How to Make a Gingerbread Cookie Cutter

Create custom gingerbread cookies with a homemade cookie cutter.

Nothing is more frustrating than not being able to locate the perfect cookie cutter for a special occasion or holiday party. Instead of searching endlessly, you can create your own gingerbread cookie cutter at home using a few simple supplies easily found in your local grocery and home improvement stores. While kids can help cut the cookies, this project should be performed by adults as you will need to handle sharp materials that could cause injury.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Pencil
• Scrap wood
• Finishing nails
• Disposable aluminum pan
• Scissors
• Metal spoon
• Stapler
• Staples

Instructions

1. Draw a gingerbread man onto a sheet of paper or print a picture of a gingerbread man from your computer. The gingerbread man must be the same size you want the finished cookie to be.

2. Tape the drawing to a piece of scrap wood.

3. Insert finishing nails around the perimeter of the gingerbread man at approximately 1/4-inch intervals. Alternate the nails so that one nail is just outside the outline and the next nail is just inside the outline of the gingerbread man.

4. Cut the sides from a disposable aluminum foil pan with scissors. Be careful as the cut edges of the pan will be very sharp. Dispose of the bottom of the pan.

5. Lay the sides of the pan flat on the counter and rub them with a metal spoon to smooth out any creases. You may not be able to smooth the corners of the pan, so throw them away if they remain crimped.

6. Fold the cut edge of the foil up approximately 1/4 inch, then smooth the fold flat with a metal spoon. The edge will be very sharp.

7. Fold the bottom edge up again so that the sharp edge is completely encased between layers of foil. Smooth everything down as flat as possible with your spoon. This edge will be the cutting edge of your gingerbread cookie cutter.

8. Bend the side of the pan back and forth through the finishing nails while following the outline of your original drawing. The nails will hold the gingerbread cookie cutter in place and help you bend the metal into shape.

9. Join new strips of foil as necessary to complete the cookie cutter by stapling the ends of the strips together with at least two staples.

10. Carefully lift the gingerbread cookie cutter straight up and off of the nails when you are happy with the shape. You can bend the cookie cutter slightly to perfect the shape once it has been removed.

Tips & Warnings

• Store the scrap of wood with the nails on it in case your gingerbread cookie cutter is lost or damaged. You can use the board to reshape your cookie cutter or create a new one.

References

• Sonic Gear: Cookie Cutter Sonic