Intro
The best cookie cutters for Christmas cookies are the ones that slice cleanly through chilled sugar cookie dough, hold their shape in the oven, and still look new after five Decembers. A cutter that bends, rusts, or leaves ragged edges turns a joyful afternoon of baking with the kids into a frustrating one — and the difference between a crisp gingerbread man and a puffy blob is often the cutter, not the recipe.
What matters most is the metal. Food-grade stainless steel is the safest bet: it holds a sharp, clean edge, resists rust through years of washing, and does not bend when you press firmly into stiff gingerbread dough. Tin-plated steel cuts well and costs less, but it rusts if it is not dried immediately. Plastic cutters are the kindest for small hands, but they struggle with stiff dough. Below, we have compared six cookie cutter sets available right now for Christmas baking, weighing material, edge quality, shape variety, and how easy each set is to clean and store.
Our Top Picks
Ann Clark Christmas Cookie Cutter Set
Ann Clark is our best overall pick — the brand professional bakers reach for. The cutters are made from sturdy tin-plated steel that holds its shape under firm pressure, so gingerbread men come out with crisp arms and legs instead of soft blobs, and the shapes are the classic Christmas set: tree, snowman, gingerbread man, snowflake, star, and candy cane. Ann Clark cutters are made in the USA, and the steel is thick enough that it does not flex when you press into chilled dough.
Pros:
- Thick, sturdy steel that does not bend under firm pressure
- Classic Christmas shapes with crisp, clean edges
- Made in the USA — the choice of professional bakers
- Shapes hold true in the oven, so decorated cookies look like the cutter
Cons:
- Tin-plated steel, not stainless — hand wash and dry immediately to prevent rust
- Higher price per cutter than the big multi-piece sets
- Not dishwasher safe
Wilton 101-Piece Holiday Cookie Cutter Set
The Wilton 101-Piece Holiday Set is our best pick for variety. With over a hundred cutters covering Christmas, Halloween, and everyday shapes, it is the set for a baker who decorates cookies all year — and for a family that wants every child to have their own shape at the table. The cutters are lightweight metal with a comfortable grip, and the sheer number of shapes means you will never run out of ideas for the cookie exchange.
Pros:
- Over 100 shapes — Christmas, seasonal, and everyday in one box
- Best value per cutter in this roundup by a wide margin
- Lightweight and easy for kids to press
- Great for cookie exchanges and classroom baking
Cons:
- Lighter-gauge metal than Ann Clark — cutters can flex on very stiff dough
- Storage is a project — 101 pieces need a box of their own
- Some shapes are small, which makes them fiddly to decorate
Fox Run 7-Piece Christmas Cookie Cutter Set
The Fox Run 7-Piece Set is our best pick for a focused Christmas set. Seven stainless steel cutters in the essential shapes — tree, snowman, gingerbread man, snowflake, star, bell, and candy cane — with a care instruction on the listing and a size that suits standard sugar cookies. It is the set to buy when you want the classics done well, without a drawer full of shapes you will never use.
Pros:
- Stainless steel — rust-resistant and durable for years of Decembers
- Seven essential Christmas shapes, no filler
- Good size for standard sugar cookies and gingerbread
- Easy to store — seven cutters stack neatly
Cons:
- Only seven shapes, so less variety than the big sets
- No comfort grip — the rim is plain steel
- Hand washing and thorough drying are still recommended
Ateco 6-Piece Christmas Cookie Cutter Set
The Ateco 6-Piece Set is our best pick for professional quality. Ateco is a bakery-supply brand, and these stainless steel cutters are built to the same standard as the ones in professional kitchens — clean, sharp edges, consistent sizing, and steel that stands up to daily use in December. The six shapes are the Christmas essentials at about 2.5 inches, the right size for a cookie that decorates well and bakes evenly.
Pros:
- Professional bakery-supply quality — sharp, consistent edges
- Stainless steel that resists rust and holds up to heavy use
- Well-sized at about 2.5 inches for even baking and easy decorating
- Durable enough for years of holiday baking
Cons:
- Only six shapes for the price
- No storage tin included
- Plain steel rims can be uncomfortable on very stiff dough
StarPack Home Christmas Cookie Cutters Set (18-Piece)
The StarPack Home 18-Piece Set is our best pick for families. Eighteen stainless steel cutters cover gingerbread men, stars, snowflakes, trees, and more, at a size that bakes quickly and decorates easily — and the price is low enough that buying a second set for the kids’ table does not hurt. The metal cutters deliver sharp, clean edges for flawless holiday shapes with minimal effort, and the set is a favorite for Pinterest-perfect cookies.
