12 Things You Can Make With Cookie Cutters That Aren’t Cookies

Dec 12, 2022

Spoiler alert: Cookie cutters aren't *just* used to make your favorite sweet treats. TBH, they're hard to resist during the holiday season. Between the gingerbread men, Christmas trees, and snowflakes, we're totally guilty of buying way too many for the annual cookie baking extravaganza. If you're looking for ways to reuse them so you don't feel 100% ridiculous about buying a dozen different shapes, look no further than these cookie cutter DIYs. Check out our favorite non-cookie crafts that make amazing gifts and decor, below.

Christmas Tree Garland

[pinterest_embed https://www.pinterest.com/pin/687713805570254161/ expand=1 site_id=19876466]

www.pinterest.com

Upcycling a cookie cutter into a stencil is probably the most genius thing we’ve heard all week. It doesn’t hurt that this DIY Christmas tree garland is uber cute. (via Design Improvised)

Colorful Clay Coasters

[pinterest_embed https://www.pinterest.com/pin/120823202491627240/ expand=1 site_id=19876466]

www.pinterest.com

With the holidays right around the corner, these DIY clay coasters are going to be your coffee table’s life saver. For an extra festive set, use holiday cookie cutters. (via Oh Joy!)

Seasonal Candles

[pinterest_embed https://www.pinterest.com/pin/440367669811995775/ expand=1 site_id=19876466]

www.pinterest.com

Stuck on what to get the person who has everything? Gifting candles is basically foolproof. Amp it up a bit by DIYing a candle with a tree-shaped cookie cutter. (via POPSUGAR)

Tea Light Candle Holders

[pinterest_embed https://www.pinterest.com/pin/168040629830523931/ expand=1 site_id=19876466]

www.pinterest.com

Kick your tea light candle holders up a notch with this DIY. All you need is clay, some paint and a tea light. Oh, and your favorite cookie cutter, of course. (via Twinspiration)

Gold-Flecked Animal Figurines

[pinterest_embed https://www.pinterest.com/pin/155163149645456618/ expand=1 site_id=19876466]

www.pinterest.com

If you’re in the mood to make a few decorations this season, start with these gold-flecked animal figurines. TBH, gold leaf makes any DIY that much better. (via Squirrelly Minds)

Wall Hooks

[pinterest_embed https://www.pinterest.com/pin/513762269978090236/ expand=1 site_id=19876466]

www.pinterest.com

Making these wall hooks is easier than it looks. Simply cut out circles of clay using cookie cutters, paint on your favorite pattern and hang them with adhesive wall fixers. Pro tip: Use a paint pen to avoid the mess of paint and brushes. (via Fall for DIY)

Confetti Christmas Decorations

[pinterest_embed https://www.pinterest.com/pin/94012710949313685/ expand=1 site_id=19876466]

www.pinterest.com

How fun are these Christmas ornaments? Create the outline effect by picking up two cookie cutters in the same shape but different sizes. They’re SO colorful and festive. (via Make and Tell)

Pineapple Ring Dish

[pinterest_embed https://www.pinterest.com/pin/358880664050349826/ expand=1 site_id=19876466]

www.pinterest.com

Y’all know our love for pineapples, and it doesn’t stop at this DIY ring dish. Set it next to the sink in your guest bathroom so your visitors won’t lose their rings. (via Idle Hands Awake)

Crescent Moon Magnets

[pinterest_embed https://www.pinterest.com/pin/279715826844537245/ expand=1 site_id=19876466]

www.pinterest.com

Create magnets using the same technique used to make the wall hooks in #5. Instead of adding adhesive to the back, stick a magnet on so you can display all of the holiday cards you’re getting. (via Make and Tell)

Mini Christmas Trees

[pinterest_embed https://www.pinterest.com/pin/746049494494460966/ expand=1 site_id=19876466]

www.pinterest.com

Decorating on a budget? Attaching patterned paper behind holiday cookie cutters is a cheap and easy way to spice up your decor this season. (via Little Red Window)

