Dumpling Paper Squishy Template in a Steamer Basket
This dumpling paper squishy template is a round white bao bun sitting in a little bamboo steamer, and it's free to print. The pleats on top run towards one point. Brown pencil lines turn them into real-looking folds once the tape goes on.
Quick answer
Print at 100 % and colour the steamer brown. Cover both halves with wide clear tape, cut them out along the grey border and tape the edges together. Stuff the bun so it bulges a little, then close it. Not for children under three, and an adult does the cutting.
Download the dumpling template (PDF)
A bao bun in its steamer basket
The dumpling opens our second template PDF. It sits in a bamboo steamer, just like the bao squishies in our shop.
The bun is cream white with fine pleat lines meeting at the top. Below it sits a bamboo basket. The face goes on the bun just above the basket rim, where a pair of pink cheeks makes it look freshly steamed.
The outline is a dome on a rectangle. No thin parts at all. The back shows the bun without pleats.
| Big | Small | |
|---|---|---|
| Finished size | 9 x 9 cm | 6 x 6 cm |
| Good for | a fat round squeeze | a pocket |
| Difficulty | easy | easy |
How to fold and stuff the dumpling
- Print the sheet at actual size and draw over the pleats with a brown pencil.
- Colour the steamer in two browns so the bands show.
- Tape over both halves from the centre outwards and cover the grey edge too.
- Cut out the dumplings along the outer line of the grey border.
- Join them back to back with short strips of narrow tape and leave a gap at the basket.
- Stuff the bun part first so it rounds out, then the basket, and close the gap.
A bao looks right when the top bulges and the basket stays flatter. All the steps with photos are in our paper squishy guide. For a full set of food shapes, see the template collection.
Foam dumplings and bao buns
The steamed bun below is slow rising PU foam and 9 cm across, as the maker states. The chick bao comes as three buns in a steamer.
Steamed Bun Squishy, Slow Rising PU, 9 cmView
Bao Dumpling Squishy in Steamer BasketView
Chick Bao Squishy, 3 Buns in Steamer BasketView
Need more tape or filling for the paper bao?
Wide Clear Tape for Paper Squishies, 5.5 cmView
Kids Craft Scissors for Paper Squishies, PlasticView
Polyester Fiberfill for Paper Squishies, 1 kgView
FAQ
How big is the paper dumpling?
The big one comes out at 9 x 9 cm and the small one at 6 x 6 cm. That includes the grey border you cut along.
What can I fill the dumpling with?
Cotton wool or toy stuffing works best. Scrunched plastic bags or tissues are fine too, but leave rice out because it leaks from a split seam.
Is the foam dumpling the same as a gel dumpling?
No. The steamed bun here is slow rising foam. Our guide to dumpling squishy types explains foam, gel and the rest.