Pros:
- 18 pieces — plenty of shapes for a family baking afternoon
- Stainless steel for durable, sharp, rust-resistant cuts
- Good size for quick baking and easy decorating
- Very affordable for the number of cutters
Cons:
- Thinner steel than Ann Clark or Ateco — can flex on the stiffest dough
- No storage container included
- Shapes are simpler than the detailed Ann Clark designs
R&M Christmas Holiday Cookie Cutter Gift Set (6-Piece)
The R&M Christmas Holiday Gift Set is our best budget pick. Six coated-steel cutters in the classic holiday shapes — tree, snowman, gingerbread man, snowflake, star, and candy cane — come in a gift-ready set that is ready to wrap for the baker on your list. The coated steel cuts cleanly and wipes clean easily, and the set costs less than a batch of bakery cookies.
Pros:
- Best budget pick — six classic shapes for very little money
- Gift-ready set, perfect for a stocking stuffer or Secret Santa
- Coated steel cuts cleanly and wipes clean
- Good variety for the price
Cons:
- Coated steel, not stainless — the coating can chip over time
- Lighter build than the premium sets
- Hand wash only — the coating does not like the dishwasher
Buying Guide
Stainless steel is the safest default: Stainless steel cutters hold a sharp edge, resist rust through years of washing, and do not bend on stiff dough. Tin-plated steel cuts just as well and costs less, but it rusts if it is not dried the moment it is washed. Plastic is the friendliest for small children, but it struggles with stiff gingerbread dough. If you bake every December, buy stainless.
Edge quality decides the shape: A sharp, clean edge slices through chilled dough and leaves a crisp outline; a dull or rolled edge drags and tears. Thick steel like Ann Clark’s holds its edge and its shape under pressure, while thin, lightweight cutters can flex and distort the shape — especially on gingerbread, which is stiffer than sugar cookie dough.
Size matters for baking and decorating: Cutters around 2.5 to 3.5 inches bake evenly and decorate well — big enough for icing details, small enough to bake through. Very small cutters are fiddly to decorate and burn easily; very large cutters bake unevenly and dominate the plate. Check the size on the listing before you buy, because some sets do not state it.
Count the shapes you will actually use: A 101-piece set is wonderful for a family that bakes all year, but a focused 6- or 7-piece set of the Christmas classics is better if you bake once a December. Seven well-chosen shapes beat twenty shapes you never reach for — and they store in a fraction of the space.
Hand wash, dry immediately, store dry: Even stainless steel cutters last longer hand washed and dried straight away, and tin-plated and coated steel will rust or chip if left damp. Dry each cutter fully, store them nested or flat in a dry drawer, and they will still be cutting cleanly in five years.
FAQs
What is the best cookie cutter for Christmas cookies? The Ann Clark Christmas set is our top pick: thick steel that does not bend, crisp classic shapes, and professional quality. For stainless steel at a family-friendly price, the StarPack 18-piece set is the best value, and the Fox Run 7-piece set is the best focused set of the essentials.
Are stainless steel cookie cutters better than tin-plated? For most bakers, yes. Stainless steel resists rust, holds a sharp edge, and survives years of washing. Tin-plated steel cuts just as cleanly and costs less, but it must be hand washed and dried immediately or it will rust — which is why Ann Clark’s tin-plated cutters demand a little more care.
How do I stop cookies from spreading and losing their shape? Chill the cut dough for at least 30 minutes before baking, use a recipe with no leavening or very little baking powder, and bake on a cool baking sheet. A sharp cutter helps too — a clean cut edge holds its shape better than a torn one.
Can kids use metal cookie cutters? Yes, with supervision — the edges are sharp enough to cut dough, which means they can nick small fingers. For very young children, plastic cutters with comfort grips are the safer choice, and an adult should handle the metal sets.
How do I clean Christmas cookie cutters? Hand wash in warm soapy water, rinse, and dry immediately and thoroughly — especially tin-plated steel, which rusts fast when left damp. Avoid the dishwasher for tin-plated and coated sets; stainless sets can usually handle it, but hand washing still extends their life.
What size cookie cutter is best for Christmas cookies? About 2.5 to 3.5 inches is the sweet spot — big enough to decorate, small enough to bake evenly. The Ateco set at about 2.5 inches is a good reference point for a standard Christmas sugar cookie.
