Pastel Sugar Cookie Sandwiches (Printable)

Delicate sugar cookies with colorful pastel buttercream filling, perfect for spring celebrations 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. Set aside for later use.
02 - Beat the butter and granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, approximately 2–3 minutes.
03 - Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture, mixing until thoroughly combined.
04 - Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing just until the flour disappears. Avoid overmixing.
05 - Divide the dough in half, flatten into discs, wrap in plastic wrap, 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. Place 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets.
08 - Bake for 8–10 minutes until edges are barely golden. Cool on sheets for 2 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
09 - Beat the 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 different pastel food coloring shades.
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 to ensure filling holds properly.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The contrast between the crisp buttery cookies and silky smooth pastel filling creates the most delightful texture combination
  • These whimsical treats look impressive but are actually quite straightforward to make, even for beginner bakers
  • You can customize the colors for any occasion, from baby showers to holiday gatherings
02 -
  • Chilling the dough is absolutely essential to prevent the cookies from spreading too thin while baking
  • Gel food coloring is superior to liquid versions because it will not thin out your buttercream consistency
  • These cookies actually taste better the next day as the flavors have time to meld together
03 -
  • Use a kitchen scale to measure your flour for consistent results every time
  • Let the cookies cool completely before assembling to prevent the buttercream from melting

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