Picking out the best Christmas gifts for friends and family, choosing the best artificial Christmas tree and finding the ugliest Christmas sweater are without doubt highlights of the festive season. But for bakers, nothing beats making and decorating Christmas cookies. With this in mind, we’ve put together a selection of Christmas cookie cutters. And to help keep your baking inspiration running throughout the year, we’ve also included the best cookie cutters for every season — not only Christmas.
Why Should You Use Cookie Cutters?
If you’re thinking you can just decorate your regular ol’ round cookies and call it a day, let us convince you otherwise. Cookie cutters give your culinary creations shape and character, making each cookie more unique and visually appealing. This is especially true when they’re in the shape of a familiar item and colorfully decorated with icing.
Cookie cutters come in a variety of shapes and sizes. You can find cookie cutters in the shape of countless members of the animal kingdom, Christmas staples like trees and snowmen and Halloween favorites, including ghosts and bats. And while we agree that cookie cutters are definitely at their best during the festive season, they’re also great for other holidays and special occasions, too. The most popular themes for cookie cutters kit include:
- Christmas
- Thanksgiving
- Halloween
- Animals
- Letters/Numbers
- Star Wars
- Harry Potter
- Disney Characters
- 3D Cookies
If you can’t find a cookie cutter shape to suit your desires and are wondering how to make your own, check out this handy guide to see how to make cookie cutters.
Related Stories
How to Use Cookie Cutters
While cookie cutters definitely aren’t the most complicated piece of equipment in your kitchen arsenal, it is possible to take a few wrong turns during the shaped-cookie production process. Here are some handy hints to remember when it comes to using cookie cutters.
- Cut the Cookies Before Baking – The time to cut cookies is after the dough-making process and before baking. While you may be tempted to try and cut your cookies after baking, the cookies will be far more likely to break when you cut them. Plus, the cut will also be less clean than when it is performed pre-baking.
- Use the Sharper Edge of the Cutter – A common issue people have with their cookie cutters is figuring out which side to use. Generally speaking, you always want to use the sharper edge. This results in a cleaner cut around each cookie and provides you with a handle which is easier to hold onto during the cut.
- Cover the Cutting Edge With Flour Before Each Cut – A handy tip to remember when you’re cutting cookies is to dip the cutting edge in flour before each cut. This is especially useful if you have a particularly sticky dough. The extra flour helps prevent the cutting edge from sticking to the dough, resulting in a quicker, cleaner cut.
In addition, it’s worth remembering that the best cookie cutters can be used for more than just cutting cookies. These versatile kitchen additions can also be used to shape several other kitchen creations, these include:
To help you get started, we’ve put together a range of our favorite cookie cutters to bring eye-catching decoration and festive fun to your dessert selection. You’ll also find a number of sets which are made for year round use, too. And like the best bakeware sets, cookie cutters are a great gift idea for foodies.
So stop worrying about where to buy cookie cutters, make your life easier and achieve the perfectly shaped cookies with these easy-to-use cookie cutters available to order online.
1. Wilton Cookie Cutters 101-Piece Set
BEST EVERYTHING SET
This set is huge, and comes with a very reasonable price tag given how many different cookies you can make. It has 101 colorful plastic cookie cutters that range in shape from all the letters in the alphabet to holidays of all kinds including Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween, Christmas and the 4th of July. They’re dishwasher-safe and very easy to clean. You can use them to cut cookies as well as sandwiches and other foods into fun shapes.
2. Hibery Christmas Cookie Cutter Set
BEST HOLIDAY SET
Cookie decorating and the holidays kind of go together — and this cookie cutter set has all the shapes you want for making a huge batch of delicious Christmas treats. Each cookie cutter is made of high-quality stainless steel, one side soft and the other sharp for cutting into dough with ease. The package includes 15 different shapes including a tree, Santa head, reindeer, snowflake, snowman and more. Purchase this as a stay-at-home holiday activity for the family or gift it to a loved one as a thoughtful reminder to treat yourself this holiday season.
3. Sur La Table Snowperson Cookie Cutter Kit
BEST PIECE-BY-PIECE KIT
With two hat choices, a mitten, a carrot nose, an arm, a button, a bow tie, a scarf and a small and a large body segment, this Sur La Table Snowperson Cookie Cutter Kit has everything you need to create your own snowpeople. The ability to pick and choose various body parts and clothes allows each person to put together and decorate a unique snowperson. To really make the most of this cookie cutter kit, it’s a good idea to have colored icing sugar on hand to further fill in your cookie creations.
4. Williams Sonoma Cookie of the Month Storybox Set
BEST BY MONTH KIT
Want a kit with a cutter for creating a cookie in every month of the year? Then this Williams Sonoma Cookie of the Month Storybox Set should be calling to you. From a Thanksgiving turkey and an Easter bunny to an American flag and a snowflake, this 12-cookie-cutter kit ensures your cookies will always be relevant. In addition to the cutters, this set also includes 10 icing bags, four decorating tips, a plastic coupler and a sturdy storage box.
