Gingerbread Cottage with Swirl Candy and Three Gumdrops

A small gingerbread cottage sits on a bumpy bed of snow, with wavy icing trimming the roofline and thick icicle-style frosting dripping from the eaves. The front gable has a large swirl candy with three round gumdrops above it. One side of the roof is covered in rounded shingles, and a chimney with a frosted top stands at the peak. The door has a little heart cut-out, a round knob, and icing along the frame. Two windows each have four dark panes. Around the yard you will find swirl lollipops, tall lollipops on the right, tiered cone-shaped trees dotted with tiny sprinkles, and round candies lined up along the ground. Try coloring the shingles in alternating browns and reds, then use bright stripes for each peppermint swirl so kids can practice staying inside curved lines. It is a nice pick for a holiday table or a quiet classroom afternoon.