Mastering the Art of the Cookie Cutout

Published 10/25/2019

With a little help from Betty, you’ll be a master at cookie cutouts in no time!

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All your favorite holiday cookies start with rolled-out dough and your collection of cookie cutters! Make sure this year's holiday cookies measure up to your expectations for looks as well as taste. We'll teach you all the foolproof techniques for achieving beautiful cookie cutouts and show you how to choose the best cookie cutter for the job.

Using Your Cookie Cutters

Follow our expert tips and you’ll have perfectly shaped cutouts every single time.

How much dough should I roll out at a time? Divide the chilled dough into portions and return to the fridge wrapped in plastic wrap to prevent you from overworking the dough—overworked dough will result in tough cookies!
What sort of surface should I use for rolling out dough? Work on a lightly floured, cool cutting board or countertop. Cutting boards make it easy to transfer dough to the freezer to chill if needed. Never work on a warm countertop (e.g. next to an oven). Be careful not to add too much flour to your surface or your cookies will become tough.
How thick should I roll the dough? Roll your dough about 1/8-inch thick—unless otherwise noted in the recipe—for even baking and crisp, firm cookies.
How do I keep the dough a uniform thickness? Look for rubber rolling pin rings that slip onto each side of the rolling pin. They do the measuring for you.
How do I prevent the rolling pin from sticking to the dough? Cover your dough with waxed paper when rolling to prevent it from sticking to the rolling pin. If you still experience problems, lightly flour the waxed paper.
How do I prevent the cookie cutters from sticking to the dough? Dip your cookie cutters in flour with each cut. Work from the center of the rolled-out dough to the edges, cutting shapes close to one another to prevent extra scraps and extra rerolling. If the cookie cutters get really sticky, wipe them off with a damp paper towel. Don't wash them in the middle of cutting out cookies unless dried dough begins to distort the cookie details.
How do I get the clearest details in my cookie cutouts? In general, metal cookie cutters are sharper than plastic and will give you better results. Whichever type of cookie cutter you choose, flour it and then set it on the rolled-out dough and press straight down. Try not to jiggle or twist the cookie cutter as you use it.
What is the best way to transfer my cookies to the pan? Transfer your cookie cutouts to a cool pan by keeping the cutter in place and sliding a thin, floured spatula underneath the cutout. Once the cookie cutout is on the pan, carefully slide out the spatula and remove the cutter. Use the back end of a skewer to tap dough out from any angles and corners on small or intricate cutters.
How do I transfer my cutouts to the pan if the dough has softened? If your dough has softened, transfer the cutting board of rolled-out dough to the freezer for 10 minutes to firm it up before cutting your cookies. (Keep dough covered with waxed paper or plastic wrap).
How do I prevent my cookies from breaking when I transfer them to a cooling rack? Cool cutouts on the pan for three minutes and then transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely. Keep the cooling cookies in a single layer. Stacking or overlapping warm cookies may cause them to warp or break.

Cookie Cutters 101

From metal to plastic, we've tried them all (and happily eaten the results!) Here's what we've discovered about stainless-steel, copper, aluminum, and plastic cookie cutters—ranked from best to worst.

Stainless-Steel Cookie Cutters

Pros:

They're sturdy—don't bend or lose shape easily.
They easily cut intricate details.

Cons:

They're rust-prone (removable with sandpaper)

Copper Cookie Cutters

Pros:

They're durable—will last a lifetime.
They easily cut intricate details.

Cons:

It's difficult to flex the cutter to remove dough from details.
They're relatively expensive.

Aluminum Cookie Cutters

Pros:

They're inexpensive.
They easily cut intricate details.
They flex easily to remove dough from small details.

Cons:

They're flimsy—cutters easily lose their shapes.
They're rust-prone (removable with sandpaper)

Plastic Cookie Cutters

Pros:

They're inexpensive.
They flex easily to remove dough from small details.

Cons:

Their dull edges flatten dough when cutting intricate shapes.

Ready to master your cookie cutouts?

Christmas Butter Cookie Cutouts
This recipe is a classic that came out of the Betty Crocker Test Kitchens a while ago, but in our book, a recipe that stands the test of time is the only kind worth having! We recently baked up a batch of these cookies to give them a refreshed recipe image, and we can attest that these are an exceptionally fun option for bakers who want to make something that’s achievable but still stretches their skills. The base for these cookies is delightfully short and treads the perfect line between being tender and having a satisfying little snap. Once they’re out of the oven and cooled, the real fun begins. First they get brushed with a thin icing that forms a lovely, smooth canvas for decorating. Once that’s set, creativity takes center stage, and you can test your hand at decorating with royal icing and all the sprinkles, sugars and nonpareils you can find in your pantry. The editor who took on the task of decorating these was intimidated at first, having a complicated history with royal icing, but found the recipe included below easy to work with to create beautiful cookies. Set aside some time to devote to making these cookies when the Christmas spirit really sets in—we promise they’ll bring you the comfort and joy of the season!
Santa Heart-Shaped Cookies
Sometimes creativity and simplicity come together in the kitchen and result in an idea that makes you say, “Now why didn’t I think of that before?” These super-cute and customizable Santa cookies started with an unbelievably easy twist: turning a heart-shaped cookie cutter upside down. With that simple move, the pointy end becomes Old St. Nick’s hat and the lobes of the heart make a full and fluffy beard. And speaking of simplicity, these cookies are oh-so-easy to make since the two key ingredients are Betty Crocker™ Sugar Cookie Mix and Betty Crocker Rich & Creamy vanilla frosting. Where you go from there is up to you! Choose sprinkles, mini marshmallows, and candies of all kinds—and let the kids get in on the fun. Just be sure to have them ready to go by the time you hear footsteps up on the housetop. Leave them out with a glass of milk for a treat that’ll make Santa smile.

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Mastering the Art of the Cookie Cutout

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Using Your Cookie Cutters

Cookie Cutters 101

Stainless-Steel Cookie Cutters

Copper Cookie Cutters

Aluminum Cookie Cutters

Plastic Cookie Cutters

Christmas Butter Cookie Cutouts

Santa Heart-Shaped Cookies

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Bake Up Something Special

Mastering the Art of the Cookie Cutout

Using Your Cookie Cutters

Cookie Cutters 101

Stainless-Steel Cookie Cutters

Copper Cookie Cutters

Aluminum Cookie Cutters

Plastic Cookie Cutters

Christmas Butter Cookie Cutouts

Santa Heart-Shaped Cookies

Try these

Christmas Butter Cookie Cutouts

Classic Sugar Cookies

Gluten-Free Christmas Sugar Cookies

Classic Christmas Sugar Cookie Cutouts

Vegan Sugar Cookies

Bûche de Noël with Buttercream Frosting

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Mastering the Art of the Cookie Cutout

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Using Your Cookie Cutters

Cookie Cutters 101

Stainless-Steel Cookie Cutters

Copper Cookie Cutters

Aluminum Cookie Cutters

Plastic Cookie Cutters

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Try these

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Bake Up Something Special

Mastering the Art of the Cookie Cutout

Using Your Cookie Cutters

Cookie Cutters 101

Stainless-Steel Cookie Cutters

Copper Cookie Cutters

Aluminum Cookie Cutters

Plastic Cookie Cutters

Try these

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