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Want to spread joy in the form of cookies? Our review covers 11 of the best cookie cutters available today, so you can focus less on shopping and more on baking. After researching dozens of the most popular cutters on the market, we tested all of these sets side-by-side in our own kitchens. We baked a lot of cookies to analyze important characteristics like comfort and ease of use. Our comprehensive review offers a variety of types and sizes, from classic holiday cut-outs, to cookie presses and stamps, to professional rounds that are versatile for much more than just baking.
We spend a lot of time in the kitchen, and know that having the right tool for the job can make baking that much more enjoyable. From the top oven mitts to mixers on the market, we've tested a huge variety of cooking and baking tools, as well as kitchen appliances to help with you next culinary project.
Editor's Note: We updated our cookie cutter review on March 24, 2023, to include rating tables and value and metric charts.
The K&S Artisan 11-Piece Heavy Duty Biscuit Cutter Set might be marketed toward other baking styles, but with almost unmatched quality and comfort, it definitely excels in the world of cookie cutters. This stainless steel 11-piece set is measured from 1-inch up to 3.5-inches and includes a tin for easy storage. The cutters have a thick, rounded edge that is 1.25 inches in depth and stays comfortable when pressing down on any variety of dough density.
We would have liked it better if K&S had laser-engraved or stamped the size on the 11 different cutters to make things easier, or considered making the print-out for measuring to actual scale. We understand that the round shape of this 11-piece set isn't as fun as other imaginative shapes; however, we think the flexibility for baking anything from doughnuts to cookies, to small hors d'oeuvres. You'll get perfect cuts from the welded seams that are also dishwasher-safe, keeping them rust-free for years of cooking and baking to come!
Professional-quality stainless steel, in a variety of rounds large and small makes this a versatile set. Don't be confined to just cookies (think doughnuts!)
If you are a hopeful professional who might not be sure yet if you need an 11-piece round set, you'll get top-of-the-line performance from the KSPOWWIN 5-Piece Stainless Steel Round Cutters at a lower price than similar sets. These five cutters measure from 1.7 to 3.3-inches, and are the same exact depth (1.25-inches) and just as sharp as our top-scoring K&S Artisan Biscuit Cutter Set above. Furthermore, the stainless steel cutters have the same rounded top edge with a comfortable width.
The biggest discrepancies that you will notice between the K&S Artisan Biscuit Cutter Set and this one are all related to durability: the KSPOWWIN Stainless Steel Cutters don't feature a seamless weld or include a case for storage. However, even though you won't have those features, the baking performance is still top-notch when using this professional-quality set at a value price.
Stainless steel and more of a manageable set size than its direct competitor, you will get all of the performance at a fraction of the cost with this set.
No matter if you are just baking cookies for fun or for a special event such as a birthday or holiday, the Wilton 101-Piece Cookie Cutters Set should cover all your bases. The plastic forms in this tub are great for kids and include a wide variety of whimsical shapes with an extra wide lip in order to press easily. Not only do they produce oversized cookies, but the cutters do a surprisingly good job of lifting cookie dough — again, a bonus for baking with kids. The wide, ½-inch deep cutters are both dishwasher safe and incredibly easy to hand clean. Although the heavy-duty plastic is durable, we admit that you will never get as clean of a cut from plastic as you will from metal.
When it comes to holidays, this set is certainly Christian-leaning, even though it includes plenty of other shapes, including the full alphabet. Again, as a literal tub, it is also not particularly easy to store — we actually had a very difficult time getting the cutters back in after use. But at a price of less than 15 cents per piece, the Wilton 101-Piece Set is hard to beat when it comes to price point.
If you can't find the shape you're looking for in this nearly-everything tub of cookie cutters, we're not sure if you need it!
Material: Stainless Steel (disks) | Number of Pieces: 12
REASONS TO BUY
Ergonomic design is right/left hand friendly
Practically self-cleaning
REASONS TO AVOID
Dough must be a consistent temperature to work properly
Specialized use
A little outside of the box of traditional cookie cutters, the OXO Good Grips Cookie Press is designed to create bite-sized cookies with consistency. This press particularly excels as a spritz-cookie-making machine. Twelve stainless steel disks offer a variety of shapes, from cute teddy bears, to classic hearts, to more intricate fleur-de-lis. Like all OXO Good Grips products, you can expect that this one is designed with comfort and ergonomics in mind — notably, it is both right- and left-hand friendly.
When it comes to cranking out spritz, we appreciated that the plunger seal on the OXO Cookie Press is so exact that it is practically self-cleaning — you can switch over dough colors without having to wash in between batches. Although dough can jam if too stiff, this specialty tool provides concise instructions and specific recipes that will turn your kitchen into a holiday cookie factory.
What is a spritz cookie?
Spritz cookies are much like sugar cookies, sweet and buttery with enough integrity to hold intricate shapes while baking. They don't require additional rolling or chilling, which helps them come out more tender than something like a shortbread. The name spritz comes from the German Spritzgebäck — spritzen means “to squirt” — named because the dough is specifically meant to be used in a cookie press and squirted through a fancy metal plate.
