Pastel Sugar Cookie Sandwiches (Printable)

Delicate sugar cookies filled with pastel-hued buttercream for a whimsical, sweet treat perfect for spring celebrations or afternoon tea.

# 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)

# Directions:

01 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined. Set aside for later use.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, approximately 2–3 minutes.
03 - Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture, mixing until fully incorporated and smooth.
04 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until the flour disappears and a soft dough forms. Avoid overmixing.
05 - Divide the dough in half and flatten each portion into discs. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes until firm.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
07 - On a lightly floured surface, roll one dough disc to ¼ inch thickness. Cut rounds using a 2-inch cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets.
08 - Bake for 8–10 minutes or until edges just begin to turn golden. Let cool on sheets for 2 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
09 - Beat the butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and salt, beating until smooth and fluffy.
10 - Divide the buttercream into small bowls. Tint each portion with a different pastel gel food coloring, mixing until uniform color is achieved.
11 - Spread or pipe a generous layer of buttercream onto the flat side of half the cookies. Top with remaining cookies to create sandwiches.
12 - Allow assembled cookies to set for 20 minutes at room temperature before serving to ensure filling holds its shape.

# Cooking Tips:

01 -
  • The tender, melt-in-your-mouth cookies are buttery perfection on their own
  • Customizable pastel fillings let you match any celebration theme
  • These sandwich cookies store beautifully for impromptu afternoon tea
02 -
  • Chilling the dough is mandatory or your cookies will spread into thin, crispy disks
  • Gel food coloring produces the most vibrant pastels without altering the buttercream texture
  • Room temperature ingredients prevent the buttercream from curdling during mixing
03 -
  • Rotate your baking sheets halfway through baking for even browning
  • Use a cookie scoop to portion the dough before chilling for uniform sizes

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