Soap Ornaments

[pinterest_embed https://www.pinterest.com/pin/177962622763407441/ expand=1 site_id=19876466]

www.pinterest.com

If you’re stuck on how to top off your gifts this year, go for a unique idea like these soap ornaments. Not only do they make your presents smell delish and kick your presentation skills up a notch, but they also make great gift toppers that won’t get thrown in the trash. (via Latika Body Essentials)

Black and White Clay Ornaments

[pinterest_embed https://www.pinterest.com/pin/143693044344713980/ expand=1 site_id=19876466]

www.pinterest.com

Make the tree extra chic this year with black and white clay ornaments. Nobody has to know they only took you a few minutes to DIY. The best part? They’re super affordable to make. Score! (via Homey Oh My!)

Tag us on Instagram with your cookie cutter DIYs and follow us on TikTok for more fun content!

This post has been updated.

23 Easy Fall Appetizers for Your Friendsgiving Celebration

Don’t tell the fam, but Friendsgiving may have topped Thanksgiving as your favorite holiday. There’s no feeling like you have to one-up your cousin, you can have that extra glass of affordable fall wine without judgment, and you get to eat food that you *actually* like (sorry, stuffing). Easy Friendsgiving recipes are easy to come by, so when you’re assigned the appetizer, there’s no excuse not to rock it. Get the table set and throw your apron on, because these easy and elegant appetizers will be the talk of your squad until Friendsgiving 2025.

Brit + Co

Cantaloupe, Prosciutto and Rosemary on Triscuit crackers

The combo of smooth fruit, salty prosciutto, and fresh herbs (plus the crunch of your favorite cracker) is literally mouth-watering.

Brit + Co

Crescent Roll Cornucopia

This isn't your average cheese-board. The DIY cornucopia is easier than it looks and it's both delicious and Instagrammable.

Ron Lach / PEXELS.

The Easiest Baked Brie

Brie is a great app because it goes so well with so many other things: veggies, meat, fruit, crackers. You name it, this melty cheese will pair perfectly.

Half Baked Harvest

Baked Gruyère in Pastry with Rosemary and Garlic

Store-bought puff pastry makes this recipe a cinch, and there's nothing better than when it's wrapped around melted gruyere with honey, rosemary, and garlic and baked.

Feed Me Phoebe

Warm Butternut Squash Dip With Gruyère and Pistachios

Does anything sound more autumnal than butternut squash dip? Negative. Make it cheesy with Gruyère and add a salty crunch with pistachios.

Creme de la Crumb

Apple Cranberry Walnut Salad

Salad is a necessity for your Friendsgiving meal, and this one makes a great first course. Good luck trying to keep everyone from filling up before dinner.

Reluctant Entertainer

Apricot Ricotta Honey Basil Bites

If you have other dishes to prepare, no-cook appetizers are a great way to keep your guests satisfied without having to make more room in the oven. These ripe apricots are stuffed with honey-sweetened ricotta and topped with basil and tangy balsamic.

Fit Foodie Finds

Bacon-Wrapped Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts are definitely a love-it-or-hate-it veggie. Pro tip: If you wrap it in bacon, people will be a lot more likely to love them.

The Mediterranean Dish

French Baked Brie Recipe With Figs, Walnuts and Pistachios

When you’re planning out your perfect Friendsgiving menu, remember that you can’t go wrong with warmed Brie. Serve with your favorite multigrain crackers and watch it disappear before your eyes.

Happy Kitchen Rocks

Baked Figs With Goat Cheese

In just 15 minutes you could be serving your friends this luxurious hors d’oeuvre. Switch things up and stuff with your choice of blue cheese, goat cheese or ricotta.

Macheesmo

Bite-Sized Blooming Onions

Cipollini onions make the perfect miniature alternative to a big ol’ blooming onion. This way, everyone can have as many as they want without having to share.

Snixy Kiitchen

Butternut Squash Deviled Eggs With Bacon

Give your traditional deviled eggs a fall twist by adding butternut squash to your filling. Top with crispy bacon to balance the sweetness and add a smokey quality.