5. Sweet Cookie Crumbs Gingerbread Man Cutters
BEST GINGERBREAD SET
Arguably the reigning king of the holiday cookie set, the gingerbread man is a holiday classic and with these cookie cutters you can make one of your own at home. This set of three cookie cutters is made of food-grade premium stainless steel that’s designed to not rust even after years of use. They’re also dishwasher safe, so you can easily clean them up after crafting your gingerbread holiday companions. This set comes with three different size options, the largest of which is 5.8 inches tall, 4.8 inches wide and 1 inch deep.
6. Sur La Table 3D Tree Farm Cookie Cutter Set
BEST FOR 3D COOKIES
For something a little out of the ordinary to really impress guests at Christmas, give this Sur La Table 3D Tree Farm Cookie Cutter Set a try. The multi-piece set includes everything you need to create three different types of freestanding Christmas tree cookies. Two styles involve interlocking cookies while the third uses stacked cookies to create a tree-like tower. These stainless steel cutters are a great option if you’re looking to entertain kids for a few hours over the festive period.
7. Wilton Holiday Cookie Cutter Set
BEST HOLIDAY BUDGET SET
This budget cookie cutter set is affordable and entirely holiday themed. It contains 18 different sturdy metal cookie cutters that come in a resealable plastic container for simple storage. The shapes include a simple boy and girl, a mitten, Christmas tree, candy cane, ornament and snowflake. These cookie cutters require hand washing in warm water and soap after each use and each one measures approximately three inches high. You don’t need to spend a ton to create festive holiday goodies, and with proper care these may last for years to come.
8. OXO Good Grips Cookie Press Set
BEST PRESS
With more than 5,000 five-star ratings from Amazon users, you can be confident in the ability of this OXO Good Grips Cookie Press to produce outstanding results time after time. The 14-piece set includes a no-stress press, 12 cookie-shaping discs and a handy storage box. The easy-to-use press sports an ergonomic handle and a non-slip base and easily breaks down for post-use cleaning. You can also choose between sets with either Christmas or springtime-inspired discs.
9. YummiYogi Yoga Cookie Cutters
MOST UNIQUE SET
Mindful eating around the holidays? Not always possible, but these YummiYogi Yoga Cookie Cutters will remind you to move and take care of your body as you see fit. Plus, they’re perfect for your yogi sister-in-law as a stocking stuffer or for adding a new and different shape to your existing cookie cutter collection. They’re made from sturdy metal and include a warrior 2 pose, a downward-facing dog and a crescent lunge, all of which can be flavored and decorated to your heart’s desire.
10. Uncommon Goods Unicorn Cookie Baking Set
BEST BAKING KIT
This Uncommon Goods Unicorn Cookie Baking Set takes the average cookie cutter set up a notch with its unicorn-adorned apron, rolling pin, frosting dispensers and selection of cookie cutters. It’s an ideal option for helping kids to enjoy baking while producing some delicious sweets at the same time. The multi-piece set also includes a recipe book so your dough comes together smoothly every time. Plus, we love the colorful theme of the set which makes it great for gifting to kids (or adults) who love these mythical beasts.
11. Jurassic Dinosaur Cookie Cutters Set
BEST DINOSAUR SET
So they’re not holiday related, per se, but these detailed dinosaur skeleton cookie cutters are so cool, and we just had to include them. They made vivid dinosaur outlines that can be decorated in a multitude of ways including embossing of the skeleton bones. These can be used in the kitchen just as well as in the play room with Play-Doh, if that’s the vibe your kids are feeling. The 3-pack contains a T-rex, a Stegosaurus and a Triceratops.
12. Maykito Halloween Cookie Cutters Set
BEST HALLOWEEN SET
The Maykito Halloween Cookie Cutters Set is made for making your Halloween more spooky and tasty at the same time. The five-piece set includes cookie cutters in the shape of a witch’s hat, a pumpkin, a bat, a cat and a ghost. It’s ideal for shaping cookies and other cut-able goods for Halloween parties and other get-togethers. Each cutter is also made from high-quality stainless steel which provides a cleaner cut while being more comfortable in hand. Plus, the kit comes in a PVC box for easy storage.
13. Williams Sonoma Mickey and Friends Cookie Cutter Storybox Set
BEST FOR KIDS
If your kids love everything Disney, you can’t go wrong with this Williams Sonoma Mickey and Friends Cookie Cutter Storybox Set. The box is filled with everything you need (minus the baking good part) to create Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy and Pluto-shaped cookies. This includes icing bags, decorating tips and a plastic coupler. For ease of use, these multi-colored cutters are made from ABS plastic and include stainless-steel springs and beveled edges, providing clean cuts and plenty of in-hand purchase. This is a great birthday gift idea or for surprising Disney-loving kids or partners with.
