Pastel Sugar Cookie Sandwiches (Printer-friendly)
Delicate sugar cookies with colorful pastel buttercream filling for spring occasions.
# What You'll Need:
→ Sugar Cookies
01 - 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - ½ teaspoon baking powder
03 - ¼ teaspoon salt
04 - ¾ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
→ Pastel Buttercream Filling
08 - ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
09 - 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
10 - 1 ½ tablespoons milk
11 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
12 - Pinch of salt
13 - Pastel gel food coloring (pink, yellow, green, blue, or purple)
# How To Make It:
01 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl until evenly distributed. Set aside for later use.
02 - Beat unsalted butter and granulated sugar on medium speed in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy, approximately 2–3 minutes.
03 - Add egg and vanilla extract to butter mixture, mixing until thoroughly combined and smooth.
04 - Gradually incorporate dry ingredients into wet mixture, mixing just until flour disappears and dough forms. Avoid overmixing.
05 - Divide dough in half, flatten into discs, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for minimum 30 minutes to firm.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
07 - On lightly floured surface, roll one dough disc to ¼ inch thickness. Cut rounds using 2-inch cookie cutter. Arrange 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets.
08 - Bake for 8–10 minutes until edges begin turning golden. Cool on sheets for 2 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
09 - Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and salt, continuing to beat until smooth and fluffy consistency achieved.
10 - Divide buttercream into small separate bowls. Tint each portion with different pastel gel food coloring, mixing until desired color reached.
11 - Spread or pipe generous layer of tinted buttercream onto flat side of half the cooled cookies. Top with remaining cookies, flat side down, to create sandwiches.
12 - Allow assembled cookies to set for 20 minutes at room temperature before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- These cookies look like they came from a fancy bakery but come together with basic pantry ingredients
- The pastel buttercream is infinitely customizable for any season or celebration
- They're sturdy enough to pack for picnics yet delicate enough for afternoon tea
02 -
- Chilling the dough is non-negotiable because warm dough spreads into thin, sad cookies
- Overbaking even by one minute turns these delicate treats into crunchy disks instead of tender bites
- Gel food coloring stains everything, so wear an apron and protect your countertops
03 -
- Rotate your baking sheets halfway through baking for even coloring
- Use a kitchen scale to measure flour by weight for consistent results every time