Pastel Sugar Cookie Sandwiches (Printable Version)

Colorful pastel sugar cookies with creamy vanilla filling, perfect for Easter and spring celebrations.

# What You'll 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 colors (pink, yellow, blue, green, 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

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt until well blended.
03 - In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar together using an electric mixer until light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes.
04 - Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Mix until fully incorporated and smooth.
05 - Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until the dough comes together. Do not overmix.
06 - Divide the dough evenly into 4-5 separate bowls. Add a different pastel gel food coloring to each bowl, mixing thoroughly until the color is uniform throughout.
07 - Using a tablespoon or cookie scoop, portion the dough into balls. Place them 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
08 - Gently flatten each dough ball slightly with the palm of your hand to ensure even baking.
09 - Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are set but the centers remain slightly soft. Take care not to overbake.
10 - Let the cookies cool on the baking trays for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
11 - Beat the butter until creamy. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, salt, and milk. Beat until smooth and fluffy. Adjust consistency with additional milk if needed.
12 - Once the cookies have cooled completely, pipe or spread a layer of buttercream onto the flat side of half the cookies. Top each with a matching colored cookie to form sandwiches.
13 - Press sprinkles into the exposed buttercream edges if desired. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The soft buttery cookies melt in your mouth while the creamy filling adds that perfect sweetness balance
  • They are impossibly cute and bring instant joy to any spring gathering or holiday table
  • Surprisingly simple to make even if you have never worked with gel food coloring before
02 -
  • Gel food coloring is much better than liquid for achieving those soft pastel shades without making the dough sticky
  • Let the cookies cool completely before assembling or the buttercream will melt right off
03 -
  • Use a light hand when mixing the food coloring to avoid overworking the dough
  • Chill the colored dough for 15 minutes if it becomes too soft to handle

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