Pastel Sugar Cookie Sandwiches (Printable)

Tender sugar cookies paired with colorful pastel buttercream create these delightful handheld desserts perfect for any occasion.

# What You'll Need:

→ For the Sugar Cookies

01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

→ For the Pastel Buttercream Filling

08 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
09 - 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
10 - 2 tablespoons milk
11 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
12 - Gel food coloring in pastel shades (pink, yellow, green, blue)

# How To Make:

01 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl until well combined.
02 - Beat butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes.
03 - Add egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture, beating until fully incorporated.
04 - Gradually add flour mixture to the butter mixture, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
05 - Divide dough in half, flatten into discs, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
07 - On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out rounds or shapes using a 2-inch cookie cutter.
08 - Place cookies 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges just begin to turn golden. Cool completely on wire racks.
09 - Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, then milk and vanilla extract. Beat until light and fluffy.
10 - Divide buttercream into small bowls and tint each with a different pastel food coloring, mixing until uniform color is achieved.
11 - Spread or pipe a layer of colored buttercream onto half of the cookies. Top with remaining cookies to form sandwiches.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • These cookies look like they came from a fancy bakery but are surprisingly forgiving for home bakers
  • The pastel buttercream filling lets you play with colors and customize for any celebration
  • They freeze beautifully, so you can make them weeks ahead and pull them out for unexpected guests
02 -
  • If the dough becomes too soft while rolling, pop it back in the fridge for 15 minutes to work with it again
  • The cookies should look slightly underbaked when you take them out since they continue cooking on the hot pan
  • Gel food coloring is infinitely better than liquid for achieving those soft, dreamy pastel shades
03 -
  • Rotate your baking sheets halfway through for perfectly even browning every time
  • Invest in a good cookie scoop for uniform rounds that bake at the same rate

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