Free STL Cookie Cutter Ideas

If you love baking and getting creative in the kitchen, why not take it a step further and make your own cookie cutters? With a home 3D printer and some free digital designs, you can create 3D printed cookie cutters in virtually any shape you want. And the best part? There are plenty of free cookie cutter STL files available online. In fact, BakeShape offers a whole collection of free cookie cutter STL files that you can download and print right away!

For home bakers (even if you’re not tech-savvy), 3D printing your own cutters is easier than it sounds. In this post, we’ll explain what STL files are, why making your own cutters with a 3D printer is so beneficial, and exactly how to 3D print cookie cutters step by step. We’ll also showcase BakeShape’s free designs and share tips on materials, printing settings, and caring for your custom cutters. Let’s dive in!

What Is an STL File?

STL stands for stereolithography (in case you’re curious), but in simple terms, an STL file is a 3D model file format. Think of it as a digital cookie cutter template – it's the file you'll download that contains the shape of your cutter. 3D printers use STL files as the blueprint to print objects. When you have a cookie cutter STL file, you can load it into your printing software, and it’s like giving your printer the recipe for the cutter you want to make.

In our case, STL files represent the cookie cutter designs. You can find many STL files online, and BakeShape has made it super convenient by providing ready-to-use files for popular shapes (more on those in a moment). Using an STL file is straightforward: you download the file, open it in a slicer program (which prepares the file for your 3D printer), and then hit print. Don’t worry if you’re new to this – we’ll walk you through the process step by step below.

Why 3D Print Your Own Cookie Cutters?

What makes printing your own cutters worth it? For anyone who loves baking, 3D printing cookie cutters brings a bunch of benefits:

• Endless Design Possibilities: You’re not limited to the cookie cutter shapes you find in stores. Want a unicorn, a custom logo, or your kid’s favorite cartoon character? If you can find (or design) the STL, you can print it. Your cutter collection can be as unique as your imagination.
• On-Demand Convenience: Need a special shape for a party or holiday tomorrow? Simply download a cookie cutter STL and print it at home — no waiting for shipping or last-minute store runs. You get your cutter exactly when you need it.
• Cost-Effective: After the initial investment in a 3D printer, making cutters is inexpensive. A small amount of filament (just a few cents’ worth of PLA) can produce a cutter, which is often cheaper than buying a new specialty cutter from the store.
• Custom Sizing: With digital files, you can scale the cutter larger or smaller before printing to get the perfect size for your needs. Make a big statement cookie or a mini bite-sized treat — it’s up to you.
• Fun & Creative: It’s a fun DIY project! This hobby blends baking and tech in a really rewarding way. You can even get the whole family involved. Plus, you’ll definitely impress friends and family with truly unique cookie designs that no one else has.

BakeShape’s Free STL Cookie Cutter Collection

BakeShape is all about making 3D-printable baking tools accessible, especially for beginners. To help you get started, we offer a selection of free cookie cutter STL downloads on our site. These aren't low-quality throwaways – we take care to ensure each free design is easy to print and works great in the kitchen. Here’s a look at what you can find in our free collection:

• Basic Shapes Pack: Classic shapes like a circle and a square cookie cutter, each provided in multiple sizes ranging from about 40 mm up to 100 mm. These fundamentals are super handy for all kinds of baking projects. Having size options means you can bake everything from mini cookies for bite-sized treats to large cookies that make a statement.
• Fun Shapes: Cute designs such as a bear, a cracked dinosaur egg, a festive tree (think Christmas tree), a cheerful balloon set, and even a textured starfish. Each of these is roughly 75 mm (around 3 inches) in size. They add a bit of whimsy to your baking and are perfect for themed parties or baking with kids.

Each BakeShape STL design has been tested for quality. Our cutters have sharp cutting edges to slice cleanly through dough, and thick, sturdy walls so they won’t bend out of shape when you press down. The backs of the cutters are flat, so they print evenly on the printer bed without needing any messy support material. Even if you’re brand new to 3D printing, these files are beginner-friendly – just download, print, and start cutting dough, no special tweaks required.

One of our free designs is a tree shape that doubles as a Christmas tree cookie cutter – perfect for holiday baking. (We also have an entire Christmas cookie cutter STL collection for more festive designs when you’re ready to explore other winter holiday shapes!) Many bakers start with the free files to practice, then move on to our premium designs for more specific or complex themes. But for now, the free collection has plenty to keep you inspired.

