A cookie cutter looks like the simplest tool in the drawer, yet the material decides how long it lasts and how clean an edge it leaves. Copper, tin-plated steel, stainless steel and plastic all cut dough, but they behave differently in the sink and on a firm sugar cookie dough.
This guide names nine cutters and sets worth buying from Ann Clark, Ateco, OXO, Wilton, R&M, Fox Run and The Fussy Pup, explains what each material gives up, and covers what matters for royal icing. It also fits a Mexican kitchen: the same rounds that cut biscuits will cut polvorones and sopes.
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Quick verdict: which cookie cutters to buy
The best cookie cutters for most home bakers are the Ann Clark Every Season set of 11: American-made shapes for the whole year, at a good size for royal icing, as long as you hand wash and dry them. For rounds and biscuits, buy the Ateco 11-Piece Plain Round Cutter Set, the winner of America’s Test Kitchen’s biscuit cutter review. If everything in your house goes in the dishwasher, choose the OXO Good Grips Double-Sided Cutter Set.
Five cookie cutter sets side by side
Five standout sets, one for each kind of baker, with what each maker or listing states. All nine are reviewed in full below.
| Set | Best for | Material & pieces | Care | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ann Clark Every Season Cookie Cutter Set of 11Best overall
|
A full year of holiday shapes | Tin-plated steel, 11 pieces | Hand wash, dry at once | View on Amazon |
Ateco 11-Piece Plain Round Cutter SetBest for rounds
|
Biscuits and round cookies | Stainless steel, 11 pieces | Hand wash to be safe | View on Amazon |
OXO Good Grips Double-Sided Cutter Set, 5-PieceBest dishwasher safe
|
Dishwasher households, sore hands | Stainless with hand guard, 5 pieces | Dishwasher safe | View on Amazon |
| Gifts and showpiece cookies | Solid copper, 3 pieces | Hand wash, towel dry | View on Amazon | |
| Names, ages and kids’ baking | Plastic, 36 pieces | Top-rack dishwasher safe | View on Amazon |
Product images from Amazon. Materials and care are as stated by each maker, listing or retailer; check before you buy.
Our picks for the best cookie cutters
These nine sets cover the jobs a home baker actually has: a shape for each holiday, sharp rounds, small detail shapes, cutters for children, linzer windows, a copper keepsake and a plastic alphabet. Each comes with one honest reason to skip it.
1. Ann Clark Every Season Cookie Cutter Set of 11 – A Shape for Every Holiday
If you want one set that covers the whole year, this is it. Ann Clark, a family business in Rutland, Vermont, packs eleven shapes in one box: heart, shamrock, egg, star, pencil, maple leaf, pumpkin, turkey, Christmas tree, gingerbread man and snowflake.
Each cutter runs about 3.25 to 3.75 inches, which is a good size for a decorated cookie. It gives you enough surface for royal icing without a cookie so large that it breaks when you lift it. The listing describes food-safe American steel that cuts cleanly through dough, with a rolled upper edge to grip.
The honest trade-off is the metal. Retailers describe Ann Clark cutters as tin-plated steel, and they should be hand washed and dried right away. America’s Test Kitchen found that tin-plated biscuit cutters warped and rusted, so treat these with care: wash them, towel dry them and put them away fully dry.
Why we like it
- Eleven shapes covering the full calendar
- Sizes of about 3.25 to 3.75 inches suit royal icing
- Rolled upper edge for gripping
- Made in Rutland, Vermont
Key specifications
| Model | A6-197 |
|---|---|
| Material | Food-safe American steel; tin-plated, per retailers |
| Pieces | 11 |
| Shapes | Heart, shamrock, egg, star, pencil, leaf, pumpkin, turkey, tree, gingerbread man, snowflake |
| Size range | About 3.25 to 3.75 inches |
| Care | Hand wash, dry at once (retailers) |
| Made in | USA (Vermont) |
| Storage | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
For cut-out cookies, shape variety is the reason to buy a set, and this one saves you from buying a new cutter for each holiday. It is the set we would suggest to a home baker who decorates a few batches a year.
