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3D Print Your First Cookie Cutter, Step by Step

Freshly baked cookies cooling on a wire rack, cut into cheerful shapes

This guide assumes you have a 3D printer and a spool of PLA, and you've done one or two test prints — maybe a calibration cube or a benchy — but you've never printed a cookie cutter before. By the end of this walkthrough you'll have printed your first cutter, tested it on dough, and baked the first cookie. The whole process takes an afternoon.

Step 1: Choose your first STL file

For a first print, pick a simple shape. A round cutter, a star, or a simple animal silhouette. Avoid script letters on your very first attempt — those have thin detail sections and slightly trickier slicer settings. The Minted Prints catalogue has simple starter shapes clearly labelled. Pick something in the 60–80mm size range — not too small (harder to handle), not too large (longer print time for a first attempt).

When you purchase or download the file, you'll get a .stl or .3mf file. Save it somewhere you'll find it — your desktop is fine for now.

Step 2: Download and install your slicer

A slicer converts the 3D model into the G-code your printer understands. Download the right one for your printer:

Install the slicer, open it, and set it up for your printer model when prompted. Most slicers have a setup wizard that walks through this. Bambu Studio in particular is mostly automatic once you log in.

Step 3: Import the STL and set the print settings

Open your slicer and import the STL file (File > Open or drag-and-drop). The cutter model will appear on a virtual build plate. It should be oriented with the flat base down — if it isn't, use the slicer's "Lay flat" or "Auto-orient" function.

Now set these specific values. This is the most important part:

Click "Slice" (or "Prepare" in Bambu Studio). The slicer will show you a preview of the toolpath and an estimated print time. For a 70mm round cutter, expect 20–35 minutes.

Step 4: Prepare the printer and bed

Before sending the print:

  1. Wipe the build plate with a clean cloth dampened with isopropyl alcohol (90% or higher). This removes finger oils that prevent adhesion.
  2. Run the printer's bed-leveling routine. On Bambu and Prusa machines, this is automatic — just start it from the menu. On an Ender 3 V2, do a manual 5-point level with a sheet of paper.
  3. Load PLA filament if not already loaded. Extrude a small amount to make sure the nozzle is primed and no previous filament colour is coming through.

Step 5: Send the print and watch the first layer

Export the G-code to the printer (SD card, USB, WiFi depending on your printer) and start the print. Watch the entire first layer print. This is where problems show up:

Once the first layer looks good and the brim is sticking uniformly, you can leave the printer running.

Step 6: Remove the finished cutter

When the print finishes, let the build plate cool to room temperature before removing the cutter — usually 10–15 minutes. On PEI plates, the print typically pops off with light pressure once the plate is cool. If it doesn't release, flex the plate slightly. Avoid prying with metal tools; a plastic spatula under the brim is safer.

Peel the brim off the cutter. It should come away cleanly. Any rough brim edges can be lightly sanded with 220-grit sandpaper.

Step 7: Wash the cutter before use

Wash the cutter in hot soapy water, rinse, and let it dry completely before using it on food. This removes any printing residue and is standard food hygiene practice for 3D-printed items. See the food safety guide for more detail.

Step 8: Test on dough

Roll out your cookie dough to about 5–6mm thickness. Dust lightly with flour. Press the cutter firmly and evenly into the dough — press from the body of the cutter, not just the handle tip — then lift straight up. The shape should release cleanly.

If the dough sticks inside the cutter: dust both sides of the dough and the cutter itself with flour before pressing. If the cut edge is ragged: see the troubleshooting section in the print guide, or try reprinting at 0.16mm layer height for a cleaner edge.

Round cookie cutters on a floured surface ready for rolling out dough

Step 9: Bake and decorate

Transfer the cut cookies to a lined baking sheet with a thin metal spatula. Bake at your recipe's temperature — typically 175°C (350°F) for 10–12 minutes for sugar cookies and 180°C (360°F) for 8–10 minutes for gingerbread. The cookies will spread slightly; standard PLA cutters produce slightly larger finished cookies than the raw cut shape.

Let them cool on the sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Once fully cool, decorate with royal icing or buttercream.

What to do next

You've printed and used your first cutter. Now the interesting part starts. Browse the full catalogue for more shapes. If you want to get into reliable batch printing, the failproof printing guide covers profiles and batch workflow. For the complete technical reference on settings and failure modes, the print guide has everything. And if you want to design your own custom shapes, start with the design overview.