Key Lime Melt-aways

I really enjoy ice-box cookies.  There is nothing like having a roll of cookie dough in your refrigerator that you can slice into and bake a few satisfying treats whenever life necessitates it.

What you will need:
2 sticks of butter (room temp)*
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp vanilla
4 key limes

* I use salted but if you use unsalted add 1/4 tsp salt to the recipe

In a medium sized bowl cream the butter and sugar together until combined (about 1-2 minutes).   Add the vanilla extract, zest and juice of the limes.  Beat this until incorporated.  Gently mix in the flour until just combined.  The dough should be fluffy.

At this point I find it irresistible to not have at least a taste of the dough.... but then I find only half the batch actually makes it to cookie form.

Scoop the dough onto a fairly long sheet of waxed paper and use the waxed paper to help you roll the dough into a log shape (I like rectangles).  Cover this log in waxed paper and chill in the refrigerator at least 2 hours before slicing and baking cookies.

Slice the cookies about 1/2-1/4 inch thick and bake for 7-10 minutes in a 350 deg oven. 

The powdered sugar makes these cookies seem like clouds.  They just melt away while you eat them.

Note:  If you are having a difficult time finding key limes, this recipe is equally delicious with lemon zest.  You do not need to add the juice of the lemon.  I find that 2 medium sized lemons does the trick.