Chef in Training

Cranberry Orange Cheese Ball

This is *not* your grandma’s cheese ball. Cranberry and orange give it a seasonal flavor and sweetness that’ll rival the meal’s desserts.

Reluctant Entertainer

Honey Crisp and Goat Cheese Ladyfinger Crostini Appetizer

Did you think ladyfingers were only for tiramisu? Think again! Switch from your usual baguette crostini and top the cookies with apples and goat cheese.

The Pioneer Woman

Perfect Fall Cheese Board

Fruit, olives and Gouda — oh my! Building the perfect cheese board is an art you can master. Hint: Layering different textures and heights is key.

Parsnips and Pastries

Roasted Grape Crostini With Lemon Ricotta and Honey

Don’t underestimate the power of a honeyed crostini. When that warm grape pops in your mouth… pure bliss.

Real Simple Good

Mashed Sweet Potato Bacon Cups

If you can boil potatoes, you can make these cups. They require only six ingredients, and your squad is sure to fall in love with them. Winning!

NeightborFood

Parmesan Asparagus Tart

You *finally* have a reason to use that puff pastry in the freezer. Between the flaky crust and creamy Parmesan-ricotta topping, this may just be your new favorite starter.

Baked Samosas

Traditionally, samosas are made with sheet phyllo dough and folded into triangles. Opt for that if you have more time, or try a quick version using pre-made phyllo cups. (via Gimme Some Oven)

Nutmeg Nanny

Sausage, Spinach and Mushroom Phyllo Cups

These bite-size treats are as easy as sautéing the filling ingredients together and popping the filled cups in the oven to melt the cheese. They’re quick, foolproof and, most importantly, delicious.

As Easy As Apple Pie

Savory Pumpkin Hummus

Okay, you’re most likely going to have pumpkin pie for dessert, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have pumpkin in your appetizer too. This hummus is ultra savory, so even if you don’t like pie, you’ll LOVE this.

Mom on Timeout

Easy Slow Cooker Apple Cider Maple Meatballs

Using frozen meatballs and a slow cooker saves you a ton of time come party day. Don’t be afraid of them turning out bland, though. Apples, apple cider and maple syrup make that impossible.

The View from Great Island

Cheesy Spinach Artichoke Bread

You can’t go wrong with a classic flavor combination like spinach and artichoke. Stuff in a hollowed loaf of Italian bread and slice to serve.

Follow us on Pinterest for more easy Friendsgiving appetizer recipe ideas.

This post has been updated.

SOS Gabriel Might Not Be In 'Emily In Paris' Season 5: "Not Fun Anymore"

Emily in Paris season 4 was the buzziest season yet, and for good reason. Emily's in Rome, Camille was never pregnant, and Gabriel's hair went from très hot to tragique. In addition to the viral response to Gabriel's new hair, season 4 left me pretty sad because after four years of waiting for Emily and Gabriel to get together, they almost immediately break up — and actor Lucas Bravo is just as confused as we are.

Carole Bethuel/Netflix

“The ‘sexy chef’ was very much part of me in Season 1 and we grew apart season after season because of the choices he makes and because of the direction they make him take,” Lucas Bravo told IndieWire while promoting Mélanie Laurent’s Freedom. “As they made him kind of unaware of his surroundings, of the dynamic, always victimizing and always being completely lost in translation and oblivious to anything that is happening around him and being manipulated by everyone, it kind of became not fun for me to shoot or to see a character I love so much and brought me so much, being slowly turned into guacamole. I really grew apart from him.”

Honestly it makes me really sad that a character we all love so much is becoming unrecognizable. But at the same time, it makes me feel a little bit better, because we're not the only ones who feel like Gabriel has changed. And while Lucas has done what he can to bring those early-series aspects of Gabriel back, he says "there is only so much I can do in the limits of a script.”

Netflix

“I tried for seasons to bring nuances but we don’t have much liberty on set," he continues. “It makes me question if I want to be part of Season 5…because my contract ends at Season 4. I really want to see if Gabriel gets back to his fun, cheeky, playful, alive self. Because three seasons playing melancholic, sad, depressed, and lost is not fun anymore. It’s a comedy, everybody is having fun around me, everybody is jumping around, and I’m just slowly sinking into god knows what.”