Skip it if you want to use the dishwasher. Tin-plated steel rusts when left wet, so the OXO set is the better fit.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Full year of shapes
- Good size for icing
- Made in the USA
- Family-owned maker
Cons
- Must be hand washed and dried
- Tin-plated steel can rust
- No storage box stated
2. Ateco 11-Piece Plain Round Cutter Set – Sharp Rounds in Every Size
Ateco has made professional pastry tools since 1905, and this set of eleven stainless steel rings is the kind of kit a pastry kitchen keeps within reach. The sizes run from 3/4 inch to 3 5/8 inches, so one set covers tiny sandwich cookies through to full-size biscuits.
It has outside support too. America’s Test Kitchen named this set the winner of its biscuit cutter review, saying biscuits made with it were the tallest and most pristine of the group. Sharp edges matter because a clean cut leaves the edge of the dough open to rise evenly.
It is also useful beyond baking. A plain ring cuts round sopes from a sheet of masa or small gorditas, and it works as a form for food. One retailer says the rings nest in a round tin, so they store in very little space. Retailers disagree on dishwasher use and Ateco’s listing does not say, so hand wash them.
Why we like it
- Eleven sizes from 3/4 inch to 3 5/8 inches
- Stainless steel, which resisted rust in America’s Test Kitchen’s review
- Rings nest in a round tin, per one retailer
- Also works as a food form
Key specifications
| Model | 5357 |
|---|---|
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Pieces | 11 |
| Shapes | Plain round |
| Size range | 3/4 to 3 5/8 inches |
| Care | Not stated by Ateco; hand wash to be safe |
| Made in | Not stated |
| Storage | Round tin, per a retailer |
Why we recommend it
If you bake biscuits, linzer rounds or plain sugar cookies, this is the set that does the most. A round is also the most useful shape for icing practice, because it has no thin points to break.
Skip it if you mainly want holiday shapes. This set only cuts circles.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Wide size range
- Rust-resistant stainless steel
- Independent review win for biscuits
- Compact storage
Cons
- Rounds only
- Dishwasher guidance conflicts
- No hand guard for the thin edge
3. OXO Good Grips Double-Sided Cutter Set, 5-Piece – Dishwasher Safe, Easy on Hands
This set answers the two common complaints about metal cutters: they hurt your palm and they rust. Each of the five rounds is stainless steel with a soft, non-slip hand guard, and OXO’s listing says they are dishwasher safe.
Each cutter is double-sided, with a flat edge for cookies on one side and a scalloped edge for biscuits on the other, so five pieces give you ten profiles. The sizes are 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3 inches, and the set comes with a storage case.
The range is narrower than Ateco’s and, like that set, it only cuts rounds. America’s Test Kitchen’s biscuit review disliked cutters with handles that force a closed fist. OXO’s is a hand guard rather than a handle, but if you prefer to press with your fingertips, plain rings may suit you better.
Why we like it
- Flat edge on one side, scalloped on the other
- Soft non-slip hand guard
- Dishwasher safe, per the listing
- Storage case included
Key specifications
| Model | 11360600 |
|---|---|
| Material | Stainless steel with soft hand guard |
| Pieces | 5 |
| Shapes | Round, double-sided plain and scalloped |
| Size range | 1 to 3 inches |
| Care | Dishwasher safe |
| Made in | Not stated |
| Storage | Case included |
Why we recommend it
It suits anyone with sore hands, or a household where tools go straight in the dishwasher. The double edge also makes it a neat one-box solution for cookies and biscuits alike.
Skip it if you want shapes or a cutter larger than 3 inches.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Dishwasher safe
- Two edge styles per cutter
- Comfortable hand guard
- Storage case
Cons
- Rounds only
- Stops at 3 inches
- Bulkier to store than plain rings
4. Ateco 24-Piece Geometric Cutter Set – Small Shapes, Clean Corners
This Ateco set gives you eight geometric shapes in three sizes each, all stainless steel, from 0.5 inch to 2 inches. It is a tool for detail work: petit fours, sandwich cookies, the windows in a linzer cookie, or small shapes of fondant to lay over an iced cookie.
Simple shapes are good for royal icing because they have clean sides and few thin points. At 2 inches at most, though, these make small cookies, which means less surface for piping detail. Think of the set as a second purchase after a larger one, not a first.
