Cutout cookies are cookies made by rolling chilled dough flat and cutting shapes from it with cookie cutters before baking, then typically decorating the baked cookies with icing or sprinkles. The dough is usually a firm, low-spread sugar or shortbread-style dough so the shapes hold during baking. The technique is closely tied to holiday baking, since shapes such as hearts, stars, and trees are matched to the occasion; savory versions made with cheese or herbs exist but are less common.