Think those cookie cutters are just for Christmas? Think again! You can make cut-out cookies all year with these tasty recipes that range from classic sugar cookies to mocha cut-outs to citrus-flavored options.
35 Cutout Cookies to Make All Year Long
Updated on Sep. 17, 2024
Ombre Cutout Cookies
Talk about playing with your food! An edible color spray lets you create ombre and color blends unlike other decorating techniques. To create the ombre effect, hold a sheet of paper over already-painted sections as you add layers the color. —Shannon Norris, Taste of Home Senior Food Stylist
Also, check these sugar cookie tips for the best-ever treats.
1/35
2/35
Chocolate-Glazed Doughnut Cookies
Total Time
50 min
Servings
1-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My little nieces love to help decorate these doughnut-shaped cookies. They top them with sprinkles, chopped pecans or crushed candy canes. —Jolie Stinson, Marion, Indiana
Need some help with your cutouts? Check out our best cutout cookie tips.
3/35
Orange Sugar Cookies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I make these citrusy cookies for parties and special occasions, and we always get to eat the ones that don't come out perfectly. Eventually I had to start making extra "mistakes" to keep my family happy! —Myrrh Wertz, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
4/35
White Velvet Cutouts
Total Time
35 min
Servings
about 5-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
We make and decorate these cutouts for different holidays and give lots of them as gifts. Last year, we baked a batch a week before Christmas to be sure we'd have plenty to give and plenty for ourselves, too. These rich cookies melt in your mouth. —Kim Hinkle, Wauseon, Ohio
5/35
Brown Sugar Cutout Cookies
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
7-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Our neighbor made these for me when I was little, and now I make them for my kids, my grandkids and the children at school. Serve them with milk for the kids and tea for the grown-ups. —Nancy Lynch, Somerset, Pennsylvania
6/35
Unicorn Manes
Total Time
25 min
Servings
24 cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
Everyone loves a classic shortbread cookie. Make each cookie magical with a quick dip into melted baking chips and rainbow-colored sprinkles. Your unicorns will love these rainbow bites. —Angela Lemoine, Howell, New Jersey
7/35
Peanut Butter Cinnamon Snap Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These peanut butter cinnamon cookies are perfect for bake sales, potlucks or holiday gift baskets. Use fun cookie cutters for any occasion you are celebrating. The cookie glaze dries shiny, so they look professional. —Kallee Krong-McCreery, Escondido, California
8/35
Wookie Cookies
Total Time
55 min
Servings
About 1-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Who wouldn’t want a Chewie cookie? These adorable cutouts will be a fan favorite at any kind of “Star Wars” party. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
9/35
Jumbo Chocolate Cutouts
Total Time
25 min
Servings
about 2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
The recipe for these light cookies has been passed down from generation to generation. Have a little extra fun with frosting if you like. They freeze well, too!—Helen Brown, East Dover, Vermont
10/35
Peanut Butter Cutout Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
4-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I used peanut butter in place of the butter in my take on a traditional cutout cookie, which turned out super nutty and soft. My children love to decorate the cookie with frosting, sprinkles and some creativity. —Cindi Bauer, Marshfield, Wisconsin
11/35
Viennese Cookies
Total Time
45 min
Servings
about 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
A Swedish friend shared this recipe with me many years ago. A chocolate glaze tops tender cookies filled with apricot jam. —Beverly Stirrat, Mission, British Columbia
12/35
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 3-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
A friend gave me the recipe for these cookies many years ago, and they’re as delicious as the ones Mom used to make. The secret to the recipe is to measure exactly (no guessing on the amounts) and to not overbake. —Wendy Coalwell, Abbeville, Georgia
13/35
Roll-Out Cookies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
about 6 dozen (2-1/4 inch cookies)
From the Recipe Creator:
I collect cookie cutters (I have over 5,000!), so a good cutout recipe is a must. These cookies are crisp and buttery-tasting with just a hint of lemon, and the dough handles nicely. —Bonnie Price, Yelm, Washington
(Here’s how to roll out cookie dough like a pro!)
