Pastel Sugar Cookie Sandwiches (Printable Version)

Soft sugar cookies paired with colorful pastel buttercream for a charming sweet treat.

# 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 Make:

01 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside for later use.
02 - Beat butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, approximately 2–3 minutes.
03 - Incorporate egg and vanilla extract, mixing until fully combined and smooth.
04 - Gradually add dry ingredients, mixing just until dough comes together. Avoid overmixing.
05 - Divide dough in half, flatten into discs, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for minimum 30 minutes.
06 - Preheat 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. Place 1 inch apart on prepared sheets.
08 - Bake for 8–10 minutes until edges barely turn golden. Cool on sheets 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. Tint each with different pastel food coloring, mixing thoroughly.
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 to allow filling to firm slightly before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • These sandwich cookies look like they came from a fancy bakery but are actually incredibly forgiving to make at home
  • The pastel buttercream between tender sugar cookies creates that perfect bite of nostalgia that disappears from plates remarkably fast
02 -
  • Cold dough is absolutely non negotiable here or your cookies will spread into thin sad discs
  • Watch the oven closely because sugar cookies go from perfectly done to overbaked in the blink of an eye
03 -
  • Roll your dough between two sheets of parchment paper instead of on a floured counter for easier cleanup and tender cookies
  • Use a small cookie scoop to portion the buttercream so every sandwich gets the same amount

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