How to Make Custom Cookie Cutters with a Laser Cutter

3D printers are popular for making custom cookie cutters, but you can also make them with a laser cutter.

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I prefer making DIY cookie cutters with a laser cutter because it doesn't take nearly as long as a 3D printer - although if you don't have either machine, a 3D printer is likely the less expensive option. Read on for how to make any shape cutters with a laser!

The trick to making custom cookie cutters with a laser is that you'll need to use 1/4" acrylic which means you'll need a CO2 laser. A diode is just not going to do it.

I'm using my xTool P2 (new model xTool P2s) for this project because it's the fastest and most powerful CO2 laser I have.

Start by grabbing your shape. I am using this basic bunny shape. Usually I go into Silhouette Studio for any designing, but this is so easy and xTool Creative Space has plenty of tools you can pop directly in there.

In XCS open the file by going to File > Import Image.

Size the design down based on how large you want your cookie cutter to be.

Now you're going to add an offset to create the actual cutter. With the image select open the Offset tool at the top tool bar. Adjust the distance to 0.1 inches.

Group the offset and original together and duplicate it. You need to cut two of these to stack on top of each other so you end up with a cookie cutter that's half inch tall.

Now grab your 1/4" acrylic. Any color is fine. I used clear because that's what I had on hand. My favorite way to attach acrylic pieces is with double sided 3M adhesive mask.

Here's the thing though - only one of the two acrylic pieces you're going to cut for the cookie cutter needs the mask. My suggestion is to cut off a small piece of the mask that's just slightly bigger than the size of your cutter. Remove the liner from one side and place it directly on the acrylic.

Place the acrylic piece - mask side down into the laser bed. Refresh your camera in xTool Creative Space and move one cookie cutter shape over the masked area of the acrylic and one to a part of the acrylic that does not have any adhesive mask on it.

I found that the settings for 1/4" clear acrylic were just slightly not enough when laser cutting masked acrylic. Slowing the speed from the recommending 8 to 5 and keeping the power of 100 worked perfectly.

When you're ready you can send your laser to cut the acrylic.

Remove both pieces of the cookie cutter from the laser bed and clean them well.

Remove any mask that remains on the acrylic including the 3M adhesive liner. You want to expose the adhesive - this is going to be the bottom of the top piece and it's going to sit right on the top of the bottom piece if that makes sense.

You're going to stack them together to make a 0.5" tall cookie cutter from two .25" pieces of acrylic.

And there you go! Make sure you clean them really well before you use them.

I made these in two sizes and experimented with making a little handle which isn't really needed but didn't leave any type of mark or anything on the cookies.

And I'm happy to report the custom cookie cutters work just as I had hoped.

I'm still learning royal icing so don't judge :)

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing products through my links, I receive a small commission. That's what helps fund Silhouette School so I can keep buying new Silhouette-related products to show you how to get the most out of your machine!

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