Pastel Sugar Cookie Sandwiches (Printable)

Delicate sugar cookies with colorful pastel buttercream filling, ideal for spring gatherings and tea time.

# 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:

01 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside for later use.
02 - Beat butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes.
03 - Add egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture, mixing until thoroughly combined.
04 - Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until incorporated. Avoid overmixing.
05 - Divide dough in half, flatten into discs, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for minimum 30 minutes.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
07 - On lightly floured surface, roll dough to ¼ inch thickness. Cut rounds with 2-inch cookie cutter, placing 1 inch apart on prepared sheets.
08 - Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges just begin turning golden. Cool on sheets for 2 minutes, then transfer to racks to cool completely.
09 - Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and salt, beating until smooth and fluffy.
10 - Divide buttercream into small bowls and tint each portion with different pastel food coloring.
11 - Spread or pipe generous layer of buttercream onto flat side of half the cookies. Top with remaining cookies to form sandwiches.
12 - Allow assembled cookies to set for 20 minutes before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The buttercream stays soft for days, so these actually taste better the next day when flavors have melded
  • You can customize the pastel colors for any occasion or season
  • The cookie dough is forgiving and rolls out beautifully without sticking
02 -
  • If your dough becomes too soft while rolling, pop it back in the fridge for 10 minutes and it will behave perfectly again
  • Gel food coloring intensifies over time, so make your shades slightly lighter than you think you want
  • These cookies actually improve overnight as the buttercream softens the cookie interior slightly
03 -
  • Roll dough between two sheets of parchment paper instead of on a floured surface to keep the texture delicate
  • Use an offset spatula to spread buttercream for bakery-smooth layers, or pipe it with a star tip for extra flair

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