You’ve got so many cookie cutters that some nights you fear they are plotting amongst themselves to take over your kitchen! Yet some how not one of them is the right shape for your latest cookie adventure. Don’t fret… all it takes is a little thinking outside the box and you can use your existing cookie cutters to create your own custom shaped cookies!
Start by taking a look at your current cookie cutter inventory to get an idea of the shapes you have to work with. Determine what cookie cutters you want to combine to create your new custom shape. In this example, I used a square cookie cutter and a flower cookie cutter to create a custom shaped MOM cookie.
Sketch out your idea by tracing your cookie cutter shapes, overlapping them where you want the shapes to combine during baking.
Make the dough for your favorite sugar cookies and set it in the fridge until chilled. I find that is it always easier to work with chilled dough. Especially when making custom shaped cookies by fitting pieces of dough together.
Cut the chilled dough with your cookie cutters. In places where shapes need to fit together like puzzle pieces, use the appropriate cookie cutter to cut into a shape and remove a piece of dough. Then, simply fit your shapes together on a cookie sheet and bake your dough according to the directions in your favorite sugar cookie recipe.
Once your baked cookies have cooled, you can decorate them with royal icing as usual. I used bright pink royal icing, disco dust, and a leopard print pattern to create my MOM cookies.
Keep in mind that your custom shaped cookie will be weakest at the points where the shapes connect, so covering those areas with icing will only help to reduce the chances of breakage.
To explore more ways to make your own custom shaped cookies check out:
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Cupcake Cookies with Pink Heart Centers by sugarkissed.net: a tutorial for combining colored dough and multiple cookie cutters for unique cookies
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How To Make Cookie Cutter Templates by Haniela’s: a tutorial for turning plastic dividers into custom shaped cookie cutter templates
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How Do I… make my own cookie cutters? by LilaLoa: a tutorial for making cookie cutters using aluminum sheeting
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Creative Christmas Cookies Using Halloween Cutters by The Sweet Adventures of Sugarbelle: a lesson in how to use cookie cutters for shapes that they weren’t originally designed for
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20 Ways To Use A Star Cutter by Confessions of a Cookbook Queen: examples of how one cookie cutter can create a number of different sweets
For more sweet inspiration, check out the link parties that I love.
Great cookie idea and decorating and great links!
Paula recently posted..The Ultimate Canadian Cocktail – Friday Cocktail Party with Creative Culinary
Thank you, Paula!
I’m here from Something Swanky party and so glad to have found this, it makes so much sense, yet I never would have thought of it myself. This I’m going to try for sure. Hope mine come out half as well as yours.
Karen @ BakingInATornado recently posted..Acorns and Apples
Thanks, Karen! Hope you give it a try!
Cool idea, kids would love doing this too
Mel recently posted..The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe.
Thanks, Mel!
What a cool idea!!
Kate recently posted..Pumpkin-Buttermilk Cake with Brown Sugar and Cognac Glaze
Thanks, Kate!
Super Cute idea!!
Angie recently posted..Entertaining Ideas | Mini Pancakes!
Thanks, Angie!
I have tons of cutters, I need to use your ideas and be a little more creative with them! Your MOM cookie turned out great!
CuteEverything recently posted..fall leaf cupcakes
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Thanks for linking up at Pin It Thursday– I featured you here http://www.sweetbellaroos.com/2012/09/22/pin-worthy-featured-links-2/ Great tips!
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Great idea! Thanks so much for linking up at I Gotta Create! <3 Christina
Thanks, Christina! And thanks for hosting every week!
looks like art! thanks for linking up to Marvelous Mondays
Thanks, Paula! I love your link party… thanks for hosting!
What a great idea! I love how you used the flower for the O in mom. They look like little pieces of art. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful tip.
Thanks for the kind compliment, Michele!
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I like it.It is so beautiful.Thank you.
Thank you Janine!
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