Why does cookie dough cut with a cookie cutter keep their shape when baked but not when it is cut by hand, such as with a knife?

Question

I’ve seen so many of those baking fails when someone tries cutting a heart or unique shape but the dough bakes and spreads into a giant blob or circle lol

Edit: Thank you for all of your responses! I guess most of us can agree on it being fat content and chilling the dough, but it can be any number of factors affecting how it comes out when baked.

In: Other

Answer 1

I think the issue is usually that the people are using dough that isn’t meant to retain its shape. I have cut sugar cookie dough with knives and with cutters – it retains its shape either way, because it is a heartier dough with less fat (less melty). If I do the same with chocolate chip cookie dough, it will spread into a blob regardless of cutting method. The dough compositions are completely different, but people may not realize that. So, they try to cut shapes out of dough that isn’t hearty like sugar cookie dough, for example.