If you are looking for a reliable way to create custom baking molds from the comfort of your home, then you may want to consider investing in a 3D printer. The best 3D printers for cookie cutters can reliably create shapes of any description with a bit of time and effort. If you need custom cookies and don’t want to outsource, these printers are perfect for you.
We’ve put together a list of the choices of the best 3D printers for cookie cutters: factoring in budget and hobbyist needs. Read on to see if we can find the best 3D printer for you!
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Best 3D Printer for Cookie CuttersAnycubic Kobra 2 Pro
- Build Volume: 245mm x 245mm × 260mm
- Filament: PLA, ABS, PETG, TPU, Nylon
- Connectivity Technology: USB, Companion App
- Filetype: STL, OBJ
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Best Budget 3D Printer for Cookie CuttersCreality Ender 3
- Build Volume: 220mm x 220mm x 250mm
- Filament: PLA, ABS, PETG
- Connectivity Technology: USB, SD
- Filetype: STL, OBJ
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Best Enclosed 3D Printer for Cookie CuttersQIDI Technology X-Plus 3
- Build Volume: 270mm x 200mm x 200mm
- Filament: PLA, ABS, PETG, PA, ASA, Carbon Fiber
- Connectivity Technology: USB
- Filetype: STL
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Best Beginner 3D Printer for Cookie CuttersFlashForge Finder
- Build Volume: 140mm x 140mm x 140mm
- Filament: PLA
- Connectivity Technology: USB, WiFI
- Filetype: STL, OBJ
How We Picked the Best 3D Printer for Cookie Cutters
While looking for the best 3D printers for cookie cutters, we prioritized printers that work with food-safe materials, like PLA. Not all filaments are safe for mixing with food, such as resin and ABS which are toxic, but thankfully several common filaments are. Our selection also includes a wide range of budgets to suit every bakery level.
On top of that, we included fast and quiet printers that can accommodate the needs of busy bakeries without adding to the loud noise. Also, because we know bakers aren’t always technology enthusiasts, we included printers with user-friendly interfaces and easy assembly steps.
- Build Volume: 245mm x 245mm × 260mm
- Filament: PLA, ABS, PETG, TPU, Nylon
- Connectivity Technology: USB, Companion App
- Filetype: STL, OBJ
For a business-minded 3D printer under $500, the Kobra 2 Pro is a stellar investment for high-quality prints.
- Fast print speed – at 300mm/s, prints are rendered not only quietly but quickly.
- Quiet-running – the smooth and near-silent motor on this 3D printer makes for a more enjoyable print process in your workspace.
- Difficult controls – the Kobra 2’s operating system can be hard to master, especially for beginners, which makes this 3D printer less appealing as a budget option.
The Anycubic Kobra 2 Pro is an all-in-one powerhouse that combines fast printing, intricate detailing, and silent operation – making it the perfect addition to any bakery. Faster and more efficient than other FDM printers, the Kobra 2 Pro will have you creating incredible cookie cutter designs in no time!
The Kobra 2 Pro boasts an impressive top printing speed of 500mm/s, with the generally recommended speed of 300mm/s. But even with that speedy printing and open-frame design, the printer is surprisingly quiet-running. It has vibration compensation and flow control options to reduce warping and guarantee quality. And with a main unit that comes mostly assembled, you’ll have a head start on putting the 3D printer together.
You’ll want to clear some space first, however. The Kobra 2 is quite bulky, despite being relatively lightweight, so it may not fit in a smaller kitchen or bakery. The controls are quite rudimentary, as well, so newcomers to 3D printing may need a bit of help getting off the ground. Once you do, however, you’ll soon come to see the value of this high-quality model-making master. The Kobra 2 Pro is easily our pick for the best 3D printer for cookie cutters!
- Build Volume: 220mm x 220mm x 250mm
- Filament: PLA, ABS, PETG
- Connectivity Technology: USB, SD
- Filetype: STL, OBJ
If you want limitless cookie cutter combinations for less than $200, the Ender 3 is the 3D print solution for you.
- Advanced features – with a direct-drive extruder and power outage detection, the Ender 3 doesn’t sacrifice functionality for affordability.
- Sterling build volume – with space for designs up to 220mm x 220mm x 250mm, you have plenty of space to design.
- Poorer build quality – you unfortunately get what you pay for in terms of the Ender 3’s build quality.
If you’re on a tight budget and don’t want it to stop you from pursuing your creative cookie ideas, you’ll love what the Creality Ender 3 has to offer. It’s the most budget-friendly option on our list, but don’t let that trick you into thinking it lacks in terms of performance. It has a myriad of excellent features that will make your 3D printing experience a breeze.
Starting at an affordable price point can often mean that 3D printers skimp on quality-of-life features, but the Ender 3 thankfully doesn’t – all of Creality’s printers straddle the line between price and performance incredibly well. It has a pause-printing function, that is incredibly valuable should you run out of filament or suffer some other kind of shortage. For fast, accurate, and smooth printing; the printer has a high-class extruder and rapid-heating hotbed – meaning that you can start to see progress in as little as five minutes.
As with any money-saving option, however, there are some tradeoffs. The assembly is challenging and the controls are difficult – budget beginners may want to look elsewhere. The parts are also a bit flimsy, so more experienced 3D printer users may be disappointed as well. It may be that the Ender 3 satisfies nobody but your accountant. For a hobbyist or experimental baker, this is a great budget 3D printer for cookie cutters, but there are some drawbacks for long-term use.
