National Cookie Cutter Day is celebrated every year on December 1st, right at the start of the holiday baking season, honoring the simple tool that turns plain cookie dough into festive shapes.
History of National Cookie Cutter Day
The exact founder of National Cookie Cutter Day is disputed across sources, with some crediting Paula Mullins, who founded National Cookie Cutter Week in the mid-1990s and later founded the Cookie Cutter Collectors’ Club, while others credit a woman named Bobbi Barton with establishing the specific day in 2019. Regardless of the exact founding, the observance fits perfectly at the start of December, just as holiday cookie baking ramps up across the country.
Cookie cutters themselves have a much longer history, with early dough-shaping molds used in ancient Egypt more than 4,000 years ago. Cookie cutters as decorative tools gained real popularity in Europe around the 15th and 16th centuries, closely tied to the rise of gingerbread, which became especially fashionable at royal courts, including that of Queen Elizabeth I. German, Dutch, and English settlers later brought elaborately designed cookie cutters to America, where tinsmiths began producing their own versions by the 1700s.
How to Celebrate National Cookie Cutter Day
- Bake a batch of cutout cookies using your favorite shapes
- Host a cookie decorating party with family or friends
- Visit the National Cookie Cutter Historical Museum in Joplin, Missouri, if you’re nearby
- Use cookie cutters for non-cookie purposes, like shaping sandwiches or pancakes
- Donate extra cookies to neighbors, coworkers, or a local charity
Fun Facts About Cookie Cutters
- Early dough-shaping molds date back to ancient Egypt, more than 4,000 years ago.
- Elaborately carved wooden cookie cutters from Germany’s Black Forest region were especially prized in Europe.
- American tinsmiths began producing metal cookie cutters by the 1700s.
- There is an entire museum, the National Cookie Cutter Historical Museum, dedicated to cookie cutters in Joplin, Missouri.
- Americans consume an estimated 2 billion cookies every year, averaging around 300 cookies per person.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is National Cookie Cutter Day?
National Cookie Cutter Day is celebrated annually on December 1st.
How old are cookie cutters?
Early dough-shaping molds date back more than 4,000 years to ancient Egypt, though decorative cookie cutters as commonly recognized today became popular in Europe around the 15th and 16th centuries.
Is there a museum dedicated to cookie cutters?
Yes, the National Cookie Cutter Historical Museum is located in Joplin, Missouri, and features a large collection of vintage cookie cutters.