Pastel Sugar Cookie Sandwiches (Printable Version)
Delicate sugar cookies with pastel buttercream filling, ideal for spring celebrations and afternoon tea.
# What You 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 the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside for later use.
02 - Beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, approximately 2–3 minutes.
03 - Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until fully incorporated into the butter mixture.
04 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until the dough comes together. Avoid overmixing.
05 - Divide the dough in half, flatten into discs, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
07 - On a lightly floured surface, roll one disc of dough to ¼ inch thickness. Cut out rounds with a 2-inch cookie cutter. Place 1 inch apart on prepared sheets.
08 - Bake for 8–10 minutes or until edges are just beginning to turn golden. Let cool on sheets for 2 minutes, then transfer to racks to cool completely.
09 - Beat the butter until creamy. Slowly add powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and salt, beating until smooth and fluffy.
10 - Divide the buttercream into small bowls and tint each with a different pastel food coloring until desired shade 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 cookies to set for 20 minutes before serving to let the filling firm up slightly.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- They look like something from a fancy bakery but come together with ingredients you already have
- The pastel filling transforms simple sugar cookies into something magical
02 -
- Working with cold dough is essential, warm dough will spread too thin and you'll lose that sandwich cookie structure
- Gel food coloring is worth the extra trip to the baking aisle, liquid colors will ruin your frosting consistency
03 -
- If your kitchen is warm, chill the assembled cookies for 15 minutes before serving to help the buttercream hold its shape
- Rotate your baking sheets halfway through baking time if your oven has hot spots