How to Draw a Fortune Cookie
Learn how to draw a fortune cookie step by step in this easy-to-follow tutorial. Create a realistic and delicious looking fortune cookie drawing that you can color or leave in black and white.

Materials You'll Need
- Pencil
- Paper
- Eraser
Welcome to this detailed tutorial on how to draw a fortune cookie! Fortune cookies are more than just delightful snacks; they are iconic symbols of surprise and curiosity, often associated with fun messages and good luck. Capturing the unique, folded shape of a fortune cookie in your artwork can be both a satisfying and enjoyable challenge. Whether you want to create a simple sketch or a more realistic illustration, learning how to accurately depict the subtle curves and textures of a fortune cookie adds a fun subject to your drawing repertoire.
This tutorial is designed for artists of all skill levels—from beginners eager to explore new subjects to seasoned illustrators looking to refine their technique. Drawing a fortune cookie involves understanding basic shapes, shading to create depth, and adding fine details to bring out the crispness of the cookie's edges. By following this step-by-step guide on how to draw a fortune cookie, you'll enhance your observation skills and practice techniques like contour drawing and light shading. Plus, it's a great way to develop your ability to render everyday objects with realism and charm.
So grab your pencil and paper, and let your creativity unfold as we dive into drawing this iconic treat. With a little patience and practice, you'll be able to create a fortune cookie drawing that looks textured, three-dimensional, and ready to share a secret message of its own. Let's get started and make your art as inviting as the cookie itself!
Materials Required
Before we begin, let's gather the materials you'll need to create your fortune cookie drawing:
- Paper: Start with a clean white sheet of paper. You can use any type of paper, but a sketch pad or drawing paper works best.
- Pencil: Select a graphite pencil with a medium hardness, such as an HB or 2B pencil. This will allow you to easily sketch and erase your lines.
- Eraser: Use a soft eraser that won't damage the paper, such as a kneaded eraser or a vinyl eraser.
- Fine-tip pen: Grab a thin black pen to outline and add details to your drawing.
- Colored pencils or markers (optional): If you wish to add color to your drawing, have some colored pencils or markers nearby.
Now that we have our materials ready, let's dive into the steps of drawing a fortune cookie!
Step 1: Draw the Outline
Start by drawing a long oval shape in the center of your paper. This will be the overall shape of your fortune cookie. Keep the oval slightly open at one end, resembling the opening of a real fortune cookie.
Step 2: Add Texture Lines
To give your fortune cookie a realistic texture, add a few curved lines inside the oval shape. These lines represent the creases and folds found in a real fortune cookie. Space them out randomly, and don't worry about making them perfectly symmetrical.
Step 3: Create the Fortune
Inside the opening of the fortune cookie, draw a rectangular shape that will hold the fortune. This shape should be slightly curved at the top and bottom to fit the contour of the cookie. Add a small line in the middle to represent the paper slip where the fortune will be placed.
Step 4: Outline the Cookie
Using your fine-tip pen, trace over the entire outline of the fortune cookie. You can make the lines thicker on the outside edges to add depth and dimension. Leave the opening of the cookie slightly lighter to create a highlight.
Step 5: Add Details
Next, add some small details to make your fortune cookie look more realistic. Draw a thin curved line across the middle of the cookie to represent the seam where the cookie is folded. You can also add a few shallow lines on the outer surface of the cookie to mimic the texture.
Step 6: Sketch the Fortune
Within the rectangular shape you drew earlier, lightly sketch a few curved lines to represent the folds and bends of the fortune paper. Remember to keep the lines gentle and not too dark, as they will be the background for the actual fortune message.
Step 7: Write the Fortune
Now, let's add the fortune message to our drawing. Use your fine-tip pen to carefully write a short message in the center of the fortune paper. You can choose any positive or motivational quote that you like. Make sure to write neatly and with a steady hand.
Step 8: Color (Optional)
If you wish to add some color to your drawing, now is the time to do so. Choose light brown or beige tones to color the fortune cookie, giving it a realistic look. Add a slight shading effect to the folds and creases of the cookie to make it appear more three-dimensional. Use colored pencils or markers to achieve the desired effect.
Congratulations, you have successfully drawn a mouth-watering fortune cookie! Remember to let your creativity shine by experimenting with different colors and adding your own personal touch to the drawing.
Conclusion
In this step-by-step guide, we have learned how to draw a fortune cookie from start to finish. By following these simple instructions, you can create a realistic and appetizing fortune cookie drawing. Whether you choose to color your artwork or leave it in black and white, the final result will be a delightful representation of this delicious treat. So grab your pencils, paper, and get ready to draw a fortune cookie that will surely bring a smile to your face!
Fun Facts About Fortune Cookie
- The fortune cookie was popularized in California in the early 20th century, not China as many believe.
- Fortune cookies often contain lucky numbers, which some people use for lottery tickets.
- The original fortune cookie was likely inspired by a Japanese cracker called tsujiura senbei.
- Fortune cookies are typically made from flour, sugar, vanilla, and sesame seed oil.
- In 2010, a man set a world record by opening 118 fortune cookies in one minute.
- Most fortune cookies are made in factories in the United States, especially in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
- Fortune cookies are often served as a dessert in Chinese restaurants in the U.S., but they are rarely found in China itself.
- The messages inside fortune cookies are usually written by teams of writers who craft thousands of fortunes each year.
Suggestions for Scenes and Settings for Fortune Cookie Drawings
- A fortune cookie resting on a traditional Chinese takeout box with steam rising softly in the background.
- An opened fortune cookie on a wooden table with the fortune slip partially pulled out, revealing an inspiring message.
- A whimsical scene where the fortune cookie is floating in the sky among clouds shaped like lucky symbols.
- A close-up of multiple fortune cookies spilling out of a paper bag, each with different fortunes visible.
- A fortune cookie placed next to a cup of tea on a cozy windowsill during a rainy day.
- A playful illustration of a fortune cookie character holding its own fortune slip, smiling and winking.
- A fortune cookie cracked open on a delicate porcelain plate with intricate Asian patterns.
- A surreal setting where the fortune cookie is part of a treasure chest filled with good luck charms and talismans.
- A fortune cookie paired with other symbolic objects like a four-leaf clover, horseshoe, and lucky coin on a reflective surface.
- A festive scene with fortune cookies arranged around lanterns and fireworks celebrating Lunar New Year.