Small, intricate designs are no problem for this at-home cookie factory.
Another break from the traditional, the R&M International 4-Piece Cookie Stampers are a sort of hybrid between a classic cookie stamp and a cookie cutter. In one smooth, three-part motion, you can cut, imprint, and drop these small cookies onto a baking sheet. Unlike others we tested, the plunger is metal and presses further out than others for a cleaner cut. It takes a few practice cookies to figure out even pressure. Still, these plastic presses cut surprisingly well and are able to inlay an intricate snowflake pattern that just begs to be delicately decorated.
Although hand washing is recommended, we found no issues with putting these through the dishwasher to help remove the bits of dough that can find their way into the internal housing. From cookies to fondants to pastries, the R&M Stampers emboss beautiful designs onto any baked good — the company says the versatility of these presses even stretches as far as pottery design. Now that's versatility!
These quality plastic cutters cut and cling surprisingly well to dough, dispensing the cut-outs on your baking sheet with a simple press of the plunger.
Credit: Aaron Rice
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Decorating cookies is fun, and the variety of shapes and sizes available in the Wilton 101-Piece set makes it even more fun.
Credit: Aaron Rice
Why Trust GearLab
Before getting to the fun of baking, our team of experts performed their due diligence of research, spending hours online scouring through some of the top products on the market. We then purchased all of these cookie cutter sets at retail value to bring you an unbiased and objective review. We compared all of these sets side-by-side during a week of intensive testing, analyzing every detail, and backing that up with actual baking experience. Whether you need a new set of holiday cut-outs or are a professional baker looking for a more versatile set of tools, our comprehensive guide will surely help you find the cookie cutters that best suit the needs of your kitchen.
One of our kitchen experts, Aaron Rice, took on the not-so-difficult task of baking lots of cookies — with the added bonus of spreading holiday cheer. Aided by the superior baking skills of his wife, Jill, the two set to baking a dozen cookies with each set — nearly 200 cookies in total for this review. Beyond endurance-baking sessions, both are devoted to the sharing of good food, having worked on farms and in-and-around professional kitchens for the better portion of a decade. In the summers, they co-manage an on-site market garden for a fine-dining restaurant in Santa Fe, NM.
Strength testing the plastic Wilton cutters. It might be hard to tell from the photo, but we're pressing with all of our grip strength, and this truck is barely deforming.
Our testers literally baked hundreds of cookies to bring you a seriously comprehensive review of cookie cutters.
We closely examine all of these cutters to make sure that they stand-up to the marketing claims of size and quality.
Analysis and Test Results
Good for more than just holiday baking, a quality set of cookie cutters is a versatile tool that every chef and baker should have in their kitchen toolbox. We agree that holiday-specific sets are, well, holiday-specific. But a round set can be used for cookies, biscuits, doughnuts, English muffins, mousse molds, dumplings, bite-sized hors d'oeuvres, and… you get the point. We tested a wide variety, from professional stainless steel rounds to classic holiday cut-outs to kid-friendly plastic sets. To directly compare these different models, we considered four ubiquitous characteristics: cutting performance, comfort, ease of use, and quality. By then comparing these cutters side-by-side, we are able to rank them relative to one another. So while plastic will never cut as cleanly as stainless steel, every product we tested is a worthy addition to any kitchen.
What's the Best Value?
While none of these products are exorbitantly expensive, some present a better value than others. Some higher-quality options with 3 cutters sell for a similar price to cheapie options with tons of fun shapes. You'll want to consider your intended use and frequency of use. If you're only occasionally breaking them out for some fun with the kiddos, check out the Wilton 101-Piece Cookie Cutters Set, which have a little of everything—numbers, letters, shapes, holiday designs. If you're aiming for Pinterest-worthy creations, the HULISEN Biscuit Cutters contain only three round cutters, but they're high-quality, made from stainless steel with welded seams.
A stainless steel, professional-quality set like the K&S Artisan cutters are sure to deliver cleanly cut rounds.
Credit: Aaron Rice
Cutting Performance
Achieving clean-cut cookies, like most cooking and baking skills, comes down to time and practice. Namely, it is a balance between managing your dough's temperature and applying firm yet even pressure. However, it certainly has to do with the material of the cutter as well. Metal cutters tend to produce better results than plastic due to the hardness of the material. Duller plastic edges often require you to twist or turn the cutter, which can mess with the shape of the cookie. Heavy-duty stainless steel cutters, like the K&S Artisan Biscuit Cutter Set or KSPOWWIN Stainless Steel Cutters cut the cleanest, though we were impressed with the NELPLA Two Sided Cookie Cutters plastic cutters as well.
Cutting is really only half of the game — once you cut through the dough, you also must successfully lift it and transfer it onto a baking sheet. While simple shapes may seem like they should be easier, without intricate edges or pinch points, these often don't hold the dough as well during the transfer phase.
