If you’re on the hunt for a fun, colorful treat that’s as delightful to look at as it is to eat, then you’re going to adore this Pastel Sugar Cookie Sandwiches Recipe. I absolutely love how these cookies come together with soft pastel hues and a creamy vanilla filling—they’re seriously the ultimate crowd-pleaser. When I first tried making these, I was blown away by how easy it was to create something so stunning and delicious, and I can’t wait for you to try them too!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Vibrant Pastel Colors: Using gel food coloring, you get beautiful, soft hues that make these sandwiches pop without messing with the dough’s texture.
- Soft, But Sturdy Cookies: These sugar cookies bake just right—not too crisp and perfect for sandwiching creamy filling.
- Simple, Creamy Filling: The vanilla buttercream is silky smooth and easy to whip up, balancing sweetness perfectly.
- Fun For Any Occasion: Whether it’s a party, holiday, or lazy afternoon, these cookies add a cheerful touch and are super shareable.
Ingredients You’ll Need
To get that perfect balance of flavor and texture, this Pastel Sugar Cookie Sandwiches Recipe calls for pantry staples combined carefully. Using softened butter is key for that tender cookie crumb, and gel food coloring gives you the prettiest pastel shades without thinning the dough.
- Unsalted Butter: Make sure it’s softened but not melted for creamy mixing and tender texture.
- Granulated Sugar: This sweetens your cookies perfectly without overpowering the flavor.
- Egg: Gives structure and a slight richness to the cookie dough.
- Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla shines through in both cookies and filling for warmth and sweetness.
- All-Purpose Flour: The base of the dough for a sturdy yet soft cookie.
- Baking Soda and Baking Powder: These tiny leaveners help with lightness and slight puffiness in the cookies.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances flavor depth.
- Milk: Keeps the dough moist and workable.
- Gel Food Coloring: Picks of pastel pink, yellow, green, blue, and purple truly bring these cookies to life.
- Powdered Sugar: For smoothing out the vanilla filling with a light texture.
- Heavy Cream or Milk: Thins the filling to just the right spreadable consistency.
- Pinch of Salt (for filling): Just a touch to keep the flavors balanced.
Variations
I love customizing this Pastel Sugar Cookie Sandwiches Recipe to fit different moods or seasons, and you totally can too! Playing with colors, filling flavors, or mix-ins makes this recipe endlessly fun and approachable.
- Flavor Swaps: I’ve swapped vanilla filling for lemon or almond extract on occasion for a fresh twist, and my family goes crazy for the zing!
- Color Variations: Try bolder or more muted pastels depending on the season — think soft oranges for fall or minty greens for spring.
- Diet-Friendly: For dairy-free, substitute plant-based butter and milk — I tried coconut milk once and it worked great with a slight tropical hint.
- Decorations: Adding edible glitter or sanding sugar before baking can make these even more festive for holidays or birthdays.
How to Make Pastel Sugar Cookie Sandwiches Recipe
Step 1: Preheat and Prep Your Workspace
Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Getting this ready early ensures your cookies slide right off after baking, which always makes cleanup and transferring easier. Plus, I find it gets me mentally ready to move quickly through dough shaping while the oven heats.
Step 2: Whip Up the Cookie Dough
In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy—this takes about 2 minutes with an electric mixer. It’s a crucial step because the air you incorporate here makes the cookies tender and slightly airy. Then beat in the egg and vanilla until well combined.
Step 3: Mix Dry Ingredients and Combine
Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients while mixing on a low speed, so you don’t get flour flying everywhere. The dough will be thick but soft—this softness means your finished cookies will be tender. Stir in the milk at the end to bring everything together smoothly.
Step 4: Divide and Dye the Dough
Split the dough into five roughly equal parts. This is where the fun begins: use gel food coloring to tint each portion a different pastel shade. I like kneading the coloring gently but thoroughly into the dough so every cookie bakes up with perfect, even color. Pro tip: gel coloring keeps the dough’s consistency just right.
Step 5: Shape and Bake to Perfection
Roll tablespoons of dough into smooth balls and arrange them on your parchment-lined tray with about 2 inches between to let them spread. Bake for 8-10 minutes—watch for edges to set and tops to look slightly cracked but not browned. Let them cool on the sheet for 5 minutes to set before moving to a wire rack; this helps avoid breakage.
Step 6: Whip Up the Vanilla Filling
Beat softened butter until smooth, then gradually add powdered sugar. Mix in heavy cream (or milk), vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt until fluffy and spreadable. You can adjust texture here—I sometimes add a touch more cream if it feels too thick.
Step 7: Assemble Your Cookie Sandwiches
Once cookies are totally cool, pair them by size. Spread a generous amount of vanilla filling on the flat side of one cookie, then gently press the matching cookie on top. Let the sandwiches rest for about 10 minutes so the filling firms up a bit—you’ll find they hold together beautifully this way.
Pro Tips for Making Pastel Sugar Cookie Sandwiches Recipe
- Use Gel Food Coloring: I learned early that gels give the best pastel shades without making the dough too sticky or soft.
- Cool Completely Before Filling: Filling warm cookies can cause the buttercream to melt and ooze, so patience here really pays off.
