- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 3.9 × 3.8 in (9.9 × 9.6 cm)
Topped with juicy red strawberries, piped pink swirls, heart sprinkles, and drippy vanilla icing over fluffy sponge layers, this sweet cake paper squishy template brings kawaii bakery vibes right to your desk. The finished pillow measures about 3.9 × 3.8 in (9.9 × 9.6 cm). Your free PDF comes in US Letter and A4 with 3 versions: full color, a coloring page, and a blank outline. Pair it with our cheesecake paper squishy or macaron paper squishy for a full dessert tray!
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your cake template at 100% scale on plain printer paper (make sure “fit to page” is turned off). Check the test line in the top corner—it should measure 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you picked the coloring page or blank version, color your sponge layers, frosting, and berries now, and let marker ink dry completely before moving on.
2Tape the pieces
Lay strips of wide clear packing tape over just the front and back cake pieces, rather than taping the entire sheet. Smooth each strip down from the middle out toward the edges without pulling or stretching it, because stretched tape will wrinkle later. This glossy coat makes your cake shiny, sturdy, and super satisfying to squeeze.
3Cut out both pieces
Use your scissors to cut out the front and back cake shapes right along the solid outer line. Take your time following the scalloped curves around the top strawberries and the rounded sides of the pink cream filling, making sure to keep the narrow white border intact all the way around.
4Add a tape border to the back
Place the back cake piece printed-side down onto strips of tape so the sticky side faces up. Cut 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, following the curved strawberry top and rounded base. These little flaps will hold your squishy together.
5Join front and back
Line up the smiling front piece on top of the back piece with the white sides facing each other. Fold the sticky tape flaps over the front edge one by one and press them down firmly. Leave a 4 cm (1½ in) gap open along the edge as shown by the pink line in the picture—that is where your stuffing goes in.
6Stuff it
Tear plastic grocery bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small fluffy pieces and push them in through the open gap. Fill the far corners first—up into the strawberry crown at the top and down into the bottom sponge layer—and stop when the cake feels soft and puffy, since too much stuffing makes the seams pop.
7Close the gap
Fold the last tape flaps neatly over the stuffing gap and tape the spot shut with an extra strip of regular clear tape. Run your finger all the way along the curved cake edges to press the tape down well so the seam stays closed.
8Squish!
Your kawaii cake is done! Squeeze the chubby sponge layers and watch your squishy puff right back up. Want a slow-rising paper squishy? Gently prick one tiny pinhole in the back of the cake.
Free Cake 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
- My cake feels too hard. It has too much stuffing inside the sponge layers. Gently open the stuffing gap, take some filling out, and tape the edge shut again.
- Wrinkles across the frosting. Tape wrinkles when it gets pulled tight while you lay it down. Use shorter strips and smooth them gently over the cake without pulling.
- A curved edge splits open. The scalloped top around the strawberries has lots of curves that can lift if stuffed tightly. Put a new short strip of clear tape right across the edge, overlapping the old ones.
- Marker colors smeared under tape. Bright reds and pinks need a moment to set on paper before taping. Always let marker ink dry fully before adding packing tape; printer ink is fine right away.
Questions
How do you make a paper squishy cake without glue?
You only need clear tape for the edges! Glue does not stick to tape-covered paper, so the seams would open right up. A 1 cm (½ inch) tape border snipped every 2 cm (1 inch) and folded over the edge holds best.
What paper works best for a cake paper squishy?
Plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) works best. Cardstock makes the rounded cake layers too stiff, so it won’t squish as nicely.
What can I stuff my paper squishy cake with?
Tear up plastic grocery bags for a crinkly, light feel, or use cotton balls or fiberfill for a soft pillow. You can also use small pieces of memory foam if you want a slow-rising cake squishy.
Can I print the cake paper squishy template bigger?
Yes! Print the page at a larger scale in your printer settings, for example 120%. Make sure to print the front and the back together on the same sheet so they match.
Can I make these with a class or birthday party group?
Yes, it is a fun group activity! Print one sheet per person and cut the tape strips in advance. Kids can color the cake coloring page while you help with taping—plan about 30 minutes.
More paper squishies to make
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