Vanilla-Lime Bites

These bite-sized cookies are delicate and buttery, with a burst of lime and just enough sweetness from a dusting in powdered sugar – the perfect holiday cookie. Merry Christmas from our kitchen to yours!

Vanilla Lime Bites
(Adapted from the Vanilla Crescents in the December 2008 issue of Food & Wine)

2 sticks salted butter, softened
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, plus more for dusting
1 lime, zest and juice
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
Pinch of salt

• Preheat the oven to 350° and line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.

• Using a hand-held electric mixer, beat the butter with 1/2 cup of the confectioners’ sugar until pale white, about 5 minutes. Beat in the vanilla, lime zest and juice.

• Add the flour and salt and beat at low speed just until combined.

• Form small balls with the dough in the palm of your hand. Carefully transfer the balls to the baking sheets, leaving an inch between them.

• Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the bottoms are golden and the tops are pale blond; shift the baking sheets from top to bottom and front to back halfway through for even baking.

• Let cookies cool for 10 minutes on wire racks (or the counter).

• Fill a small bowl with confectioners’ sugar. While the cookies are still warm, coat them in the sugar and transfer to a clean sheet of parchment paper to cool slightly.

• Roll the cooled cookies in the sugar again and let cool completely.

*Vanilla-Lime Bites can be stored in an airtight container between sheets of wax paper for up to 1 week. Dust the cookies very lightly with confectioners’ sugar before serving.