14. R&M International Alphabet and Number Cookie Cutters
BEST LETTER & NUMBER KIT
These R&M International Alphabet and Number Cookie Cutters are an ideal choice if you’re looking to create a cookie message. Whether it’s a name, a date or a short passage, this 36-piece set of letter and number cutters has every angle and possibility covered. Each plastic cutter also measures 1.5 inches in height and is top-shelf dishwasher safe. Handily, this set is supplied with a large bucket for convenient storage.
15. AuntLoBakingSupplyCo Gingerbread Cookie Cutter
PERSONALIZED PICK
This AuntLoBakingSupplyCo Gingerbread Cookie Cutter comes in three different sizes and lets you add a name of your choosing across the waist. This personalization makes the cutter an ideal gift for kids or adults who love seeing their name on things. In addition to the chosen name, this popular cutter features a number of other details, including facial features, buttons and cuffs. Furthermore, the cutter comes in another version adorned in a dress and a bow.
16. LeCuisinier Gingerbread House Cookie Cutter
BEST HOUSE KIT
Building a cookie house is easy with this LeCuisinier Gingerbread House Cookie Cutter in your baking arsenal. The multi-piece kit allows you to create an impressively detailed house which features multiple crosshatched windows and a door. The cutter is also made from a PLA plastic which is biodegradable but cannot be put in the dishwasher or oven. This versatile cutter can be used for creating gingerbread homes or a Christmas or Halloween-themed abode.
17. Q-BAKER Thanksgiving Cookie Cutters
BEST THANKSGIVING SET
Thanksgiving deserves its own set as an important American holiday for families, and this cookie cutter set has all of your favorite Thanksgiving shapes for creating cookies filled with gratitude. It has a pumpkin, maple leaf, turkey, squirrel, acorn and other fall-themed shapes perfect for November festivities. The set is made up of eight food-safe stainless steel molds that are great for dough, sandwiches, cheese or even clay if you’re getting crafty. Create a gift basket for neighbors or add another safe-at-home activity to your family’s list for Thanksgiving.
18. Williams Sonoma Harry Potter Cookie Cutter Set
BEST FOR POTTERHEADS
Accio delicious cookies in the shape of iconic Harry Potter props and symbols! This Williams Sonoma Harry Potter Cookie Cutter Set includes eight cookie cutters which range from Harry’s spectacles and his trusty owl, Hedwig, to the Deathly Hallows symbol and a lightning bolt. Each cutter is made from stainless steel to ensure durability, clean cutting and easier post-use washing. Also included in the box, you’ll find four decorating tips, 12 icing bags and a plastic coupler.
19. Uncommon Goods Hug-on-Your-Mug Cookie Cutters
BEST MUG-HUGGERS
If you like enjoying a cookie with a hot drink, you should definitely add these Uncommon Goods Hug-on-Your-Mug Cookie Cutters to your setup. Each piece in the set has been designed with a small cutout which, when baked into a cookie, allows you to hang it on the edge of your mug. The six cutters in this Christmas-themed set include a heart, a star, an angel, a Christmas tree and a house. For added fun, the set also comes with a recipe for pepparkakor (a traditional Scandanavian ginger cookie).
20. LEFUBABY Plaque Frame Cookie Cutter Set
BEST PLAQUE SET
Well-decorated cookies make for beautiful plaques for a display or for labeling each cookie as its maker, and this set comes with eight different varieties to choose from. Each cookie cutter is made of durable, rust-proof stainless steel and can be used over the holidays or for any special occasion where formal cookies are desired. Each decorative frame is sophisticated and unique and compliments the other shapes in the set well.
21. Wilton Animal Cookie Cutter Set
BEST BUDGET
This set of 50 cookie cutters costs less than $20, so if you’re trying to tighten your purse strings this holiday season, this is the option for you. Despite the lower price tag it includes a whole bunch of animal shape favorites and they’re all easy to use for even the littlest of hands. The set is top rack dishwasher safe and comes with a variety of colors that are engaging for little eyeballs.
22. de Buyer Pastry Cutters Set
BEST FOR PASTRY
This de Buyer Pastry Cutters Set is made of high-quality plastic and offers a more traditional range of cookie and biscuit shapes to choose from. Each of the available sets, which are either square, round fluted or round non-fluted, comes in a handy storage case and is made up of nine individual cutters. The dishwasher-safe cookie cutters are also made strong so they retain their shape after years of use. In addition, they have roll top edges to protect your fingers while making them easier to hold. Meanwhile, the sharp edge at the bottom ensures you get the clean cut you need for producing the best baked goods possible.
23. Williams Sonoma Star Wars Boxed Cookie Cutter Set
BEST GIFT IDEA
If you know someone who loves baking and Star Wars, you’ll be hard pushed to find a more suitable gift than this Star Wars Boxed Cookie Cutter Set. The 22-piece set is made up of eight cookie cutters, 12 icing bags, four decorating tips and a plastic coupler. The cookie cutters, which include Yoda, Darth Vader, R2-D2 and the Millennium Falcon, are made from a high-quality stainless steel which provides a clean cut and is easily washed after use. Furthermore, the officially licensed product is supplied in a durable heavyweight box with a magnetic lid.