Say what now?! If Lucas Bravo leaves Emily in Paris, I truly don't know what I'd do. Gabriel is my favorite character on the show! (Or at least, early Gabriel was.) Seeing him move from 30, flirty, and thriving to someone who's consistently in the middle of an existential crisis doesn't make sense within the world of the show. And even though Lucas thinks the show has a "lack of risk," he still loves everyone involved.

“I love the show. It started everything for me. I love the show and the people in it," he says. "With saying that, I feel like I am not being nice or grateful, but when you love something you want it to be…you want the best version of it. I’m not going to lie, I’ve been frustrated with the direction by character is taking. But we’ll see where it goes. The show is not over.”

Just like the show's iconic costumes are all about expression and fun, here's hoping Emily in Paris is able to bring some life back into our favorite chef. Because if not, it sounds like we could be nearing the end of the show's most popular would-they-won't-they relationship. Fix this Netflix, I beg you!

What do you think of Lucas Bravo's dilemma? Do you miss season 1 Gabriel? Let us know in the comments and check out the latest Emily in Paris season 5 news.

pop culture entertainment celebrity tv

These 15 Friendsgiving Recipes Are Easy, Affordable, and BFF-Approved

Friendsgiving season is coming folks! And if you have one on the books, but have no idea what to cook, we have you covered. From deliciously cheesy veggies to a healthy take on everyone's favorite spuds, we're rounding-up easy recipes to make that won't weigh heavy on your pocketbook. Take a look through to see the yummy ensembles you should be whipping up!

Brit + Co

Drop Biscuits

Because everyone needs a carb to soup all those juicy drippings on your plate. This 'The Final Table' winning recipe does the job.

Brit + Co

Smashed Brussel Sprouts

Not crazy about veggies? These greens will change your mind. Topped with cheese, chives, and a nice crisp topping, they're extra yummy (and keto-friendly!)

Brit + Co

Cacio e Pepe Chickpeas

Sure this one is a bit non-traditional, but your vegetarian friends will love it. Plus they make the perfect topping to nearly any dish (who needs croutons when you have these anyways?!).

Brit + Co

Roasted Broccoli

Puts some greens on your plate with this holy-grail recipe. Trust us: It's sooo easy!

Brit + Co

Instant Pot Butternut Squash Polenta

Dust off the ole' Instant Pot will this delectable fall polenta. Filled with butternut squash and lots of parmesan you (and your besties!) will quickly fall in *love*.

Brit + Co

Roasted Sweet Potato

Just when you thought you knew how to roast sweet potatoes, this recipe came along. And boy are we taking notes!

Brit + Co

Slow Cooker Mulled Wine

Be the friend that brings the booze. This autumn-themed mulled wine drink will warm everyone's spirits.

Brit + Co

Fall Quinoa Salad

If you're designated salad duty, take a twist on it by packing it full-on quinia, pomegranate, and a tangy dressing. Yum!

Brit + Co

Cheesy Pasta Bake

When the temperatures drop, your friends will be extra thankful for this soul-warming, cheesy pasta.

Brit + Co

Spinach + Mushroom Gnocchi Casserole

No time? No worries! This freezer-friendly pasta bake complete with pillowy gnocchi, creamy mushrooms and spinach is super easy to create ahead of time, without taking away from any day-of deliciousness.

Brit + Co

Cheddar, Jalapeno, and Chive Biscuits

Upgrade your biscuits with "addicting" flavors of cheddar, chives, and jalapeños. Pro tip: Double the batch to ensure you have more than one for everyone!

Brit + Co

Keto Cheese Ball

Your hostess will thank you extra for showing up with an app to tide guests over until the main meal is served. Packed with yummy baked potato fixings, it's got an extra "kick" to make it comparable to store bought options. Plus it's keto-friendly... you can't go wrong with that!

Brit + Co

This post has been updated.

recipe roundup friendsgiving ideas fall recipes thanksgiving recipes food