The listing gives no care instructions or country of origin. Treat it the way you would other stainless cutters: wash, dry fully and store it dry.
Why we like it
- Eight shapes in three sizes each
- Stainless steel
- Sizes from 0.5 inch to 2 inches
- Ateco has made pastry tools since 1905, per the listing
Key specifications
| Model | 4845 |
|---|---|
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Pieces | 24 |
| Shapes | 8 geometric shapes |
| Size range | 0.5 to 2 inches |
| Care | Not stated |
| Made in | Not stated |
| Storage | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you bake small, precise cookies or decorate cakes, where a set of graduated shapes gets more use than a single large cutter.
Skip it if you want full-size cookies. The largest cutter here is only 2 inches.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Many shapes in one set
- Stainless steel
- Small enough for detail work
Cons
- Too small for standard cookies
- Care not stated on the listing
- Small pieces are easy to lose
5. Wilton Comfort Grip Cookie Cutter Set, 4-Piece – Cushioned Grip for Small Hands
A comfort-grip cutter is the easy way to bake with children. Each of these four pieces has a stainless steel blade set in a cushioned grip, so little hands press on a soft top and not a thin metal edge. The set has a circle, a star, a butterfly and a flower.
The shape has a second use: the listing suggests filling the cutter with fruit, or spooning a filling into the center, as well as cutting dough.
Wilton has been in the baking and decorating business since 1929, and its advice on using a cutter is worth keeping: dip the cutter in flour between almost every cut so dough does not cling. The listing does not give a size or care detail, so check the box.
Why we like it
- Stainless steel blade in a cushioned grip
- Circle, star, butterfly and flower shapes
- Can be filled with fruit, per the listing
- Rolled dough, fondant and clay all listed
Key specifications
| Model | 2311-1337 |
|---|---|
| Material | Stainless steel blade, cushioned grip |
| Pieces | 4 |
| Shapes | Circle, star, butterfly, flower |
| Size range | Not stated |
| Care | Not stated |
| Made in | Not stated |
| Storage | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
It is the first set to hand a child, because the grip removes the part of a metal cutter that hurts. Adults with sore hands will appreciate it for the same reason.
Skip it if you want a large set. Four shapes will not cover the holidays, and grips like these take up more drawer space than plain metal.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Comfortable for children
- Stainless cutting edge
- Doubles as a filling mold
Cons
- Only four shapes
- Size not stated
- Bulky to store
6. R&M Traditional Linzer Cookie Cutter Set, 6-Piece – Windows for Jam Cookies
A linzer cookie is two rounds with a window cut in the top one, so jam shows through, and this set is built for that job. It has six tin-plated steel cutters in diamond, heart, flower, triangle, star and circle shapes, with interchangeable centers.
That swap is the useful feature. You change the window shape without changing the outer cutter, so a single batch can give you several different cookies. The same idea suits small sandwich cookies filled with cajeta.
R&M tells you plainly how to look after them: hand wash in warm soapy water and towel dry thoroughly before storing. Because they are tin-plated, take that seriously, and do not leave them in the sink.
Why we like it
- Interchangeable centers for different windows
- Six traditional shapes
- Also listed for sandwiches, fondant and clay
- Clear care instructions from the maker
Key specifications
| Model | 1838 |
|---|---|
| Material | Tin-plated steel |
| Pieces | 6 |
| Shapes | Diamond, heart, flower, triangle, star, circle |
| Size range | Not stated |
| Care | Hand wash, towel dry thoroughly |
| Made in | Not stated |
| Storage | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
If linzer cookies are part of your holiday baking, a dedicated set is worth having, because a plain round cannot cut the window. It is a focused tool, and it does one thing well.
Skip it if you never bake sandwich cookies. A general set will get more use.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Purpose-built for linzer cookies
- Interchangeable centers
- Several window shapes
Cons
- Tin-plated steel can rust
- Hand wash only
- Sizes not stated on the listing
7. The Fussy Pup Copper Christmas Ornament Cutters, 3-Piece – Solid Copper, Lead-Free Solder
Copper is the choice when a cutter is also a keepsake. The Fussy Pup is a small family workshop, placed in Seymour, Indiana by its listings, and we found little about it beyond those listings, so we count it as an Amazon-first brand. This set has three ornament shapes from 3.5 to 5.25 inches, in solid copper joined with lead-free solder, per the listing.
