Pastel Sugar Cookie Sandwiches (Printable)
Delicate sugar cookies with colorful pastel buttercream filling, perfect for spring gatherings and 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)
# How-To Steps:
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 thoroughly combined.
04 - Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients, mixing just until the dough comes together.
05 - Divide dough in half, flatten into discs, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
07 - On a lightly floured surface, roll one disc to ¼ inch thickness. Cut rounds with a 2-inch cookie cutter, placing 1 inch apart on prepared sheets.
08 - Bake for 8–10 minutes until edges just begin to turn 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 with a different pastel food coloring.
11 - Spread or pipe a generous layer of buttercream onto the 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 Advice:
01 -
- The buttercream is basically edible cloud fluff that you can tint any soft spring color your heart desires
- These cookies strike that perfect balance of tender crispness and creamy sweetness that makes them impossible to stop eating
02 -
- Skip the chilling step and your dough will stick to everything creating frustration and misshapen cookies
- Overbaking by even one minute transforms these tender cookies into crunchy disks so watch closely
03 -
- Sprinkle pastel nonpareils around the buttercream edge before sandwiching for bakery style cookies
- Freeze unfilled baked cookies for up to a month and thaw before filling for instant homemade treats