- Chill Dough If Needed: If your dough gets too soft while coloring or shaping, pop it in the fridge for 15-20 minutes; it becomes much easier to handle.
- Perfect Baking Time: Avoid browning the edges to keep cookies tender—slightly cracked tops are your green light to pull them out of the oven.
How to Serve Pastel Sugar Cookie Sandwiches Recipe
Garnishes
Personally, I like to keep it simple with these cookies because their pastel colors are the star. Sometimes I dust a little powdered sugar over the top just before serving. On fancy occasions, a sprinkle of edible glitter or tiny pastel sprinkles on the filling before sandwiching adds a magical touch.
Side Dishes
These cookie sandwiches are a sweet companion to a warm cup of tea or your favorite coffee. I often serve them alongside fresh fruit or a light sorbet for balancing sweetness if it’s an afternoon gathering.
Creative Ways to Present
For birthdays or baby showers, I love arranging these pastel cookie sandwiches on tiered stands to highlight their colors. Wrapping individual cookies in clear cellophane with pastel ribbons also makes for a thoughtful edible gift or party favor.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store any leftover cookie sandwiches in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If it’s warmer, I pop them into the fridge and just let them come to room temperature before serving to get that perfect soft texture back.
Freezing
I’ve frozen these cookies both with and without filling. For best results, freeze the baked cookies without filling first, then thaw and fill them when ready to serve. This keeps the texture crisp and fresh.
Reheating
If your cookie sandwiches get a bit chilled or firm in the fridge, just let them sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before enjoying. I don’t recommend heating them because the filling can soften too much and lose that ideal sandwich texture.
FAQs
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Can I use regular liquid food coloring instead of gel for the pastel sugar cookie sandwiches?
While you can use liquid food coloring, I don’t recommend it because it can make the dough sticky or too soft, altering the texture and color intensity. Gel coloring is concentrated, giving you those pretty pastel shades without affecting the dough’s consistency.
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How do I make sure my sugar cookies stay soft and don’t crisp up?
Watch your baking time closely and pull the cookies out once the edges are set but before they brown. Also, using the combination of baking soda and powder in this recipe helps keep the cookies tender. Letting them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before moving also helps them stay soft.
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Can I make these cookies gluten-free?
Yes! I’ve experimented with a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend, and it worked really well. Just be sure to check that your blend contains xanthan gum or a similar binder to maintain texture.
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What if my filling is too thick or too runny?
If the filling feels too thick, add a splash more cream or milk until it’s easily spreadable. If it’s too runny, sprinkle in a bit more powdered sugar until you get that fluffy, pipeable texture that holds up well between your cookie layers.
Final Thoughts
This Pastel Sugar Cookie Sandwiches Recipe has quickly become one of my favorite go-to treats to make for family and friends. They’re cheerful, tender, and just the right sort of sweet without being overwhelming. More than that, I love how this recipe feels approachable—you don’t have to be a pastry pro to nail these. So grab your gel colors, turn on some music, and get ready to bake up some smiles. You’ll enjoy every step and, trust me, everyone will thank you once they taste them!
Print
Pastel Sugar Cookie Sandwiches Recipe
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookie sandwiches
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Pastel Sugar Cookie Sandwiches are delightful colorful treats perfect for any occasion. Soft, buttery sugar cookies are tinted in vibrant pastel shades, baked to perfection, and sandwiched with a creamy, smooth vanilla filling. They deliver a beautiful presentation and a delicious, classic taste that both kids and adults will love.
Ingredients
FOR THE SUGAR COOKIES:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons milk
- Gel food coloring (pink, yellow, green, blue, and purple)
FOR THE VANILLA FILLING:
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside to prepare for baking.
- Make the Cookie Dough: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter with granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which should take about 2 minutes. Then add the egg and vanilla extract, blending thoroughly until completely incorporated.
- Combine the Dry Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add these dry ingredients to the wet mixture on low speed. The dough will be thick but soft. Add the milk and mix until all is combined into a smooth dough.
- Color the Dough: Divide the dough into five equal portions. Use gel food coloring to tint each portion a different pastel color — pink, yellow, green, blue, and purple. Knead each portion well to evenly distribute the colors.
- Shape and Bake: Scoop about one tablespoon of dough for each cookie and roll into smooth balls. Place the balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until the edges are set and tops appear slightly cracked but not browned. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Make the Vanilla Filling: In a mixing bowl, beat softened butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, then mix in the heavy cream or milk, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Beat until mixture is fluffy and spreadable. Adjust the consistency with more cream or powdered sugar as needed.
- Assemble the Cookie Sandwiches: Once cookies are fully cooled, pair cookies of similar size. Spread a generous amount of vanilla filling onto the flat side of one cookie using a piping bag or spoon. Top with the second cookie and press gently to evenly distribute the filling.
- Set Before Serving: Allow the cookie sandwiches to sit for about 10 minutes to let the filling firm up slightly before serving.
Notes
- Use gel food coloring for vibrant pastel colors without altering dough texture.
- If dough becomes too soft while handling, refrigerate for 15-20 minutes before rolling.
- Store cookie sandwiches in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Refrigerate for up to one week; let chilled cookies come to room temperature before serving for best texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie sandwich
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
