How To Buy Christmas Cookie Cutters

Making Christmas cookies is a time-honored tradition in many households. Cut-out cookies are a particular favorite, especially among children. If you'd like to start your own tradition, there are a few things to know about cookie cutters before you start shopping.

1. Metal or plastic? Cookie cutters are usually made of copper, tin or plastic. Metal cookie cutters are sharper than plastic, so they can cut through tough doughs more easily. Plastic cutters are less expensive, but they can warp if stored improperly, i.e. in a very warm place or near a sunny window. If you decide to buy metal cookie cutters, there's not really a difference between copper and tin. Copper tends to be a sturdier metal, so if you are buying very large cookie cutters, copper is a better choice. It is the most expensive option of the three. However, if you're making small to medium-sized cookies, tin will work just as well as copper.
2. With a handle or without? Some cookie cutters, especially metal ones, have a wooden knob on top, or a rubber hand-grip. This can be useful if you are cutting out many cookies at once, or have trouble gripping small objects. Cutters with handles will cost a bit more, so you may want to purchase just one and see if it makes a difference before you buy a whole set.
3. Individual cutters or a set? When you buy cookie cutters, especially Christmas ones, you'll notice that many are sold as a complete set. For example, you may see a set of six stars which nest inside of one another or a variety of Christmas shapes. If you will use all or at least, most, of the cutters in a set, they can be a really good value. One fun creation that you can create with a set of nested stars is a Christmas tree. Simply cut out two stars of each size, frost the centers, then stack them. Start with the two largest at the bottom and offset them so that the points of one star are in between the points of the next. Continue with the next largest, and so on. When your tree is finished, you can decorate it however you like.
4. Tips. When you are purchasing cookie cutters, try to avoid those which have small areas that extend away from the main part of the cookie cutter. It's very hard to prevent the points from over-baking and they have a tendency to break when you decorate them.

   If you are baking with young children, consider using only plastic cookie cutters. Although they don't cut as neatly as metal ones, they also won't cut little fingers.

   If you have some especially pretty metal cookie cutters, you can make an adorable Christmas ornament by tying a ribbon around the top edge and looping it over a tree branch.

5. Where to buy Christmas cookie cutters. Now that you know all there is to know about Christmas cookie cutters, here are some places in which to start your shopping.

   Sugarcraft: This website sells a large variety of Christmas cookie cutters, mostly of the metal variety. They also offer a wide selection of other Christmas cookie-related items, such as cookie molds and stencils.

   Foose Tinsmithing: This site offers a large array of hand-made tin Christmas cookie cutters. They also sell miniature holiday cutters, which range in height from 1-1/2" to 2" tall.

   The Cookie Cutter Shop: If variety is what you are looking for, this is the place to shop. If you can't find the cookie cutter you want here, you'll probably have to make it yourself!

   Kitchen stores: If you prefer to see what you're buying in person, nearly all kitchen stores sell Christmas cookie cutters, especially as it gets closer to the holidays. The selection may not be as extensive as an online store, but if you can't find what you're looking for, ask if they have a catalog. You may be able to order it.

Now that you have your Christmas cookie cutters, it's time to start baking. Whether you use a family recipe handed down through several generations or one that you found in a cookbook just by chance, you'll soon be creating cookie-making memories of your own!

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