- Build Volume: 270mm x 200mm x 200mm
- Filament: PLA, ABS, PETG, PA, ASA, Carbon Fiber
- Connectivity Technology: USB
- Filetype: STL
Fumes are a danger in any environment, but most of all in a confined bakery or kitchen. To mitigate the risk, choose this enclosed 3D printer for cookie cutters.
- Highly stable – the rigid frame and build plate ensures that designs are unaffected by movement or sudden jolts.
- Fast speeds – reaching 60℃ in 25 minutes and the whopping 600mm/s print speed means you aren’t waiting long.
- Premium pricing – this 3D printer is professional-grade, and may not be suited to hobbyist bakers.
For a premium 3D printing solution for high-quality cookie cutters, the Qidi X-Plus 3 is a great option under $1000. It comes packing a myriad of premium features that are better suited for professionals than beginners, and it supports food-safe filaments for easy baking supplements.
With a mind-boggling top print speed of 600mm/s, the X-Plus 3 can print cookie-cutter designs in a fraction of the time. The metal frame keeps the vibrations to an absolute minimum for smooth and high-quality models that are accurate to a fraction of a millimeter. To accommodate many different filament types – including PLA and ABS – it has two nozzles: one made from a copper alloy and one made from hardened steel. With automatic leveling and a pause-printing feature, this is easy to use and quick to set up.
That said, the X-Plus 3 is not without its downsides, especially for those on a tighter budget. With the hefty price tag attached, it is probably overkill for the journeyman baker. However, for unrivalled quality and speed, the Qidi X-Plus is our favorite premium 3D printer for cookie cutters!
- Build Volume: 140mm x 140mm x 140mm
- Filament: PLA
- Connectivity Technology: USB, WiFI
- Filetype: STL, OBJ
More affordable but never “cheap”, the Flashforge Finder keeps its price under $300 whilst keeping quality above-standard.
- Ships fully assembled – there’s no cumbersome assembly with this 3D printer.
- Intuitive and easy to use – ideal for beginners, this printer is just intuitive enough to be helpful whilst also helping you learn the intricacies of 3D printing.
- Limited functionality – with filament compatibility capped and a lack of quality features such as automated leveling, the Finder is still less user-friendly than other beginner 3D printers.
It’s safe to assume that there’s not a huge amount of overlap between professional 3D print enthusiasts and professional bakers. The skill barrier to entry with 3D printing can be quite high, but don’t be dissuaded! If you have a hard time dealing with technology, you’ll love the Flashforge Finder. It’s one of the easiest 3D printers to use on the market, and it can meet all your cookie-shaping needs.
The easiness of the Finder starts before you even unbox it. The body comes pre-assembled and doesn’t require any steps on your side. As a bonus, it comes with two build plate options: a flexible one made from PEI and a rigid one made from glass. It also has superb pause and recovery functions to save progress should you run out of power or filament. If your native device and the Finder are on the same network, you can easily send your designs to be printed wirelessly. All-in-all, this printer is great for creating food-safe 3D designs with ease.
The only setbacks that we encountered with the Finder were it’s lack of fine-tuning options. And while it isn’t too large, it’s a bit bulky for a closed-frame 3D printer. The price reflects this mid-range printer’s strengths and weaknesses, and whilst it isn’t our top pick, it more than earns an easy spot as a great 3D printer for cookie cutters!
Features and Considerations
There are a few things to consider before purchasing the best 3D printer for your needs:
Software
Alongside becoming an adept baker, you’ll also need to have some knowledge of 3D design. There are some fantastic and easy-to-use 3D design tools available – some of the best are even free! Make sure that, if you take the time to learn the software, that the 3D printer you choose is compatible with the filetype. Most 3D printers are able to process most filetypes via software called a “slicer”, but it doesn’t hurt to check!
Filament
Since cookie cutters are used to make edible desserts, you’ll need to use food-safe filaments for 3D printing. The most famous food-safe materials are PLA, PETG, PET, HIPS, and PP. Not all 3D printers can work with these filaments, so double-check this too. You’ll have very unhappy customers if you cut cookies with potentially toxic materials!
Build Volume
Depending on the size of your operation (and the size of your cookies), you may need larger cookie cutters. 3D printers have what’s known as a “build volume”: the largest 3D model that they can make. So long as the design for your cookie cutter is smaller than the build volume, you’ll have no problem.
FAQs
You can use 3D printing software for designing your cookie cutters. Some printers come with their own design software, but otherwise are compatible for third-party tools such as Blender.
No. Cookie cutters made from ABS can leak toxic chemicals into food, so they aren’t deemed food-safe by health professionals.
Verdict
- Build Volume: 245mm x 245mm × 260mm
- Filament: PLA, ABS, PETG, TPU, Nylon
- Connectivity Technology: USB, Companion App
- Filetype: STL, OBJ
For near-unrivalled speed and efficiency at a competitive price, it’s easy to see why we chose the Kobra 2 Pro as our best 3D printer for cookie cutters! Though it may be tough to master, doing so is its own reward! For phenomenal cookie cutter designs of any shape, this is your best bet! That said, any of our four choices today will serve you well – if you take into account the benefits and drawbacks of each, then you’ll surely be satisfied no matter your choice!
Looking to print edible designs as well as molds? We have a great guide on the best edible ink printers that can create delicious designs!
