When you search how to draw a gingerbread house, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by tutorials that are either too complicated or not detailed enough. I’ve been there too — trust me. I still remember my very first gingerbread house sketch years ago… let’s just say it looked more like a confused cardboard box someone tried to decorate in the dark.
But that’s exactly what I love about creative drawing:
every sketch teaches you something, every mistake becomes a fun memory, and every new drawing helps you grow.
This tutorial was born from that same cozy, messy, joyful creative process.
If you’ve been following my work for a while, you already know I’m obsessed with Christmas doodles. Gingerbread characters, cinnamon-scented vibes, fairy lights — I love all of it. And yes, I drew all of the illustrations in this guide myself.
My goal with this post is simple:
I want to make drawing a gingerbread house feel easy, fun, and relaxing — even if you’re a complete beginner.
Whether you’re sketching on your iPad, filling a page in your bullet journal, or using this as a festive art activity with your kids, I promise you’ll walk away with something adorable.
Before we jump into the steps, here are a few other Christmas tutorials you might enjoy too:
• Cute Gingerbread Man Drawing
• Cute Snowman Drawing Tutorial
• Easy Christmas Tree Drawing
And if you want even more drawing ideas, don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/digitaldrawingideas/
You can also find my cozy drawing videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DigitalDrawingIdeas
Alright — let’s start drawing!
Step 1: Draw the Top Candy
Start your gingerbread house by sketching a small circle near the top of your page. This will be the colorful candy that sits right at the peak of the roof.
Keep the line nice and smooth—this little detail will help set the cute, festive vibe for the whole drawing.
Step 2: Sketch the Gingerbread Roof
From each side of the candy, draw two slanted lines downward to form the roof’s peak.
Then add a wavy line along the bottom edge—this will become the thick, sugary icing dripping over the roof. Keep the curves soft and playful to match the cozy gingerbread style.
Step 3: Add the Base Candies
Draw a row of evenly spaced circles near the bottom of your page. These will become the colorful candies sitting along the base of the gingerbread house.
Starting with these circles makes it easier to place the house outline later, so just keep them in a straight line and roughly the same size.
Step 4: Connect the Candies With the Base Line
Now draw a long, rounded line underneath the candies, curving up slightly at both ends.
Let this line tuck gently between each candy so it looks like they’re sitting snugly on top of the gingerbread base. This creates the sturdy foundation for the whole house.
Step 5: Draw the House Walls
From the ends of the roof, draw two straight vertical lines going down until they meet the candy base.
These lines form the sides of the gingerbread house.
Keep them nice and straight so the house feels sturdy and well-built.
Step 6: Add the Doorway Shape
Draw a tall, rounded arch in the center of the house, starting just above the candies and curving smoothly at the top.
This will be the main doorway of your gingerbread house, so make sure it’s wide enough to add details later.
Keep the sides straight and the top nicely curved for a warm, welcoming look.
Step 7: Draw the Window Frames
Add two rounded square shapes on either side of the doorway to create the window frames. Keep the corners soft so they match the cute, cozy style of the house.
Place them slightly above the doorway so everything feels balanced and symmetrical.
Step 8: Add Window Panes
Inside each window, draw a simple plus sign to divide the space into four small panes. This little detail instantly makes the windows look brighter and more decorative, perfect for a cozy gingerbread house.
Step 9: Add the Icing Border Around the Door
Inside the doorway, draw a wavy line that follows the shape of the arch. This creates a thick icing border, giving the door that classic gingerbread look.
Keep the wiggles soft and even, just like piped frosting.
Step 10: Draw the Door
Inside the icing border, add a smaller arch to form the actual door. Make it follow the same shape as the outer outline so everything looks neat and layered.
This gives the doorway a cute, dimensional look—just like a real gingerbread house.
Step 11: Add Icing Along the Bottom of the Walls
Draw a wavy horizontal line across the house, connecting the two walls just above the candies.
This creates another layer of sweet icing decorating the bottom edge of the gingerbread walls. Keep the waves soft and even so it looks like neatly piped frosting.
Step 12: Add Small Candy Decorations
Draw three small circles to decorate the house—one centered above the doorway and one on each side along the icing line.
The top circle will become the middle of a flower-shaped candy, so leave enough space around it for the petals you’ll add later.
These little treats make the house look extra festive and sweet.
Step 13: Draw the Flower Candy
Around the top circle, add five rounded petals to create a cute flower-shaped candy. Keep each petal soft and even so the flower looks balanced and decorative.
This little detail adds a charming, playful touch to the front of your gingerbread house.
Step 14: Add Two Roof Candies
On each side of the top candy, draw a small circle sitting just above the roofline. These will be extra candies decorating the peak of the roof.
Place them so they angle slightly outward—they add a fun, playful touch to the top of your gingerbread house.
Step 15: Draw the Candy Cane Chimney
On the right side of the roof, sketch a tall curved shape to form a candy cane. Start with a straight line going up, then curve it over into a hook at the top.
This cute candy cane will act as the house’s whimsical chimney, adding even more charm to your gingerbread scene.
Step 16: Add Candy Cane Stripes
Draw diagonal lines across the candy cane to create the classic striped pattern.
Keep the stripes evenly spaced and follow the curve of the cane so it looks realistic and sweet.
This small detail really brings the candy cane chimney to life.
Step 17: Add Small Background Details
Around the house, draw a few tiny circles and star-shaped sparkles to fill the background. These little elements add charm and help the whole scene feel more lively and magical.
Keep them simple and spaced out so they frame the house without overwhelming it.
Step 18: Add Color to Complete Your Gingerbread House
Now it’s time to bring your drawing to life with color. Fill in the house with warm gingerbread browns, bright reds, yellows, and greens for the candies, and crisp white for the icing.
Adding soft shading or texture can make everything look even sweeter.
Once you’re done, your gingerbread house will look festive, cozy, and ready for the holidays!
Wrapping Up: Your Cute Gingerbread House Is Complete!
I hope this guide helped you finally feel confident about how to draw a gingerbread house. There’s something so magical about bringing a festive drawing to life — especially one filled with candy, frosting, and cozy holiday charm.
Whenever I draw gingerbread-themed illustrations, I always think about how these little houses feel like tiny stories.
Who lives inside?
Is there a cup of hot cocoa waiting by the window?
Is the candy cane chimney blowing out warm cinnamon steam?
Drawing invites you to imagine, relax, and play — even if only for a few minutes.
If you enjoyed this tutorial, you’ll probably love these too:
• Cute Gingerbread Man Drawing
• Cute Snowman Drawing Tutorial
• Easy Christmas Tree Drawing
Before you go, I’d love to hear from you!
• Did you draw your own gingerbread house?
• Which part was your favorite — the icing, the candy, the windows?
• Would you like me to make more Christmas-themed tutorials?
Share your drawing on Pinterest and tag me on Instagram @digitaldrawingideas — I love seeing your artwork and featuring readers in my stories!
And remember:
Anyone can draw. All you need is a little patience, a little practice, and a whole lot of joy.
If you want daily inspiration, come hang out with me on:
Pinterest → https://www.pinterest.com/digitaldrawingideas/
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@DigitalDrawingIdeas
Can’t wait to see what you create next!
