- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 3.7 × 3.7 in (9.4 × 9.3 cm)
With wavy pink icing, rainbow sprinkles, and a happy smiling face with rosy cheeks, this frosted donut is the sweetest handmade fidget. Grab our free **donut paper squishy template** in US Letter or A4 to make your own puffy pillow in about 20 to 30 minutes. The PDF includes 3 versions: ready-to-make full color, a coloring page, and a blank outline. Pair it with a cinnamon roll squishy to start your own paper bakery!
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your chosen page at 100% scale on plain printer paper—make sure to turn off the “fit to page” setting. Check the scale line in the top corner; it should measure exactly 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you picked the coloring page, color the icing, golden dough, and sprinkles now, and let marker ink dry completely before moving on.
2Tape the pieces
Cover only the two round donut pieces with wide clear packing tape, rather than taping the whole sheet. Lay each strip down gently and smooth it from the center of the ring outward without pulling—stretched tape will wrinkle later. This clear layer makes the pink glaze look super glossy while keeping the paper strong and extra squishy.
3Cut out both pieces
Use your scissors to cut out the front and back pieces along the solid outer black circle. Turn the paper smoothly as you cut to keep the round shape neat, and be sure to leave the narrow white border intact around the golden dough. Note that the center hole stays printed on the circle and is not cut out.
4Add a tape border to the back
Place the back donut piece printed side down onto strips of regular clear tape, so the sticky side faces up around the ring. Trim the tape about 1 cm (½ inch) past the paper edge, then snip this sticky border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper. These little flaps will hold your squishy together around the curve.
5Join front and back
Line up the smiling front piece on top of the back piece with the white sides facing together. Fold the sticky tape flaps over the front edge one by one, pressing them down neatly around the circle. Leave a gap of about 4 cm (1½ in) open along one side—the pink line in the illustration shows the spot for stuffing.
6Stuff it
Tear plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small bits and push them inside through the open gap. Work the filling all the way to the far edges of the circle first, then fill the middle evenly. Stop once your donut feels soft and puffy, because packing in too much stuffing can make the taped seams pop.
7Close the gap
Fold the remaining tape flaps over the front border, and tape the gap shut with an extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger firmly all the way around the circular edge to press the tape down well so no air or stuffing escapes.
8Squish!
Your frosted donut paper squishy is ready! Give the chubby pink donut a big squeeze and watch it puff right back into shape. If you want a slow-rising squishy, prick one tiny pinhole in the back piece so the air escapes slowly when you squeeze it.
Free Frosted Donut Squishy Template
- Color
- Coloring page
- Blank, design your own
- Step-by-step guide
One free PDF: the template in three versions (pages 1–3) and the step-by-step guide (pages 4–5). Print the template at 100% on plain printer paper.
Tips for the perfect squish
- An edge splits open. Curved donut seams take a lot of pressure when you squeeze them. If a spot pops open, place a new short strip of clear tape across the edge so it overlaps the old ones.
- My squishy feels too hard. If the donut feels stiff instead of pillowy, it has too much filling inside. Gently peel open the stuffing gap, take some out, and tape the edge shut again.
- The tape has wrinkles. Wrinkles across the pink frosting happen when packing tape is pulled tight as you apply it. Use shorter strips and lay them down lightly without pulling.
- Colors smeared under the tape. Printer ink is fine to tape right away, but markers need a moment to set on the sprinkles and glaze. Let colored pages dry fully before adding your clear packing tape.
Questions
How do you make a donut paper squishy without glue?
You only need clear tape for the edges! Glue does not stick to tape-covered paper and the round seams would open, so folding the snipped tape border over the edge holds best.
What paper works best for a paper squishy donut?
Plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) works best because it folds softly when squeezed. Cardstock makes the round donut stiff and it won’t squish as nicely.
What can I use for stuffing?
Plastic grocery bags feel crinkly and light, while cotton balls or fiberfill make a soft pillow. You can also use small pieces of memory foam for a slow-rising squishy.
Can I make a bigger donut or a bakery set?
Yes! To make a jumbo donut, print the page at a larger scale like 120% with the front and back together on the same sheet so they match. You can also print our waffle paper squishy to build a cute bakery collection.
Can I make these with a class or a group?
Yes! Print one sheet per person and cut tape strips in advance. Kids can color the coloring page while you help with taping, and you should plan about 30 minutes.
More paper squishies to make
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