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3 Best Gingerbread Man Cookie Cutters, Tested by Food Network Kitchen
Our very favorite one costs just $1!
Our Top Gingerbread Cookie Cutter Picks
- Best Overall: Threshold Gingerbread Man Holiday Cookie Cutter (seasonal)
- Best Year-Round Buy: Sur La Table Gingerbread Boy Cookie Cutter with Handle
- Best Set: FASAKA Gingerbread Boy Cookie Cutters Set
Tested by Sarah Zorn for Food Network Kitchen
With all the work it takes to make and roll out gingerbread cookie dough, it's important to have the right equiptment when it comes time to bake them — and that includes having the best cookie cutter for the job. Your cookie cutter can determine how detailed your cookies can be, so you'll want a cutter that will cut cleanly enough to preserve those details (you don’t want dough stuck in the little crannies).
What to Know Before Buying a Cookie Cutter
Material: You’ll need a material that cuts and releases cleanly — metal tends to be much better at the job than plastic, and is also easier to clean — and ideally, has a raised rim around the edges to assist in the job.
Shape: Even the most basically-shaped cookie cutters require a bit of scrutiny. Since they’ll invariably spread a bit, you want a cutter that has distinctly shaped arms and legs, or you might end up with a less-than-merry gingerbread blob.
We took all these factors into consideration when testing out gingerbread man cookie cutters to find the best ones for the job. Turns out, you don't have to spend an arm and a leg on our top selections. Our favorite will cost you just $1! Read on to find out how we chose our favorite cutters.
Sarah Zorn
How We Tested
We noted the measurements and weight of each cutter, the materials they contained, and if the manufacturers made any special claims (such as “Perfect cutting and cushioned grip for extra control.”) We then tested the cutters on gingerbread cookie dough, evaluating how easily each model cut, lifted and released the dough, and how well the cookies held their shape after baking. Finally, we checked to see how straightforward the cookie cutters were to clean by hand, and if they were dishwasher safe.
Expenses are endless during the holiday season, so there’s no reason to break the bank on cookie cutters. Especially since the best one we tested actually ended up being the cheapest! It will only run you one dollar for this utterly classic cutter, with clearly positioned arms and legs that held their shape after baking. The durable steel is edged with PVC, which is more comfortable to press down on with your palm and releases cleanly. And the entire unit is dishwasher safe, making cleanup a breeze after turning out dozens and dozens of cookies.
This gleaming copper cutter is pretty as a picture, just the thing for staging spectacular holiday scenes on Instagram. And it even comes with a handle, making it especially simple to cut and transfer cookies. You’ll need to wash it by hand, but it’s simple enough to wipe clean. And besides, with this cookie cutter in your kitchen, it will begin to look a whole lot like Christmas — even if it’s dusted in flour and sitting inside the sink!
Looking to make a whole gingerbread family? A set is your best bet. And we loved FASAKA’s adorable trio, with small, medium and large cutters made from sturdy stainless steel. The rims are forged from eco-friendly PVC, eliminating sharp edges that poke into eager palms. And after baking, our gingerbread folk still had clearly defined legs and feet — all the better to decorate!
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