Pastel Sugar Cookie Sandwiches (Printer-friendly)

Buttery sugar cookies with pastel buttercream filling, ideal for spring celebrations and festive gatherings.

# What You'll Need:

→ Sugar Cookies

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

→ Pastel Buttercream Filling

08 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
09 - 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
10 - 2 tbsp milk
11 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
12 - Gel food coloring (pink, yellow, green, blue, or as desired)

# Directions:

01 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl until thoroughly combined.
02 - Beat butter and 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. Avoid overmixing.
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. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
07 - On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut 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 are just beginning to turn golden.
09 - Let cookies cool completely on wire racks before filling.
10 - Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, then milk and vanilla extract. Beat until light and fluffy.
11 - Divide buttercream into small bowls and tint each with different pastel food coloring.
12 - Spread or pipe a layer of colored buttercream onto half of the cookies. Top with remaining cookies to form sandwiches.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The buttery sugar cookies melt in your mouth while still holding their shape perfectly
  • You can customize the pastel colors for any season or celebration
  • These look impressive but are actually quite forgiving to make
  • The filling-to-cookie ratio is spot-on for satisfying sweetness
02 -
  • Overworking the dough after adding flour makes cookies tough so mix just until combined
  • Gel food coloring is much more concentrated than liquid so start with a tiny amount on a toothpick
  • Chilling the dough is absolutely essential or the cookies will spread too thin while baking
  • Room temperature ingredients make the biggest difference in texture so plan ahead
03 -
  • Rotate your baking sheets halfway through for evenly golden cookies
  • Use an offset spatula for perfectly smooth buttercream application
  • Let the frosted sandwiches set for 30 minutes before stacking them

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