Proof of the accuracy of stainless steel, as shown in the intricate designs of the snowflakes included in the Ateco set.
Even though the delicate shapes are beautiful, it is nearly impossible to not burn the thin tips of some of the designs.
The Ateco set could press intricate designs, but some of them baked unevenly, with the thin edges crisping before the rest of the cookie.
For a smooth process, stamps like the R&M Stampers or Joiner Crust Cutters are hard to beat for their simplified cut, stamp, and drop mechanism. The OXO Cookie Press also produces nearly identical cookies with one press of the plunger — just as long as you make sure that the dough stays at a consistent, workable temperature.
Want to produce consistent designs with minimal effort? The OXO Good Grips Cookie Press delivers. The only shape that was annoying among this set of twelve was, curiously enough, the simple design of the butterfly (red, bottom right.)
Credit: Aaron Rice
Comfort
Turning out sheets of cookies is harder than you might think, and without a comfortable press, certain cutters can be particularly tough on your palms. While clear-cutting stainless steel models are the ideal for professionals, plastic may be better for comfort, especially when baking with kids, because the softer material is easier on little hands. After cranking out hundreds of cookies for this review, we can attest to the fact that comfort in your cutter makes a huge difference.
We preferred the extra-wide lip of the Wilton 101-Piece Set for this reason in particular. And for those who seek out ergonomics for all of their kitchenware, the tall, arched handles of the stainless steel HULISEN Biscuit Cutter Set is by far the easiest to handle, regardless of the type of dough you are working with.
We really appreciated the handle of the HULISEN round cutters, especially when it comes to cutting denser biscuit dough.
Credit: Aaron Rice
For the professionals, the wide, rounded lip on both the K&S Artisan Biscuit Cutter Set and KSPOWWIN Stainless Steel Cutters are a close second to the HULISEN cutters. And as we've come to expect from the OXO Good Grips brand, their Cookie Press is designed with comfort in mind and is easily handled by both right- and left-handed individuals.
Even though the Ann Clark cutter (left) has a minimally rounded top edge, the Ateco cutter (right) has even less so. As a result, it was one of the least comfortable cutters we tested.
Credit: Aaron Rice
Ease of Use
Like all kitchen products we test, ease of use is always at the forefront of our minds — if a tool is not both practical and easy to use, we find it more often sits in the drawer. For this category, we primarily focused on versatility based on size, shape, special features, and whether or not they were more specialized (like for a particular holiday) or more universally accessible. Of course, we also took into account cleaning and storage — two factors that can vary greatly for cookie cutters.
Many of the round stainless steel cutters won out in this regard — including the K&S Artisan Biscuit Cutter Set, HULISEN Biscuit Cutter Set, and KSPOWWIN Stainless Steel Cutters — namely because these rounds are versatile well-beyond baking cookies, and the stainless steel is both dishwasher safe and rust-resistant.
It takes a bit of time to learn how to operate, but once you get the hang of it the OXO Good Grips Cookie Press is user-friendly, comfortable, and efficient.
OXO includes a well-draining case to store the stainless steel disks, which allows for plenty of airflow to help prevent rust.
We also appreciate the simple durability and ease of cleaning of plastic cutters like the NELPLA Two Sided Cookie Cutters and Wilton 101-Piece sets. Both of these sets are particularly versatile: the Wilton set, more obviously, thanks to its variety of shapes; and the NELPLA set for its dual-sided design, which is highly efficient, even if it is not as comfortable to use as many other cutters we tested.
The stamps of the Joiner set also make delicate decorations out of pie crust, perfect for any holiday or to spruce up a pie just-because.
Credit: Aaron Rice
Quality
Lastly, though not least importantly, we rated all of these cookie cutters based on their overall quality. Like ease of use, the more durable and long-lasting a product is, the more inherently valuable it becomes. It may come as no surprise that stainless steel ranks at the top of the list for quality, although not all stainless steel models are created equally. The K&S Artisan Biscuit Cutter Set stands out from the pack thanks to their fully-welded seams.
A hard-sided, aluminum case helps protect and organize the K&S Artisan set during storage.
The K&S Artisan cutters (left) also have fully welded seams, as opposed to the riveted seams of the KSPOWWIN set (right.)
Others, like the Ann Clark Christmas and Geefuun Thanksgiving sets, are classics that will likely see repeated use yearly during the holidays. But both are rather flimsy, and neither are stainless steel, which makes them more prone to rusting. For added protection in storage, we award extra points to the K&S Artisan Biscuit Cutter Set and Ateco Snowflake Set, the only two we tested that include cases.
We were disappointed to find that this cutter from the Ann Clark set arrived all bent out of shape.
Credit: Aaron Rice
Conclusion
Cookies are a way to share home-baked love and shouldn't just be relegated to the holidays. Find yourself a quality set of cookie cutters, and help spread joy year-round — we know we all could use a bit more of that in our lives right now.
There's a whole solar system of possibilities when it comes to cookie artistry. Find a set of quality cookie cutters and start creating!