Copper is sturdier than thin tin-plated steel and does not rust, though it does tarnish, and the large ornament outlines give you a broad surface for royal icing. They come with a recipe and gift-ready packaging, so the set works well as a present.
The listing says hand wash and towel dry. Keep them out of the dishwasher, and expect the color to deepen over time.
Why we like it
- Solid copper with lead-free solder, per the listing
- Handcrafted in Indiana
- Three large ornament shapes for icing
- Gift-ready packaging and a recipe
Key specifications
| Model | COMIN18JU002126 |
|---|---|
| Material | Solid copper, lead-free solder |
| Pieces | 3 |
| Shapes | Christmas ornaments |
| Size range | 3.5 to 5.25 inches |
| Care | Hand wash, towel dry |
| Made in | USA (Indiana) |
| Storage | Gift packaging |
Why we recommend it
Choose it as a gift, or for a baker who wants a few cutters to last and to hang on a wall between seasons. The large shapes are made for showpiece cookies.
Skip it if you bake with cutters in daily use. Copper costs more per shape and takes more care than stainless.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Solid copper construction
- Lead-free solder stated
- Large icing surface
- Maker guarantees against defects
Cons
- Little maker information available
- Tarnishes over time
- Hand wash only
8. R&M Alphabet and Numbers Plastic Cutter Set, 36-Piece – Letters, Numbers, Easy Wash
Plastic has a real place in this guide, and this set shows why. It holds 26 letters and the numbers 0 to 9, all 1.5 inches, in a storage bucket, and the plastic is top-rack dishwasher safe, so there is no rust to worry about.
Letters are also a case where plastic is sensible: 1.5-inch characters are small, and a child can press them without a sharp metal edge. They spell out names, birthdays and ages on a cookie tray or a cake.
Plastic has limits. A plastic edge is usually thicker than a metal one, so it can press dough more than slice it, though America’s Test Kitchen did praise strong, sharp plastic cutters in its biscuit review. Keep the dough chilled and firm, and dip the cutter in flour often.
Why we like it
- All 26 letters and numbers 0 to 9
- Top-rack dishwasher safe
- Storage bucket keeps the set together
- No metal edge, which suits children
Key specifications
| Model | 5900 |
|---|---|
| Material | Plastic |
| Pieces | 36 |
| Shapes | Letters A to Z, numbers 0 to 9 |
| Size range | 1.5 inches |
| Care | Top-rack dishwasher safe |
| Made in | Not stated |
| Storage | Storage bucket |
Why we recommend it
It is the simple way to write on cookies, and the bucket means the set stays together. For a birthday tray it does a job no metal shape set can.
Skip it if you want crisp detail on large cookies. These are small, and plastic edges cut less cleanly than sharp metal.
Pros and cons
Pros
- No rust
- Top-rack dishwasher safe
- Whole alphabet and numbers
- Storage bucket
Cons
- Small at 1.5 inches
- Thicker edge than metal
- Soft dough sticks in tight letter shapes
9. Fox Run Flower Cookie Cutter Set, 6-Piece – Stainless Graduated Flowers
Graduated cutters let you stack cookies into tiers or cut one batch in several sizes. This Fox Run set does that with six stainless steel flower shapes from about 1.625 to 3.875 inches.
Flowers suit royal icing well, because the petals give you a simple outline to pipe and flood. They also suit fondant, and Fox Run lists them for crafts too.
Fox Run’s listing says to hand wash and dry completely to preserve the finish, which is sensible advice for any stainless cutter. It does not state a country of origin or a storage case.
Why we like it
- Six graduated flower sizes
- Stainless steel
- Sizes of about 1.625 to 3.875 inches
- Listed for cookies, fondant and crafts
Key specifications
| Model | 3621 |
|---|---|
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Pieces | 6 |
| Shapes | Flower |
| Size range | About 1.625 to 3.875 inches |
| Care | Hand wash, dry completely |
| Made in | Not stated |
| Storage | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you like a stacked or tiered cookie, or want one shape in several sizes for a single tray. Stainless steel is also the easiest metal here to look after.