14/35
White Chocolate-Cappuccino Cookies
Total Time
25 min
Servings
about 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These adorable cookies shaped like coffee cups don't last long with my friends and family. For an even richer flavor, I use a mocha latte coffee mix. —Nancy Sousley, Lafayette, Indiana
15/35
Letter-Stamped Butter Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
about 2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Alphabet cookie stamps make creating these one-of-a-kind treats a snap. Surprise your guests with dessert before dinner! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
16/35
Sugar Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This sugar cookie dates back to a Swedish woman born in 1877! Her daughter, Esther Davis, shared the recipe with me and she came up with all the exact measurements, since the original cookies were mixed by feel and taste. These are my favorite cookies and I hope they’ll become yours as well. —Helen Wallis, Vancouver, Washington
17/35
Sugar Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This sugar cookie dates back to a Swedish woman born in 1877! Her daughter, Esther Davis, shared the recipe with me and she came up with all the exact measurements, since the original cookies were mixed by feel and taste. These are my favorite cookies and I hope they’ll become yours as well. —Helen Wallis, Vancouver, Washington
18/35
Grandma's Star Cookies
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
about 7 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband's grandma would make these butter cutouts only with a star cookie cutter. I use various shapes for celebrations throughout the year. —Jenny Brown, West Lafayette, Indiana
19/35
Gingerbread Cookies with Buttercream Icing
Total Time
40 min
Servings
1-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
When it’s time to start the cookie-baking season, this recipe always kicks off the festivities. My mother-in-law first shared it with me, but it’s too good to keep to myself! You can tint the buttery gingerbread cookie icing a cheery pink or green and pipe it on with a decorating tip. —Ann Scherzer, Anacortes, Washington
20/35
Almond Raspberry Stars
Total Time
45 min
Servings
about 1-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
The first Christmas that I baked these, I ended up quickly making a second batch! The whole family enjoyed them. —Darlene Weaver, Lebanon, Pennsylvania
21/35
Sugar Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This sugar cookie dates back to a Swedish woman born in 1877! Her daughter, Esther Davis, shared the recipe with me and she came up with all the exact measurements, since the original cookies were mixed by feel and taste. These are my favorite cookies and I hope they’ll become yours as well. —Helen Wallis, Vancouver, Washington
22/35
Glazed Maple Shortbread Cookies
Total Time
45 min
Servings
1-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Whenever I visit friends in Lutsen, Minnesota, I make sure to buy maple syrup there because I think it's even better than in Quebec. These delicious cookies can be decorated with sprinkles but they're just fine as is.—Lorraine Caland, Shuniah, Ontario
23/35
Caramel-Apple Shortbread Cookies
Total Time
45 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
There is nothing like seeing my friends almost melt to the floor when they bite into something I made. These cookies never fail to elicit oohs and aahs. —Amber Taylor, Lenoir City, Tennessee
24/35
Lemon Butter Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 13 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These tender cutout cookies have a slight lemon flavor that makes them stand out from the rest. They’re very easy to roll out compared to other sugar cookies I’ve worked with. I know you’ll enjoy them as much as we do. —Judy McCreight, Springfield, Illinois
25/35
Zimtsterne
Total Time
50 min
Servings
about 5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
During December, homes and bakeries in Switzerland are filled with the aroma of classic cookies like these "Zimtsterne." —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
26/35
Snowy Mountain Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 7 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I was so excited to bake these with my mom after coming home from studying abroad in Germany. They remind me of the Swabian Alps I could see from my room there. Be careful not to overheat the white chocolate; it’ll lose that attractive shine. —Stephanie Bouley, North Smithfield, Rhode Island
27/35
Coconut Cookies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
9 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This simple yet satisfying coconut cookie recipe has been around for generations. Pressing a fork into the top gives the look of an old-fashioned washboard. —Tommie Sue Shaw, McAlester, Oklahoma
28/35
Chocolate Walnut Crescents
Total Time
50 min
Servings
about 10-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I use a round cookie cutter to form the crescent shapes for these nutty favorites. They're so pretty sprinkled with sugar and drizzled with chocolate. —TerryAnn Moore, Vineland, New Jersey
29/35
Lemon Shortbread Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I received this recipe for lemon shortbread cookies from my cousin, who tried to duplicate cookies she loved from a restaurant. It was in a cookbook she made for the family for Christmas! —Lorie Miner, Kamas, Utah
30/35
Linzer Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This specialty cookie takes a little extra effort, but the results are sweet! They really help to make the holidays feel special. —Jane Pearcy, Verona, Wisconsin
31/35
Scottish Shortbread
Total Time
35 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My mother, who is of Scottish heritage, passed this shortbread recipe, along with other favorite recipes, on to me. When I entered this treat at our local fair, it won a red ribbon. —Rose Mabee, Selkirk, Manitoba
32/35
Decorated Christmas Cutout Cookies
Total Time
25 min
Servings
6 dozen (2-1/2-inch cookies)
From the Recipe Creator:
Rich and buttery Christmas cutout cookies like these never last long at a party. They’re one of my favorite homemade Christmas cookies. I use seasonal cutters to celebrate the holidays tastefully. —Lynn Burgess, Rolla, Missouri
33/35
Lemon Butter Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 13 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These tender cutout cookies have a slight lemon flavor that makes them stand out from the rest. They're very easy to roll out compared to other sugar cookies I've worked with. I know you'll enjoy them as much as we do. —Judy McCreight, Springfield, Illinois
34/35
Sugar Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This sugar cookie dates back to a Swedish woman born in 1877! Her daughter, Esther Davis, shared the recipe with me and she came up with all the exact measurements, since the original cookies were mixed by feel and taste. These are my favorite cookies and I hope they’ll become yours as well. —Helen Wallis, Vancouver, Washington
35/35
Raspberry Linzer Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These wonderful cookies require a bit of extra effort to make and assemble, but the delight on the faces of family and friends when I serve them makes it all worthwhile. —Schelby Thompson, Camden Wyoming, Delaware
