- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 4.5 × 3.1 in (11.4 × 7.8 cm)
With its pleated top edge, golden-brown pan-seared bottom, and happy smiling face with rosy cheeks, this paper dumpling squishy looks fresh out of the skillet. Grab the free printable PDF in US Letter or A4, which includes 3 versions: full color, a line-art coloring page, and a blank outline. Pair your finished gyoza with a ramen bowl paper squishy or tuck it next to a dim sum basket squishy for the cutest handmade takeout feast.
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your gyoza template at 100% scale on plain printer paper with “fit to page” turned off. Check the scale line in the top corner to make sure it measures exactly 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you picked the coloring page, shade the toasted brown bottom, creamy dough, and pink cheeks now, then let marker ink dry completely.
2Tape the pieces
Cover only the two gyoza pieces with strips of wide clear packing tape instead of taping the entire sheet. Smooth each strip down from the center outward without pulling, since stretched tape wrinkles later. This glossy coat makes your paper dumpling shiny, strong, and extra squishy.
3Cut out both pieces
Cut out the front and the back along the solid black outer line, keeping the narrow white border intact. Take your time steering the scissors around the wavy top pleats and the left and right tips so both pieces match up cleanly.
4Add a tape border to the back
Lay the back piece printed side down onto strips of clear tape with the sticky side facing up. Cut the tape about 1 cm (½ inch) past the paper edge, then snip this border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper so the little flaps follow the curved bottom and wavy top.
5Join front and back
Put the front piece right on top of the back with the white sides together, lining up the top pleats and side tips. Fold the sticky tape flaps over the front edge one by one and press them down. Leave a 4.5 cm (1¾ in) gap open along the bottom where the pink line in the picture shows.
6Stuff it
Tear plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small pieces and push them in through the bottom gap. Tuck tiny bits into the narrow left and right tips and the wavy top pleats first, then fill the plump middle until it feels soft and puffy—too much stuffing makes the seams pop.
7Close the gap
Fold the last tape flaps over the bottom edge and tape the gap shut with an extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger firmly along the entire curved bottom and pleated top to press the tape down well.
8Squish!
Done! Your finished gyoza measures about 4.5 × 3.1 in (11.4 × 7.8 cm) and is ready to squeeze. Press the plump middle and watch it puff right back up. Want a slow-rising squishy? Prick one tiny pinhole in the back.
Free Gyoza Dumpling 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 gyoza feels too hard. It has too much stuffing, which makes the dumpling stiff and stresses the curved seams. Open the bottom gap, take some filling out, and tape it shut again.
- Tape wrinkles on the pleats. Wrinkles happen when packing tape is pulled tight across the wavy gyoza shape. Use shorter strips and lay them down gently without stretching.
- A side tip splits open. The narrow left and right ends of the dumpling take extra pressure when you squeeze. Put a new short strip of clear tape across the edge, overlapping the old ones.
- Toasted brown markers smeared. Dark brown and rosy pink marker ink needs a moment to set on plain paper. Let your markers dry fully before taping; printer ink is fine right away.
Questions
How do you make a dumpling squishy out of paper without glue?
Glue does not stick to tape-covered paper, so the seams would open right up. Instead, lay the back piece on sticky tape, snip the overhanging border into little flaps, and fold them over the edge of the front piece.
What paper works best for a paper squishy dumpling?
Plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) folds smoothly around the wavy gyoza pleats. Cardstock makes the squishy too stiff and it will not squish as nicely.
What can I use to stuff my paper dumpling squishy?
Tear up plastic grocery bags for a crinkly and light feel, or use cotton balls or fiberfill to make it soft and plump. You can also use small pieces of memory foam for a slow-rising squishy.
Can I print the paper dumpling squishy template in a bigger size?
Yes! Print the page at a larger scale, such as 120%, making sure to print the front and the back together on the same sheet so they match.
Can I make these paper squishy dumplings with a class or group?
Yes, just print 1 sheet per person and cut the tape strips in advance. Kids can color the toasted gyoza coloring page while you help with taping—plan about 30 minutes.
More paper squishies to make
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