How to 3D Print Cookie Cutters (Step-by-Step)

Not sure how to go from a downloaded STL file to a physical cookie cutter you can hold? Don’t worry — just follow these simple steps:

1. Download the STL file: First, find the cookie cutter design you want from the BakeShape free collection. Click the download link for the STL file (you might need to go through a quick checkout even if it’s free, depending on the site setup). Save the file to your computer. If it downloads as a ZIP file, unzip it to get the .stl file inside.
2. Open the STL in your slicer software: A slicer is the program that converts the 3D model into instructions your printer can understand (called G-code). Open up your preferred slicer (for example, Ultimaker Cura or PrusaSlicer) and import the cookie cutter STL file. You should see the cutter shape on the virtual build plate. Make sure the cutter is oriented flat on its back (the cutting edge should be facing up). If you want to adjust the size of the cutter, you can scale the model in the slicer at this stage.
3. Slice with the right settings: Now it’s time to set up your print settings. We recommend using a layer height of about 0.2 mm for a good balance of detail and speed. Set the wall thickness or perimeters to around 2–3 walls (this will make the cutter sturdy, since the cutter is basically an outline shape). You typically won’t need much infill – in fact, for many cookie cutter designs that are just walls, infill percentage can be 0%. And you can turn off support material because a cutter prints flat without overhangs. Once you’ve double-checked everything, hit the “Slice” button to generate the G-code file.
4. Prepare your printer and filament: Make sure your 3D printer is ready to go – the bed is level and clean, and you have the filament loaded. We highly recommend using PLA filament for cookie cutters. PLA is easy to print with and captures details well. It’s also food-safe enough for cookie dough use (just avoid exposing it to high heat). You could also use PETG filament if you prefer a bit more durability and slightly better heat resistance (PETG can sometimes handle warm water washing better than PLA). However, PETG prints at higher temperatures and can be stringier, so it might be a bit trickier for complete beginners. It’s best to avoid ABS filament for cookie cutters – ABS can warp without a special setup, and it’s not generally considered food-safe due to the chemicals it contains. So stick with PLA or PETG for best results.
5. Print your cookie cutter: Send the sliced G-code file to your 3D printer (via SD card, USB, or Wi-Fi, depending on your machine) and start the print job. Now sit back and watch as your cookie cutter takes shape layer by layer! Most cookie cutters will print fairly quickly – often in an hour or two, depending on the size and your print settings. Once the printer is finished, let the cutter cool for a minute, then carefully remove it from the build plate. Congratulations, you now have a custom cookie cutter you made yourself! (Tip: Before using the cutter on food, give it a quick wash in warm soapy water to ensure it’s clean.)

Pretty neat, right? As you can see, it’s a straightforward process to go from a digital STL file to a physical cookie cutter you can use for baking.

Care Tips for 3D Printed Cookie Cutters

Once you’ve printed your cookie cutters, you’ll want to take good care of them so you can reuse them for many baking sessions. Here are some tips to keep your 3D printed cutters in great shape:

• Hand Wash Only: Always wash your 3D printed cookie cutters by hand. Use warm (not boiling hot) water and a mild dish soap. Gently scrub if needed to remove dough bits. Avoid the dishwasher – the high heat of a dishwasher can cause plastic (especially PLA) to soften or warp.
• Use Lukewarm Water: Extremely hot water isn’t ideal for cleaning printed plastic. Stick to lukewarm or cool water to be safe. If dough is stuck on, let the cutter soak for a few minutes in soapy water and then scrub with a soft brush or sponge.
• Dry Thoroughly: After washing, dry the cutter completely with a towel. It’s best not to leave it wet or soak it for long periods. Drying it prevents any potential bacteria from finding a home in the layer lines or any crevices.
• Proper Storage: Store your cutters in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. PLA in particular can deform if it gets too hot (for example, don’t leave it on a sunny windowsill or near a hot oven). Keeping them in a drawer or cabinet with your other baking tools works great.
• Reprint if Worn: Over time, if a cutter gets worn out or if you notice scratches or cracks, you can always print a fresh new one. That’s the beauty of having the STL file – you have an endless supply of backups!

Fun Ways to Use Your 3D Printed Cutters

The primary job of these cutters is obviously to cut cookie dough, but don’t feel limited to just cookies. Here are other creative ways to use your 3D printed cutters:

• Cookie Dough & Biscuits: The obvious one – use your printed cutters for cutting sugar cookies, gingerbread, shortbread, or any cookie dough. They work for homemade biscuits and scones too.
• Cake Decorating (Fondant/Gum Paste): Use the cutters to cut shapes out of rolled fondant or gum paste. This is perfect for decorating cakes and cupcakes. For example, the balloon cutter can make cute fondant balloon shapes to top a birthday cake, and the bear cutter could create an adorable fondant bear for a baby shower cupcake.
• Playdough & Crafts: 3D printed cutters are great for kids’ playdough sessions or even for cutting shapes out of salt dough and clay for crafts. Kids love pressing out shapes with their favorite themes. (Just a tip: if you use a cutter for non-food materials like playdough or clay, it’s best to dedicate it to that use and not mix it with food use.)
• Sandwiches & Fruit Shapes: For a fun twist on snacks, use larger cutters to cut sandwich bread into playful shapes, or cut soft fruits like watermelon and cantaloupe into fun shapes. It’s a neat way to make food more exciting for kids’ lunches and parties.

As you can see, a simple 3D printed cutter can be a multi-purpose tool in your kitchen and craft arsenal. Feel free to get creative!

Ready for more free designs? BakeShape is continually adding new STL files to our free collection. To make sure you never miss a new freebie, be sure to join BakeShape’s newsletter. We’ll send you updates whenever we have new free cookie cutter STL files available, plus handy baking tips and 3D printing tricks to get the most out of your projects. Happy baking and happy printing!