Pastel Sugar Cookie Sandwiches (Print Version)

Delicate cookies with pastel buttercream filling, ideal for spring gatherings 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 Prepare:

01 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside for later use.
02 - Beat butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, approximately 2–3 minutes.
03 - Add egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture. Mix until thoroughly combined.
04 - Gradually blend dry ingredients into wet mixture, mixing just until dough forms. Avoid overmixing.
05 - Divide dough in half, flatten into discs, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for minimum 30 minutes.
06 - Set oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
07 - On lightly floured surface, roll dough to ¼ inch thickness. Cut rounds with 2-inch cookie cutter, placing 1 inch apart on prepared sheets.
08 - Bake for 8–10 minutes until edges just begin turning golden. Cool on sheets for 2 minutes, then transfer to racks to cool completely.
09 - Beat butter until creamy. Gradually incorporate powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and salt, beating until smooth and fluffy.
10 - Divide buttercream into small bowls. Tint each portion with different pastel gel food coloring.
11 - Spread or pipe generous layer of buttercream onto flat side of half the cookies. Top with remaining cookies to form sandwiches.
12 - Let assembled cookies set for 20 minutes before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • These cookies look like they came from a fancy bakery but are surprisingly forgiving in the making
  • The pastel buttercream makes everything feel like a celebration, even on random Tuesdays
02 -
  • Chilling the dough is nonnegotiable—warm dough spreads into sad thin puddles in the oven
  • Gel coloring creates truer pastel tones than liquid food coloring which can thin out your buttercream
03 -
  • Roll dough between two sheets of parchment paper instead of on a floured surface to keep cookies tender
  • Use a small offset spatula for spreading filling without breaking the delicate cookies

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