Disney Inspired Poison Apple Cookies

With Halloween 2018 coming up I wanted to come up with a simple activity to teach my young nephews more about what they can do with the 3D printer I got them to print out things when they're home. They like to use mine when they're over visiting. One activity they love to do especially around the Holidays is bake cookies. This year I decided to show them how to make the Poison Apple Cookie Cutter in time for Halloween based on the apple from the Disney classic movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs as I thought the poison apple would make a awesome looking sugar cookie.

Step 1: Design: Choose a Reference

First things first, a reference is needed. Googling " Snow White poison apple" brings up plenty of useful images to use for a cookie cutter trace. I ended up downloading the image from https://www.yourwdwstore.net.

Step 2: Design: Load Into Vector Program

Open your reference image into a software of your choice that can export to a SVG format such as Inkscape (Free), Adobe Illustrator (Paid), or Photoshop CC or later (Paid). Resize the main part of your image to fit within a 3 inch by 3 inch document.

Step 3: Design: Draw Base

Take the pen tool and trace the outer apple shape. Add a 6pt stroke in addition to a shape fill.

Step 4: Design: Draw Outer Cookie Cutter

Duplicate the base layer and rename the layer to cut out. Hide previous layer. Turn of shape fill and change the stroke from 6pt to 4pt.

Step 5: Design: Draw Topping

Create a new layer and call it topping. Hide previous layer. Trace the shape of the apple topping. Shape fill only with no stroke.

Step 6: Design: Draw Eyes

Create a new layer and call it eyes. Hide previous layer. Trace the shape of the eyes. Shape fill only with no stroke.

Step 7: Design: Draw Nose

Create a new layer and call it nose. Hide previous layer. Trace the shape of the nose. Shape fill only with no stroke.

Step 8: Design: Export Layers As SVG

Once all the layers are made export each individual layer as its own SVG.

Step 9: Design: Import Base SVG Into Tinkercad

Create or sign into your Tinkercad account. It is a free simple to use online CAD software.

Create a new document. Import the Base SVG into Tinkercad. Make sure you import the design at the correct dimensions. I had to import my file at 40%. Once imported, scale the height of the base layer to 3 mm.

Step 10: Design: Duplicate Base Layer

Duplicate the base layer and center it over the original. Scale the overall new mesh down by 4 mm. Scale the height to about 5.5 -6 mm.

Step 11: Design: Import Outer Cut Out SVG Into Tinkercad

Import the cut out SVG into Tinkercad. Make sure you import the design at the correct dimensions. I had to import my file at 40%. Once imported, scale the height of the mesh to 12 mm.

Step 12: Design: Import Topping SVG Into Tinkercad

Import the topping SVG into Tinkercad. Make sure you import the design at the correct dimensions. I had to import my file at 40%. Once imported, scale the height of the topping mesh to about 8 mm. Change the mesh shape to "Hole".

Step 13: Design: Crop the Topping

Add a rectangle to the top half of the design. Change the shape from "Solid" to "Hole".

Step 14: Design: Group the Topping Elements

Select the rectangle, the topping mesh, and the scaled down version of the base layer. Group the selected to form the topping cut out.

Step 15: Design: Import Eyes & Nose SVGs Into Tinkercad

Import the eyes and nose SVGs into Tinkercad. Make sure you import the design at the correct dimensions. I had to import my files at 40%. Once imported, scale the height of the mesh to 6 mm.

Step 16: Design: Group All Elements

Select all the models in the scene and group the selected to form a solid model.

Step 17: Design: Export 3d File

Export the design to either a OBJ or STL.

Step 18: Design: 3D Print the Cookie Cutter

When 3d printing a cookie cutter keep in mind food safety. Preferably if using a FDM or FFF 3d printer, print using a stainless steel extruder. Also print in PLA or PETG as these are safer options for short term contact with food. Since the cookie cutter is more of a one time use for me I chose to print mine using PLA filament from Meltink3d with the intention of disposing of it afterwards.

Print Settings:

Layer height: 0.3mm

Fill: 15%

Supports: No.

Food Safety Note:

For extensive or use again in the future, printer the cookie cutter in a higher resolution and wash with soap and water. Once dry, apply a food safe epoxy to the print to seal the design. Wait a week before use to ensure resin has cured completely.

Step 19: Prep: Gather Supplies & Ingredients

1. Premade sugar cookie dough (I used Pillsbury sugar cookie dough)
2. Flour
3. Cookie icing
4. Red food color
5. Parchment or wax paper
6. Powdered sugar (optional)
7. Measuring cup (1/4 cup needed)
8. Cookie sheets
9. Mixing bowl
10. Rolling pin or something to use to roll out the dough
11. 3D printed cookie cutter

Step 20: Prep: Prepare the Cookie Dough.

If your cookie dough is store bought (like mine), add 1/4 cup flour in a bowl. Add the cookie dough and knead the flour into the dough. Cookie dough for use with cutters should not be super sticky and feel like play doh.

Step 21: Prep: Add Dye to the Cookie Dough

Add 1/2 Tablespoon of food coloring at max. Mix thoroughly into the cookie dough. If cookie dough becomes too sticky and wet, add a additional 1/4 cup of flour and knead into the dough.

Step 22: Prep: Roll Out Cookie Dough.

On a sheet of parchment or wax paper lay down a little bit of powdered sugar to prevent the dough from sticking to the surface. If you don't have powdered sugar use flour instead (powdered sugar is preferred especially if you added a additional 1/2 of flour to the dough already like I did). Using your roller pin (in my case my 24 oz tumbler) roll out the cookie dough into about a 1/4 inch thick sheet.

Step 23: Prep: Prepare the Cookie Cutter

Wash your cookie cutter with soap in lukewarm water. Dry thoroughly. Dust the cookie cutter with powdered sugar or flour to prevent dough from sticking to the cutter.

Step 24: Prep: Cutout Cookies

Cut out cookies and place onto a ungreased cookie sheet. Place about 2 inches apart. Knead unused dough and re-roll out into about a 1/4" sheet and continue cutting out cookies as desired/needed.

Step 25: Bake: Bake the Cookies

Pre-warm your oven to 350 Degrees Fahrenheit (warm oven according to original cookie recipe used). Once the oven has reached temp cook the cookies for 10-14 minutes. Allow to cool completely when done.

Step 26: Decorate: Add Icing

With icing, fill in the "topping" of the design. A good sugar cookie dough should keep its general shape and thus the indentations should be visible. Allow at least 1-2 hours for the icing to harden.

Step 27: ENJOY!!!!

Store cookies in a container. Place parchment or wax paper between layers of cookies to prevent cookies from sticking to each other. Enjoy the sugar rush!

Step 28: Design File

Want to skip creating your own Poison Apple cookie cutter and use mine? Download the STL file for the cookie cutter on myminifactory.com for free personal use.