How to Make Your Own 3D Printed Cookie Cutters
π Overview
Want a cookie cutter nobody else has? This project turns any shape into a working cutter: find a picture online, trace it in Fusion 360, extrude the blade and the embossed detail, then print it on your 3D printer.
All you need is free software and a home 3D printer, which makes this the perfect crossover project between baking and 3D printing - and a great little gift for a friend.
π§° What you need
- A 3D printer (any FDM machine, PLA filament)
- Fusion 360 (free personal licence)
- Any image with a clean outline to trace
- Optional: silicone mat or rolling pin to help press the dough
π§ Step by step
Gather tools and materials
Check your build plate size - keep the cutter diameter inside it
PLA has limited heat resistance and suits cold dough; switch to PETG if you want more
Download a ready-made STL
The author shares several finished cutters you can print as-is
Skip this step if you want a custom shape and start designing at step 3
Set up your design tool
Fusion 360's personal licence is free - just register and start
The design part uses only sketching and extrude, so it is very approachable
Find an image
Pick something with a clean outline and not too much detail - a cat, a dinosaur, or letters
Line art or silhouettes are easiest to trace
Import the image into Fusion 360
Use Insert Canvas to place the image on a sketch plane
Scale the image to the finished cutter size
Trace the outline
Draw a spline around the edge of the shape
Keep the curve closed and use as few points as possible - fewer points give smoother curves
Create the offset outline
Offset the traced line inwards to create the blade thickness
The offset is the wall thickness - 2-3mm works well
Extrude the blade
Extrude between the two outlines to form the cutting edge
Anything from 15-25mm tall works; too tall and it is hard to press
Extrude the embossed detail
You can add a shallow emboss inside the shape
Keep the emboss 2-3mm deep so the imprint looks good without distorting the cookie
Add a handle and supports
Add a bar across the back as a handle so you can press hard
Rib the thin walls so they do not warp or snap
Combine the bodies
Use Combine to merge the blade, emboss, and handle into one solid
Check for floating shells or broken faces before exporting the STL
Print and bake
Print flat; 2-3 walls are plenty for the thin blade
Rinse the cutter after use and never put it in a hot dishwasher cycle
π‘ Tips
- Run a slice preview before printing to check the thin walls are continuous - too thin and it prints like a sieve
- Dough consistency matters: too soft and it sticks, too hard and it will not press; chill the dough for 20 minutes first
- For letter cutters, do not mirror the shape or the cookie will come out backwards