Pastel Sugar Cookie Sandwiches (Printable)
Soft pastel sugar cookies with creamy vanilla buttercream filling, ideal for Easter and spring gatherings.
# What You Need:
→ Sugar Cookie Dough
01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 tsp baking powder
03 - 1/4 tsp salt
04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
08 - 1/2 tsp almond extract
09 - Gel food coloring in pastel pink, yellow, blue, green, and purple
→ Vanilla Buttercream Filling
10 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
11 - 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
12 - 1 tbsp milk or heavy cream
13 - 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
14 - Pinch of salt
15 - Sprinkles for decoration
# Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl until well blended.
03 - Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
04 - Mix in egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract until fully incorporated.
05 - Gradually add flour mixture to wet ingredients, mixing just until dough comes together.
06 - Divide dough evenly into 4-5 bowls. Tint each with a different pastel gel food coloring, mixing until uniform color is achieved.
07 - Scoop dough into tablespoon-sized balls and place 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets.
08 - Gently press each ball with palm to flatten slightly for even baking.
09 - Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are set but centers remain soft. Avoid overbaking.
10 - Let cookies rest on trays for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
11 - Beat butter until creamy. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, salt, and milk. Whip until smooth and fluffy, adjusting consistency with additional milk if needed.
12 - Pipe or spread buttercream onto flat side of half the cookies. Top each with matching cookie to form sandwiches.
13 - Roll edges in sprinkles if desired for decorative finish.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The buttercream is forgiving enough to hide imperfect cookies, making these look professional regardless of your baking experience
- You can customize the colors for any occasion and the dough freezes beautifully for impromptu baking sessions
02 -
- Overbaking will make these dry and crumbly so pull them out when the centers still look slightly underdone
- Buttercream must be at room temperature and cookies completely cool or the filling will melt right off
03 -
- Use a cookie scoop for uniform size so your sandwich cookies match up perfectly
- Press sprinkles into the buttercream immediately after assembling or they will just roll right off