When you dive into the world of custom cookie cutters and 3D printing, something funny happens—you start accumulating a lot of cutters. Thanks to Cookie Design Lab (CDL), it’s easier than ever to turn any photo, image, or word into a cutter. With smart tools that don’t require CAD or STL design skills, you can make anything from a company logo to a narwhal in minutes (or seconds!).
But after a while, you might look at your growing cutter collection and wonder: What am I going to do with all of these? It’s tempting to horde them or throw them away but before you do that, let me stop you—because those cutters can keep bringing value to your bakery long after their “original use.” Here are four ways to repurpose custom designs so you can create once and sell twice (or three times… or more).
Gift Cutters to Customers
If you’re already making thank you cookies for clients, consider upgrading that gesture. Package a cookie, the custom cutter you used to make it, and a matching recipe card into one thoughtful bundle. Be sure to also include a note and a request to leave a review (use a QR code to make it extra easy for them).
Imagine the reaction when a customer receives not only a delicious cookie but also the cutter and instructions to recreate it at home. Even if they never use the cutter, it’s a keepsake that screams 5-star customer service and makes your brand unforgettable.
Bring Them to Events
Cutters are also great tools for driving engagement at markets, expos, or classes. Here are two ideas:
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“Guess the Cutter” Game Lay out a cutter and let people guess what the shape is. Prize options could include the cutter itself, a free cookie, or a coupon (like BOGO cookies). People love games—and this is a surefire way to attract booth traffic.
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Bonus Gift at Classes At your next cookie decorating workshop, bring along unused or older cutters and give them away to attendees. Not only will they be thrilled and grateful, but it also fuels their newest hobby/obsession—cookie decorating!
Cutter Flips
The art of the cutter flip is one of the oldest tricks in the cookie world, but with 3D printing it becomes even more exciting. That “hand” cutter? Sure, it’s a hand—but it’s also:
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A catcher’s mitt
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A high five
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A 5th birthday design
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A painter’s palette
All from one cutter. With a little imagination, you can stretch your cutters across multiple events and themes without printing something new. (And if you’re stuck? Yes—you can even ask ChatGPT for flip ideas!)
Be Strategic Before You Print
When you’re designing a cutter with Cookie Design Lab, think about how versatile the shape could be. For example, say you want to make a bus cookie cutter for Teacher Appreciation Week.
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If you design the front of the bus, that cutter can later double as a golf cart, the back of a pickup truck carrying pumpkins in the fall, or an evergreen tree in the winter.
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If you design the long side of a bus, your options shrink—so be intentional with your designs.
This kind of strategic thinking multiplies the return on every cutter you create.
So when it comes to custom cutters, don’t think single-use. With a little creativity—and the flexibility of Cookie Design Lab’s STL creation tools—you can repurpose, reimagine, and resell designs across seasons, clients, and events.
Whether you’re gifting cutters to customers, flipping them into new shapes, or strategically designing with multiple uses in mind, each cutter has the potential to keep working for your business long after its debut. That’s how you turn cookie cutters into long-term assets for your bakery.
Want to learn more about creating your own STLs and 3D printing custom cookie cutters at home? Welcome! We’re Cookie Design Lab, the easiest to use web based app on the market to help you quickly make any cookie cutter you can dream up. Check out all our blog posts, our YouTube channel, and our FAQs. Got questions? Email us at [email protected] and we’ll even gift you a free week to try us out!