There's nothing quite like the smell of freshly baked cookies in the house, and having a plate of delicious cookies or Christmas biscuits to snack on during the festive period is the perfect treat after Christmas shopping, wrapping presents or for snuggling up to watch a family Christmas film. Making the cookies is part of the appeal too and it is even more fun when you can create novelty Christmas shapes with some of the best Christmas cookie cutters for festive baking. Your little one will also love baking with mummy or daddy, especially when it comes to icing, and it might even become a Christmas tradition for your family.
Whether you're an amateur baker or fancy yourself as a bit of a professional, there are plenty of gadgets and tools to make the process a little easier for you, especially Christmas cookie cutters. There are so many Christmas shapes to choose from such as baubles, Christmas trees, or stars. Your little one could even make some special cookies for Santa to add to their Santa plate on Christmas Eve.
We can help you choose the best Christmas cookie cutters so you can concentrate on baking and making fun memories with the family. You will be proud to give your cookies as gifts, or offer them to guests. You could even try this easy iced Christmas biscuits recipe with your new cookie cutters.
The best Christmas cookie cutters at a glance:
•Best stainless steel cookie cutters: Christmas cookie cutter set
•Best Christmas bauble cookie cutters: Christmas bauble cookie cutter
•Best Christmas tree cookie cutter: 3D Christmas Star Cookie Tree Cutter Set
We've rounded up some of the best Christmas cookie cutters on the market so you can perfect your festive bakes this winter. Why not browse the list with your little one so they can help you choose what shape cookies to bake.
Best variety of Christmas cookie cutters
Description
For the ultimate range of Christmas themed biscuits, go for this huge set, complete with 18 different festive shapes including tree, star, snowman, mitten, Santa Claus, stocking, reindeer, snowflake, holly leaf, bell, and gingerbread man.
Review: "I bought these cutters to make gingerbread cookies for Christmas (classics!) and they worked perfectly. I was worried that they’d be too small or flimsy but they were perfect for what I was using them for and the cookies held their shapes surprisingly well. Definitely recommend, they’re good value for money!"
Pros
- A great variety of shapes
- Made from stainless steel
Cons
- Slightly small
Best Christmas cookie stamp set
Description
These are perfect for making Christmas cookies with the kids. They are easy to use and the stamps can be pressed straight into the cookie dough, or onto fondant icing. You could even use them during craft activities using salt dough. Each Christmas cookie cutter comes in 2 parts, one to cut the outline shape and one for the pressed pattern impression.
Review: "Really happy with these cutters, good quality for a good price. Exactly as described. Perfect for Xmas and bite size biscuits for children, and adults of course."
Pros
- Great for kids
- Can be used for crafting too
Cons
- Difficult to clean
Best animal Christmas cookie cutter
Description
Animal obsessed? We love this polar bear cutter from Lakeland. Once baked, you can name your polar bears and decorate them all with their own individual style.
Review: "I had made an igloo out of marshmallows for my son, and that's when I ordered these animals, I cut out cookies with the animals and draped them all around, and decorated with chocolate."
Pros
- Dishwasher safe
- Large size for bigger cookies
Cons
- Only one design
Best stainless steel cookie cutters
Description
If you don't fancy cluttering your kitchen cupboards with 20 Christmas cookie cutters, this five piece set is ideal. Featuring a snowflake, Christmas tree, reindeer, gingerbread man and snowman, there are still plenty of different designs for your kids to bake and decorate.
Review: "These are a good size and look like they will last. They look sturdy enough for the job as they're not as thin as the pics suggest."
Pros
- Five festive designs
- Can be used on hot and cold food
Cons
- Hand wash only
Best Christmas bauble cookie cutters
Description
We love the idea of making edible cookie baubles, you can even tie some ribbon through them and hang them on the tree. These cookie cutters come in a range of sizes too.
Review: "Used them on my christmas cake design. Quality was good enough for the job given the price and I was pleased with the results. Would recommend."
Pros
- Perfect to decorate and hang on the tree
- A range of sizes
Cons
- Not dishwasher safe
Best Christmas tree cookie cutter
www.lakeland.co.uk
Description
We think if you can perfect this cookie tree, you're worthy of being star baker this Christmas. The idea is to bake all 10 differently sized stars before decorating them and piling them on top of one another to create a 3D cookie Christmas tree.
