How to Draw a Gingerbread Man (Easy Step by Step)
A gingerbread man is a friendly cookie character that is easy to build from simple shapes. His head is a circle, his arms and legs are soft rounded shapes, and his wavy icing lines make him look good enough to eat. It is a great first drawing for the holiday season.
- Easy
- 10 minutes
- 7 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawingIn this article (7 sections)
How to draw a gingerbread man step by step
How to Draw a Gingerbread Man · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch this oval. It only shows where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase it at the end.
Step 2: The round head
Draw a big circle near the top of your paper, but stop before you close it. Leave a small gap at the bottom where the neck will be.
Step 3: Body and legs
Leave a space under the head. Then draw two long lines going down that curve out a little, one on each side. End each line in a rounded foot, and draw a small upside-down V between the feet to make two legs.
Step 4: Both arms
Start at the gap under the head and draw a line straight out to the side, loop it around into a rounded hand like a mitten, and bring the bottom line back in to meet the body. Do the same on the other side.
Step 5: Wavy icing on wrists
Draw a short wiggly line across each arm, right where the hand starts. It looks like squeezed icing.
Step 6: Wavy icing on legs
Draw a wavy line across each leg, just above the round foot, with little bumps like ripples.
Step 7: Face, bow and buttons
Draw two small dots for eyes and a small curved smile on the head. Under the smile, draw two little loops side by side to make a bow tie. Finish with two dots down the tummy for buttons.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your gingerbread man? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a Christmas elf or how to draw a Christmas stocking next.
Tips for drawing a gingerbread man
- Draw the circle for the head first, and keep it big. Your gingerbread man will have plenty of room for his face.
- The legs are the trickiest part. Draw the outside lines first, then add the upside-down V between them so both legs match.
- Make the icing lines wavy by drawing little bumps, up and down, as you move your pencil across the arm or leg.
Free gingerbread man coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this gingerbread man coloring page at full size and print it. It is the same drawing you just learned, with clean lines ready for crayons or markers.
How to color your gingerbread man drawing
Color him warm brown, then use white or bright colors for the icing lines, the bow tie and the buttons. You can also color the eyes and smile dark brown.
Gingerbread man fun fact for kids
The story of the Gingerbread Man, who jumps out of the oven and shouts "Run, run, as fast as you can!", first appeared in print in 1875 in a children's magazine called St. Nicholas.
Questions about drawing a gingerbread man
What shapes do I need to draw a gingerbread man?
You need a circle for the head, rounded mitten shapes for the arms, and two long curved lines that end in rounded feet for the body and legs. Wavy lines add the icing.
How do I make my gingerbread man look cuter?
Draw the eyes small and the smile curved. A bow tie and round buttons make him extra friendly.
How do I draw the wavy icing lines?
Draw a line with small, even bumps, like a row of tiny hills. Go slowly and lift your pencil if you need a break.
