Citrus Cookies

In my promise to bake more to perfect my baking skills (or to hone the lack thereof), I have taken to baking citrus cookies.  The first recipe came in my January Everyday Food magazine for Lemon Icebox Cookies.  I made these probably a month ago, they lasted a couple of days and I have to admit, every night I go into the kitchen wanting something...and it's those cookies.  Tonight, Joe was gone which means I don't have to make dinner.  But I still wanted to do something in the kitchen, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to bake. Of course the first thing that came to mind was those lemon cookies.  Problem was, I had an overabundance of limes.  I considered using the same recipe and substituting lime for the lemon, but visions of powdered sugar lime meltaways danced in my head so I hopped on the trusty laptop and found a Martha Stewart recipe for Lime Meltaways. 

My inadaptness at baking really shined through tonight.  I did all my mis en place by premeasuring all ingredients in little bowls.  Problem was, flour, powdered sugar and corn starch all look the same when they are in little bowls.  Yup, I aded flour to the butter, not the powdered sugar, so I had to start ALL over again.  Not fun. I also am not sure that my butter was truly room temperature.  However, it seems that these cookies did seem to come out alright.  They are tasty, buttery, and they do melt in your mouth.  I think I will make these again...I'm just not so sure that they still hold up to the lemon icebox cookies.  I guess Joe will have to be the judge.

12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup confectioners' sugar
Grated zest of 2 limes
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, cream butter and 1/3 cup sugar until fluffy. Add lime zest, juice, and vanilla; beat until fluffy. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, and salt. Add to butter mixture, and beat on low speed until combined. Between two 8-by-12-inch pieces of parchment paper, roll dough into two 1 1/4-inch-diameter logs. Chill at least 1 hour.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment. Place remaining 2/3 cup sugar in a resealable plastic bag. Remove parchment from logs; slice dough into 1/8-inch-thick rounds. Place rounds on baking sheets, spaced 1 inch apart. Bake cookies until barely golden, about 15 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool slightly, 8 to 10 minutes. While still warm, place cookies in the sugar-filled bag; toss to coat. Bake or freeze remaining dough. Store baked cookies in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.