Review: "It must be one of the most used items in my baking box. It has been used for drawing, stencilling, cutting out, plasticine - even wrapped with tinsel & ribbon for hanging decorations - and, of course, for biscuits. When it is made as per ilustration, iced & decorated, it never fails to bring admiration - but never lasts long!"
Pros
- Biscuits can be stacked to look like a Christmas tree
- Cookie recipe included
Cons
- Some reviewers said they can be tricky to use
Best wreath Christmas cookie cutter set
www.lakeland.co.uk
Description
If you want to impress this Christmas, then these snowflake cookie cutters will help you create the perfect table centrepiece, or a lovely gift for a loved one. You can use shortbread, gingerbread, or a range of different biscuits to make it even more tasty.
Pros
- Can be arranged to make a Christmas cookie wreath
- Cutters nest together for easy storage
Cons
- Could be tricky to stick the snowflakes together to form a wreath
Best chocolate biscuit cookie cutter
www.lakeland.co.uk
Description
Who doesn't like chocolate? Especially at Christmas! These will be great fun for little ones, and probably a little messy too. With 12 festive topper designs these will be a Christmas favourite for years.
Pros
- A little bit different from traditional cookies
- 12 Christmas designs
Cons
- Chocolate mould flimsy
Best gingerbread house cookie cutter
Description
Gingerbread houses are always popular at Christmas and these cookie cutters are perfect for creating cute mini versions.
Review: "Love these cutters but I think they need to come in a box rather than just a bag so you can store them easier! Plus be great if they came with instructions and or a recipe too! However they are ok once you figure out how to use them!"
Pros
- Makes a 3D gingerbread house cookie
- Made of stainless steel
Cons
- Doesn't include instructions
What is the best type of cookie cutter?
Baking with Christmas cookie cutters should be fun for you and your little one so the last thing you want is frustration when the cutter doesn't cut properly, or worse, any accidents for little fingers. Plus after all the baking fun (or chaos!) has finished, it is nice to be able to clean the cookie cutters easily. So what is better, plastic of stainless steel? Stainless steel with most likely give a cleaner cut, and it is normally safe in the dishwasher. However, it will have sharper edges and as with any kitchen utensil such as toddler kitchen knives, little ones will need careful supervision. Plastic is easier for little hands because it poses less of a hazard, however, it might not provide such a precise edge and it can't always go in the dishwasher and it can be fiddly to clean.
Stamps are also an option for decorating Christmas cookies. They often come with cutters to create the cookie shape and then a stamper which can be pressed into the cookie dough, or fondant icing. These are great for team work because an adult can cut the cookies while the kids stamp on the design. It might really spark your little one's love of cooking and a kids cookbook might be a great present idea to carry on the baking interest after the festive season.
What are the most popular cookie shapes for Christmas?
There are so many Christmas designs for you to try out. If you child is only small, simple is best. You can find cookie cutters in countless festive shapes including angels, Christmas trees, baubles, reindeers, stars, Santa, and snowflakes. For older children, there are more intricate designs like stackable Christmas tree cookies, or snowflake wreaths. You can also make cookies in the shape of baubles to hang on the tree.
Is it worth purchasing Christmas cookie cutters?
Remember that Christmas cookie cutters are versatile and can also be used to create seasonal shaped sandwiches in your little one's lunchbox. You can also use them in craft activities such as salt dough to make Christmas tree decorations, or for fun festive games with play dough, or how about drawing around them to create some lovely Christmas templates to cut out or colour. If you are trying to do Christmas on a budget this year, then Christmas cookies make a lovely gift for family and friends. Your little one will be so proud to gift something they have made, especially if you pair it with a handmade Christmas card too.
Christmas is such a special time for families and it is nice to do festive crafts or baking together. And the best thing about Christmas baking is you get to taste it and enjoy it afterwards.
Stephanie Anthony is the Digital Editor at Mother&Baby and auntie to four aged 8 to 6 months old. With a particular interest in health, she loves discovering products that make parent’s lives easier.