How To Make Custom Cookie Cutters

Do cookies taste better when they’re cut out and decorated as super cute characters? They say we eat first with our eyes so it could be argued that taking the time to make them “on theme” can certainly enhance the enjoyment of nibbling these sweet treats…and we know the kiddos sure love them!

Nowadays cookie cutters are available in all kinds of shapes, sizes and materials (mostly metal or plastic), and in many cases they can be purchased at a fairly economical price.

But what if you’re wanting something very specific? A special animal or character in a certain size? What about a gag or joke theme that probably isn’t mass produced?

When the situation demands something very particular, the job of finding the exact right cutter at a reasonable price (and shipping time) can get a whole lot trickier.

The good news is that it’s fairly simple to design and make your own cookie cutters in whatever motif you like.

There are several ways to accomplish this (which I’ve outlined below) so whatever your time, talent or budget…there’s at least one DIY technique shared here that should work for you.

The most easy, low-cost method that will have you cutting dough ASAP:

• Choose the design (either hand drawn or clip-art printed from the computer) and then trace it onto a piece of cardboard.
• Cut out the cardboard silhouette with scissors and lay it on top of the rolled out dough to use as a template then slice around it with a sharp knife.

This method is fine if you’re only baking a small amount of goodies, but what if you’re contending with a big batch of several dozen? You’ll want actual cutters in this case.

I’ve put together a selection of tutorials that provide different options for how to make cookie cutters (using copper ribbon, metal flashing, plastic soda bottles, reshaping tired, old ones and more creative DIYs).

I’ve also tucked in a few vintage templates from my personal collection that you can print out for the holidays and Bonus! don’t miss the quick and easy poinsettia “snip and fold” technique at the bottom of the page which is perfect for the holiday Christmas tray. Lots here, enjoy!

Learn How To Make Custom Handmade Cookie Cutters

Some of the techniques listed below are quite simple using basic materials, others involve a bit of metalwork but are still quite approachable for most home DIYers.

Whichever method you choose, the result can be a fabulous custom design that is truly unique and only limited by your imagination. In some cases they can be washed, saved and re-used for next time.

• Metal or Copper Ribbon: 1″ wide copper ribbon handled with tin snips & needle nose pliers, a dowel or other small tubes to help form curves. Finish off rough edges with a file or rasp. 3M Permanent Double Sided Tape is used to fuse the ends together. A nice tutorial is found here: What’s Cooking America.
• Soda Cans: All you need are a pair of pliers and a soda can. Split the can down the seam (after first removing the top and bottom), flatten the metal and then cut out a 1″ strip. This is suitable for small size patterns but you could connect several strips to create a longer piece which would then provide enough metal to make larger varieties. Instructions: Real Simple.
  • Rolled Aluminum Foil: Real Simple also includes a hack using a strip of rolled foil, you’ll find the details on the same page and right underneath the above listed approach.
  • Also see this page on fashioncooking.fr which gives some tips working with the soda cans (taping pieces together with masking tape).
• Plastic Bottles: (both water and soda would work) Some pretty clever ideas here! The bottom of the bottle is removed and its natural form creates “flower” cutouts. Making a strip from the middle of the bottle gives a perfectly round “biscuit” shape. Hearts can be made by flattening & pinching the rounds. See Gala In The Kitchen for the full scoop.
• Aluminum Oven Liners: Using custom foam board templates, strips cut from the liners are wrapped around the foam board then hot glued or stapled securely in place. Quick instructions found at Domino Sugar.
• Heavy Duty Tin-Plated Food Grade Steel: Very inexpensive product specifically made for this purpose. Find the full tutorial at Ugly Duckling House.
• Mylar Sheet Templates: Similar to the cardboard templates mentioned above in the introduction, these are made instead with mylar sheets (along with laminated pieces). Idea shared at Haniela’s.
• Tin Food Cans (from soups, vegetables, coffee, etc.): Wash, clean, flatten and then make strips with tinsnips that can then be molded as desired. More details: Mother Earth News.
• Tuna Cans Hack: Save a handful of emptied tuna cans (which have been thoroughly washed clean) then attach them to a heavy duty aluminum platter with 1.5″ brads. With some duct tape, a few snips here & there and voila! you now have a bulk cutter! All the details are found here: JugglingFrogs.com.
• Custom Shapes: If you want a unique animal or character that can’t be found locally or too expensive to buy online, here’s how to use printed clip-art, an aluminum roaster (just those cheap Dollar Store ones will do the trick) & some pipe cleaners. Details: JugglingFrogs.com.
• Reshape Old Ones: If you have a bunch of old relics on hand that you know you won’t use again, here’s how to reshape them into the designs that you need. Details: Instructables.
• Metal Designs: Strips of aluminum flashing are nice & bendable, perfect for molding into custom configurations & sizes (you’ll want it food safe). Seal ends together with some epoxy or adhesive tape & clamp tight until fully dried. More info: Cake Central.
• Metalworking Newsgroup Tip: Shared over 20 years ago to an online newsgroup, this post has some good tips & recommendations on making them with brass strips made for model airplane hobbyists. Various thicknesses are available, he recommends 0.040″ thick. He solders the brass ends together. Read it here: yarchive.net.
• Reshaping A Circle Cutter: Recommends using a Wilton’s brand circle since it’s very inexpensive & extremely malleable. You could use another brand’s as long as it’s not too sturdy or hard to bend. The web page showing all the steps is no longer available but I found it saved on the Web Archive here: web.archive.org.

General Advice & Tips

• It’s advised that you avoid overly large sizes due to experiencing difficulties with handling dough before and after being baked.
  • The trick is to find a good recipe that will work well with the size and shape of the cutter.
• Be careful with intricate designs, nothing too skinny to prevent breakage.
  • You’ll also want to keep the outline silhouette fairly basic and no sides too close together, otherwise the dough can spread while baking and the final result will be an odd blob formation.
• For extra large cookies, one tip is to slice shapes directly on the dough first arranged on the baking sheet then pulling off the scraps.
  • Trying to transfer large shapes is tricky as they will likely warp and wrinkle so this method helps to prevent that.

Free Vintage Templates

Instructions:

• Create templates by tracing outlines onto cardboard; cut out.
• Lay cardboard pieces on dough then cut around them with a sharp knife.

Simply click each picture to access the larger files (copy to desktop by right-click + “save picture as”).

These next two cutouts were found in a recipe scrapbook and were clipped from an old magazine. They were part of a gingerbread display. You may want to resize the sleigh a bit smaller.

Directions For Merry Poinsettia Cookies

Instructions:

• Roll out sugar-cookie dough; cut in 3-inch squares.
• Then make 4 diagonal corner slashes almost to center.
• Place strawberry or raspberry jam in center and fold over to form flower.
• Top each with a dot of jam.

Try This Fun Treat For The Holidays

These baked treats sparkle with a rosy jam center!