Skip it if you want a range of different shapes. This set is flowers only.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Stainless steel
- Six sizes of one shape
- Good icing outline
Cons
- One shape only
- Hand wash advised
- No storage case stated
Copper, tin, stainless or plastic: what each one gives up
| Material | Good at | Gives up | Care |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tin-plated steel | Thin edge, wide choice of shapes | Can rust and bend; America’s Test Kitchen saw this in biscuit cutters | Hand wash, dry at once |
| Stainless steel | Keeps its shape, resists rust | Fewer novelty shapes, and sets cost more per shape | Dry fully; dishwasher only if the maker says so |
| Copper | Sturdy, does not rust, attractive | Tarnishes; fewer shapes per set | Hand wash, towel dry |
| Plastic | No rust, easy for children | Often a thicker edge that presses dough | Check the listing; often top-rack safe |
Tin-plated steel is the traditional cutter, and it remains a fair choice as long as you dry it straight after washing. If you know you will leave things in the sink, stainless steel is the better buy.
How to choose cookie cutters for royal icing
Royal icing is the reason many bakers buy cutters, and it changes what you want from one.
- Choose simple outlines. Thin points break, and small details vanish under icing. Rounds, hearts, flowers and stars are easier to outline and flood than a shape with narrow legs.
- Go for 3 inches or more. Bigger cookies give you room to pipe. Ann Clark’s 3.25 to 3.75-inch range is about right.
- Keep the edge sharp. A sharp cut leaves a clean side, and clean sides are what make an iced cookie look tidy. Do not use a bent cutter.
- Roll to an even thickness. Wilton suggests guides on either side of the dough so a rolling pin rides at one height. Uneven dough bakes unevenly.
- Dip the cutter in flour. Wilton says to do it between almost every cut, because it keeps dough from clinging. Chill the dough again after cutting, too; even 15 minutes helps the cookie hold its shape.
- Bake and finish well. A flat baking sheet and a silicone baking mat help the bottoms stay even, and a cooling rack keeps them crisp before you ice. For the icing itself, see our guide to piping bag tips.
How we picked these nine sets
We have not baked with these cutters, and nothing here rests on claimed trials. We started from the makers home bakers know, including Ann Clark, Wilton, OXO, Ateco and Fox Run, checked each set for current Amazon stock, and read the maker’s listing and retailer pages. America’s Test Kitchen’s biscuit cutter review is the main independent source, and we say where we apply its findings to cookie cutters. We left out unbranded sets, single novelty cutters and any item listed as low stock, with no more than two Amazon-first brands on the page. Where a detail was missing we wrote “Not stated” rather than guess.
Cookie cutter questions, answered
What are the best cookie cutters for royal icing?
Choose simple shapes of 3 inches or more with a sharp metal edge. The Ann Clark set is the easiest place to start, and a plain round is the simplest shape to practice on.
Are metal or plastic cookie cutters better?
Metal usually gives a thinner, cleaner edge and lasts longer. Plastic is rust-free and easier for children. America’s Test Kitchen liked both stainless steel and strong plastic in its biscuit review.
Can cookie cutters go in the dishwasher?
Only if the maker says so. OXO and R&M state it for the two sets here. Tin-plated steel should never go in.
Why are my cookies losing their shape?
The usual cause is warm dough. Chill it before rolling, cut it cleanly, and chill the cut shapes again before baking.
How do I stop dough sticking to a cutter?
Dip it in flour between cuts, as Wilton advises, and keep the dough cold. Too much flour on the counter can toughen the cookies, so use only a little.
Our final pick for cut-out cookies
Related guide: Best cookie stamps.
Related guide: Best christmas cookie cutters.
Buy the Ann Clark Every Season set for shapes and the Ateco rounds for everything else; together they cover nearly every cookie you will bake. To portion drop cookies from the same kitchen, see our guide to the best cookie scoop, and for spreading frosting, the best offset spatula. If you would rather leave dessert to our kitchen tonight, see the menu or call to order.