Oh my gosh, I heart your face. xoxo!
OMG! I have never had a lime cooler cookie. What is wrong with me? Totally wish I had a heaping plate of these because I know I would love them! 🙂
It’s okay, I forgive you since you like lime and you’re awesome 🙂 Thanks Julie!
If it weren’t for the lime cooler cookies, I think I’d probably be a little emotional right now. I refuse to think of the day I’ll put my girls down and not pick them up again! I will probably need a few dozen of these to see me through!
Oh, Ashley! I’m sorry! I know, that’s so weird to think about putting them down and never picking them up again, but I don’t foresee you lifting them when they’re teenagers, right? I mean, unless you’re into that kind of thing, haha! Thankfully it sounds like they’re little enough that you can savor their young age a little longer 🙂
Lisa Frank – totally. Never heard of Betty Spaghetti…and how have I never had one of these cookies??!!
Lol, oh my gosh. Betty Spaghetti! I think she’d be comparable to Lalaloopsy nowadays. But regardless, Lisa Frank was AWESOME.
I’m going to have to ask my mom why we NEVER had these cookies growing up. Ever! Need these in my life!
Alyssa, you MUST remedy that immediately! 🙂 Thanks, friend!
For me it was Pecan Sandies or a box of gingersnaps! But I can see the appeal of lemon cooler cookies—especially if they looked anything like your irresistible lime version!!!
Thanks Liz! And Pecan Sandies made an appearance at my grandma’s house 🙂 Love those cookies and memories <3
How did I miss out on lemon cooler cookies as a child? Lisa Frank yes, but no Betty Spaghetti…I’ve never heard of that one. Now to remedy my missing cookie situation by trying these fun lime ones!!! They sound amazing!
You must remedy that stat, Jocelyn!
i tried this recipe and it did not work out for me. My cookies crumbled like sand. Was wondering if the 1/2 cup cornstarch is correct or if I did something wrong? Thanks!
Julie – I’m so sorry this recipe didn’t work for you. The 1/2 cup of cornstarch is correct, but I will look into the recipe to make sure I didn’t miswrite it.
Hi! Just checking, because I really want to try these cookies. There is no egg in the recipe?
Correct! This is more of like a shortbread cookie recipe 🙂
After childhood I learned that Lemon & Lime Coolers were often seasonal offerings for the spring & summer. I have also seen Cherry Coolers on very rare occasions.