The story follows two young siblings, Hansel and Gretel, whose family is struggling with hunger. Their stepmother convinces their father to leave them deep in the woods. Hansel tries to leave a trail of breadcrumbs to find their way home, but birds eat the crumbs, leaving the children lost.

While wandering, they discover a magical house made of candy and gingerbread. Hungry, they begin to eat the house, only to be captured by the wicked witch who lives inside. She intends to fatten Hansel up to eat him and makes Gretel do all the housework.

The children must use their bravery and cleverness to escape:

• The Bone Trick: Hansel tricks the near-sighted witch by holding out a small bone instead of his finger, making her think he isn't getting any fatter.

• The Oven Trick: When the witch decides to cook them anyway, Gretel pretends she doesn't know how to check the oven's temperature. When the witch leans in to show her, Gretel pushes her inside and shuts the door.

The siblings escape with the witch's treasures and eventually find their way back home to their father, where they live happily ever after.