Pastel Sugar Cookie Sandwiches (Printable view)
Delicate sugar cookies with colorful pastel buttercream filling, ideal 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)
# Steps:
01 - Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl until thoroughly blended. Set aside for later use.
02 - Beat the butter and granulated sugar on medium speed in a large mixing bowl until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, approximately 2 to 3 minutes.
03 - Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture, beating until completely incorporated and smooth.
04 - Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until the flour disappears. Avoid overmixing to prevent tough cookies.
05 - Divide the dough into two equal portions, flatten each into a disc shape, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm.
06 - Preheat the 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 and arrange 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets.
08 - Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until the edges begin to turn slightly golden. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 2 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
09 - Beat the butter until creamy and smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and salt, continuing to beat until the frosting becomes light and fluffy.
10 - Divide the prepared buttercream into several small bowls. Add a small amount of pastel gel food coloring to each bowl, mixing until the desired pastel shades are achieved.
11 - Spread or pipe a generous layer of colored buttercream onto the flat side of half the cooled cookies. Place remaining cookies on top, flat side down, to create sandwich cookies.
12 - Allow the assembled cookie sandwiches to set for 20 minutes at room temperature to allow the filling to firm slightly before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- These cookies look like something from a fancy bakery but come together with basic pantry staples and simple techniques.
- The pastel buttercream filling transforms ordinary sugar cookies into something celebratory without requiring any fancy decorating skills.
- You can customize the colors for any occasion—soft pastels for spring, vibrant hues for summer gatherings, or classic colors for holidays.
02 -
- Cold dough is essential—if it gets too warm while rolling, the cookies will spread and lose their perfect round shape in the oven.
- Overbaking is the enemy of soft sugar cookies, so pull them out as soon as you see the slightest hint of golden on the edges.
- Room temperature ingredients cream together properly, so set your butter and egg out about 30 minutes before you start baking.
03 -
- For extra flair, roll the edges of assembled sandwiches in pastel sprinkles, nonpareils, or even crushed edible flowers.
- Switch up the flavors by using almond extract, lemon extract, or even coconut extract in both the cookies and buttercream.
- Use a small cookie scoop to portion equal amounts of buttercream onto each cookie for consistent sizing and professional results.