I know that some of you hand cut your cookies when needed. I don't have anywhere close by to purchase the ones I want and I don't have time to order online. These are for my upcoming baby shower.

Do you have any tips for doing this?

TIA

Judi

i use an exatco knife. And I make sure to dip it in water.... helps it not stick to the dough!

Hi Judi,

What kind of tips are you looking for?

recipes? general information about cookie decorating? info on how to make templates? tips for hand cutting specifically?

if you have a specific idea in mind, you can print out the design on cardstock, cut it out using an exacto knife, and then use it as a stencil.

I have printed the designs just wasn't sure the best way to get a clean cookie.

Judi

I'm not sure of what exactly you're looking for, but there is an article "How to Make Your Own Cookie Cutters" at http://cakecentral.com/articles/125/how-to-make-your-own-cookie-cutters
That may be a more complicated process than you want.

Shanter

Here are some tips for you,

Use a clean sharp exacto cutter. As another CCer suggested, it helps to dip the tip in warm water and clean it as you work. Specially if your design is more complicated. (I personally never had to do this step)

I chill but do not freeze the cookie dough before cutting. I get cleaner cuts when the dough is chilled rather than room temperature. (You have to try both and see which one you prefer.)

To get clean edge, keep the blade as straight as possible to the edge of your template.

It helps tremendously if you cut your template of a sturdy paper rather than a normal for example printer paper. A good and easily accessible paper is photo printing paper. They work so well. They are sturdy so you have more control at keeping the blade's tip straight. They absorb less fat, so you can cut more cookies with one template.

HTH

Yes, just find the shape you want in a clip art image and print it out or draw the shape you want on a piece of paper. (I always make one or two extras.) Then cut it out, place it on your rolled out and chilled (doesn't have to be, but it is easier if it is) dough.

Unlike the other respondents, I don't like to use an exacto knife. It is too fiddly and (unexpectedly) I end up with jagged edges (I think because the knife is SO sharp and any slight wobble messes up the edges. I use a regular, cheapo kitchen knife (like the $5 kind you can buy at the grocery store--not a butter knife) or my basic paring knife. Place the image on the dough, trace around it with the knife and voila! In my experience, using the regular knives is also much faster than using the exacto knife.

Honestly, I find that it is a pretty easy and quick process to cut the cookies out this way. Good luck!

I don't know if these crazy ideas will work, but you could always try:

http://blog.jugglingfrogs.com/2007/10/make-your-own-cookie-cutter-from-clip.html

http://cakecentral.com/articles/125/how-to-make-your-own-cookie-cutters

http://www.craftygoat.com/2009/03/three_ways_to_make_your_own_co.html

I have done the first one!

I will say that it works great, just do not press to hard when cutting the dough, and be [repared to have to reshape as you go along!

I hand cut LOTS of my cookies! I save the plastic inserts that come with the booze sets around the holidays and use those for my templates. I use a paring knife, and if the edges are ragged I just tap the dough smooth with my finger or the edge of the knife. Good luck!

I just remembered about this video

http://www.universityofcookie.com/search/label/cookie%20cutters

Amanda from i am baker shows how to hand cut a cookie.