I love getting fortunes in fortune cookies! So, several years ago, I was inspired to find a recipe for cookies, and I remember being SO amazed when I discovered I could make these at home. Homemade fortune cookies taste nothing like the ones at restaurants, by the way. They are buttery and delicious and decadent. So, if you’re feeling nostalgic for some classic restaurant taste, then homemade is not the way to go. But, if you’re up for some lovely, homemade awesomeness, then you must give these a try. (Scroll to bottom of the post for recipe)
Making this batter is ridiculously simple. (Just be sure to spread the batter VERY thin– thinner than you think.) The tough part about making these is the time it takes. Because you have to form the shapes while they are fresh from the oven, you can only make about two or three at a time. Eeps! I find having helpers are a good thing. (And sometimes…not.) Also, putting two trays in at staggered times so you’re not in the kitchen all day is helpful. I’m wondering if some sort of oven gloves (or even thin winter gloves?) would help too with the burning hot cookies you need to handle. I find that the first 3 or 4 cookies are always my “test” cookies that come out a bit too thick and crumbly. But, by the end, these look gorgeous!
Writing the fortunes is so much fun. The first time we made these for Lunar New Year, I asked my then-four-year-old daughter to help with the messages. She said awesomely hilarious things like:
Garbage is good for garbage cans.
Birds go in nests, of course.
The stage is for dancing on.
School is about playing.
(–I mean, only a four-year old could think up such profound words. Seriously.–)
I’ve compiled some of my favorite quotes from authors, poets, songwriters, etc. into pages of fortune cookie papers and posted them as a digital download on my shop, if you’re interested! Some are famous, recognizable quotations, while others are ones I’ve gathered while reading books, watching movies, or listening to music. It may seem like a random assortment, but they are all quotations that felt inspirational for me. Feel free to use the ones that resonate for you and leave the rest, or use them all and be surprised!
Making fortune cookies is definitely not an everyday sort of baking project, at least for me, but it is fun to do once in awhile. I also highly recommend making “cookies” from paper or fabric as a craft project!
I love this idea, especially because it’s a GREAT opportunity to reuse old magazines, catalogs, wrapping paper, damaged books, etc. as well as fabric scraps. Wouldn’t it be fun to have a jar of these around either at a celebration or perhaps year-round for your family or guests to reach in for some fortune cookie wisdom every now and then?
The first time I made these, I sort of made it up as I went, and it was a bit of a struggle. In the video linked below, I’ve shown a few different tips and ideas, which I hope can help.
I think a bag or box or container of these would be such a fun, simple (possibly upcycled?) gift. If your gift recipient is going through a tough time, you could hand select quotes or messages to offer them hope or a chuckle. If it’s a special anniversary party, you could collect or marriage. If you’ve collected cute, little sayings your kid has said over the years, you could put those on the messages at a birthday party (with their permission, of course). You could stick a fortune in with your child’s lunch or tuck one into a birthday card. The creative possibilities are endless.
If you’re not up for a crafty project, but still like the idea of fortunes, why not just put out a jar of fortunes with no cookies? You can visit my shop to find offerings of instant digital download fortune sheets. Or have fun making your own!
Fortune Cookie Recipe (inspired by yoyomax12)
1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 teaspoons arrowroot powder (or cornstarch)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon water (possibly more)
2 large egg whites
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 Tablespoon vegetable oil
-Sift dry ingredients into a bowl.
-Add the 1 Tbsp of water to the dry ingredients and stir
-Lightly beat egg whites, vanilla extract, and veg oil
-Combine flour mixture with liquid mixture and stir.
-Batter should be smooth, but not overly runny.
-Use 1 Tablespoon of batter per cookie. Add to silicone mat or greased cookie sheet, and smooth with the back of a spoon to form a 3-4″ circle for each
-Bake until the rims are slightly golden (about 13-15 minutes)
-Work quickly to remove each cookie with a spatula, flip, place a fortune. Fold the warm cookie and pull the sides over the rim of a cup. Place each cookie in a muffin tin to keep its shape while it cools.
*Work in SMALL batches, especially at first, cooking 2-3 cookies at a time. You can rotate two trays to keep the process moving along. My first few cookies always end up a bit wonky or lumpy.
~Makes about 15 cookies~