- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 2.3 × 4.5 in (5.8 × 11.4 cm)
Stack up the cuteness with a trio of pastel pink, creamy white, and matcha green sweet rice dumplings on a tiny skewer, complete with rosy cheeks and little hearts. Grab the free printable mochi paper squishy template in US Letter or A4, which includes 3 versions: full color, a coloring page, and a blank design. Pair your finished dango dumplings with a strawberry mochi squishy for the ultimate kawaii dessert tray.
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your dango dumplings sheet at 100% scale on plain printer paper (make sure “fit to page” is turned off). Check that the scale line in the top corner measures exactly 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you picked the coloring page, color the 3 sweet dumplings and the wooden skewer now, then let any marker ink dry completely.
2Tape the pieces
Laminate just the front and back dango pieces with wide clear packing tape rather than covering the entire page. Press each strip down from the center outwards without pulling—stretched tape will wrinkle later on. This glossy layer makes your dumplings shiny, sturdy, and super satisfying to squeeze.
3Cut out both pieces
Cut out the front and back shapes right along the solid black outer line, keeping the narrow white border intact. Take your time steering the scissors into the gentle indents between the 3 stacked dumplings and around the little stick at the bottom.
4Add a tape border to the back
Place the back piece printed side down onto strips of clear tape with the sticky side facing up. Trim the tape about 1 cm (½ inch) outside the paper edge, then snip into this border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the outline, especially around the curvy sides and the bottom stick. These little flaps will seal your squishy.
5Join front and back
Line up the front piece on top of the back with the white sides facing each other. Fold the sticky flaps over the front edge one by one and press them flat around each round dumpling. Leave a 3 cm (1 inch) gap open on the side (shown by the pink line in the illustration) for stuffing.
6Stuff it
Shred plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small bits and poke them through the side opening. Push the first tiny tufts all the way into the narrow skewer tip at the bottom and the top pink dumpling, then fill the middle until the stack feels plump and soft—overstuffing can pop the seams.
7Close the gap
Fold the remaining tape flaps over the opening and lock the seam shut with an extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger firmly around all the scalloped edges and the bottom stick so every piece of tape stays tightly sealed.
8Squish!
Your sweet dango skewer is ready! Give the 3 chubby dumplings a big squeeze and watch them puff right back up. If you want an extra slow-rising feel, poke one tiny pinhole into the back.
Free Dango Dumplings 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
- The bottom stick stays flat. Tear a tiny pinch of stuffing and gently push it down into the narrow wooden skewer tip before filling the round dumplings above it.
- Wrinkles on the round dumplings. Use shorter strips of packing tape across the curves and smooth them down gently without pulling or stretching.
- My dango feels too firm. It is packed a little too tightly. Peel open the side gap, pull out a few tufts of filling, and seal it back up with a fresh strip of tape.
- Smudged pastel faces. Always let marker ink dry completely on the coloring page before laying down the packing tape, though regular printer ink is ready right away.
Questions
How do I use this mochi paper squishy template?
Simply print the sheet at 100% on regular printer paper, cover the front and back dango pieces with clear packing tape, and cut them out. Join the edges with a snipped tape border, fill the 3 stacked rice dumplings with soft stuffing, and tape the gap shut.
Can I use glue instead of tape for the seams?
No, glue will not stick to the slick, tape-covered paper and the curvy dumpling edges would pop open. Folding a snipped clear tape border over the edge gives you a strong, flexible seam.
What paper works best for a mochi paper squishy?
Plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) folds smoothly around the round dumpling shapes and squishes best. Heavy cardstock is too stiff and keeps the pillow from puffing up nicely.
What can I stuff the dango dumplings with?
You can use torn plastic grocery bags for a light crinkly feel, cotton balls or fiberfill for a plush squish, or tiny bits of memory foam for a slow-rising effect.
Can I make this dango squishy bigger or as a set?
Yes! Print the page at a larger scale like 120% with both pieces on the same sheet so they match, or craft a whole sweet tray by pairing it with a melon pan squishy.
More paper squishies to make
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