Fortune Cookie Recipe (2024)

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Homemade Fortune Cookies are sure to bring good luck. They’re the perfect way to celebrate the Chinese New Year or eat as a treat with your Asian dinner!

We love to end our meal with a fortune cookie, and having your own fresh cookies with thought-out fortunes is even more fun! Baked Cream Cheese Rangoons, Fried Egg Rolls, and Chicken Lettuce Wraps make great accompanying appetizers.

Fortune Cookie Recipe (1)

New Year Traditions

Our family lovesAsian food, but sometimes eating out isn’t always practical, especially when you have a family of 8!!

That’s why I’ve created lots of homemade versions of our favorite Asian dishes, like Orange Chicken, Broccoli Beef, and Fried Rice.

This year, to celebrate the Chinese New Year, we made some of our favorite homemade Chinese food, learned about Chinese New Year, and we even made our own fortune cookies!

My family agrees, these are a fun and flavorful way to enjoy Asian food at home. I suggest giving these a try—I think you’re going to like them 🙂

Fortune Cookie Recipe (2)

How to make fortune cookies

PREP. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a baking mat; have fortune strips ready.

BATTER. In a large mixing bowl, using a hand mixer, beat the egg whites and sugar on high speed for 2 minutes. Add the melted butter, vanilla extract, almond extract, and water, and mix until incorporated. Stir in the flour and cornstarch, and mix just until combined.

SPREAD. Using a tablespoon, spoon the batter onto the prepared baking sheet or silpat-lined baking sheet. Using a spatula or the back of tablespoon, spread and smooth batter into a 3-inch circle (the 3 inch diameter is the perfect size). Only do two per batch.

BAKE. Bake the cookies for 7-8 minutes or until the edges are brown. Remove them from the oven and quickly flip over. Fold the cookie in half, into a semicircle. Slip the note into the cookie. Place the semicircle onto the edge of a cup and quickly fold the ends down (see pictures below).

COOL & REPEAT. Place the cookie in a muffin tin to let it cool and hold its shape. Repeat the process with the rest of the cookies.

Fortune Cookie Recipe (3)

Tips for shaping fortune cookies

Getting that perfect fortune cookie shape may seem to be a little tricky and could take a couple of tries before you get it down. But don’t let that intimidate you, it is actually really easy! To help with a smooth process, here are some tips to consider.

  • Spreading them evenly will take some practice but essentially when spreading the batter on the parchment paper you want it to look evenly spread with an equal color throughout.
  • Only bake 2 cookies at a time. This will give you enough time to get both of them done without the cookies sitting too long to shape. Once you feel comfortable with 2 you can always try for 3.
  • Be sure to have all your tools and supplies within reaching distance before you get started. You will need a spatula for flipping the cookies, your fortunes to put inside of them, a cup/glass for shaping and a muffin tray to place them in for cooling.
  • Keep a close eye on them while they are baking. It only takes about 7-8 minutes or until edges are brown. If they over bake they will break when shaping them.
Fortune Cookie Recipe (4)

Variations + Recipe Tips

Additional add-ins:

  • Add a few drops of food coloring to the batter to make them the color you want.
  • To customize your homemade fortune cookies, you can dip the ends in melted chocolate or drizzle some on top! Maybe pour on some sprinkles before the chocolate dries all the way.

This recipe will take some trial and error to get the perfect baking time for your personal oven. Don’t worry about not baking them long enough because they will be sitting out and should harden up some. Avoid overbaking them because then they will be too hard to shape correctly.

Separate eggs by cracking them in your hands, using the suction of the water bottle, or a pre-made egg separator kitchen tool.

Fortune Cookie Recipe (5)

FAQ

How to store fortune cookies? Store the homemade fortune cookies in a Ziploc bag or an airtight container for up to 3 months. They can last longer but heat and humidity may cause the shelf life to shorten. So store them in a cool, dry place.

Can you freeze? I have never tried FREEZING homemade fortunecookies but since they do last a long time if stored correctly on the shelf, I don’t think freezing them is necessary. Also, because they can go bad from humidity I would think that they would get soggy when they thaw out.

If you want to store them for a long time, your best option is to store them airtight in a cool, dry place.

These homemade Fortune Cookies taste like they came straight from your favorite Chinese restaurant, and we know you’ll love them!

Fortune Cookie Recipe (6)

More Delicious Asian Dishes to try:

  • Honey Chicken
  • Chinese Lemon Chicken
  • Chinese Pasta Salad
  • Asian Noodle Salad
  • Kung Pao Chicken

Fortune Cookie Recipe (7)

Fortune Cookie Recipe (8)

5 from 17 votes

Fortune Cookie Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna

Homemade Fortune Cookies are sure to bring good luck. They're the perfect way to celebrate the Chinese New Year or eat as a treat with your Asian dinner!

Servings: 8 Cookies

Prep: 8 minutes mins

Cook: 7 minutes mins

Total: 15 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 3 egg whites room temperature
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup salted or unsalted butter melted
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp almond extract
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp cornstarch

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a baking mat; have fortune strips ready.

  • In a large mixing bowl, using a hand mixer, beat the egg whites and sugar on high speed for 2 minutes. Add the melted butter, vanilla, almond extract, and water, mix until incorporated. Add the flour and cornstarch, mix just until combined.

  • Using a tablespoon, spoon the batter onto the prepared baking sheet. Using a spatula or the back of tablespoon, spread the batter into a 3-inch circle. Only do two at a time!

  • Bake the cookies for 7-8 minutes or until the edges are brown. Remove them from the oven and quickly flip over. Fold the cookie in half, into a semicircle. Slip the note into the cookie. Place the semicircle onto the edge of a cup and quickly fold the ends down (see pictures below).

  • Place the cookie in a muffin tin to let it cool and hold its shape.

  • Repeat the process with the remaining batter.

Notes

*If your cookies are still soft in the center, you can place the muffin tin full of cookies back into the oven for a few minutes to harden them up.

Recipe & method adapted from allrecipes.com

Nutrition

Serving: 8g, Calories: 137kcal, Carbohydrates: 31g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 20mg, Potassium: 36mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 19g, Calcium: 4mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine: Chinese

Making this recipe? Tag us!

Share it with us on Instagram using the hashtag #lilluna, so we can see what you’re creating in the kitchen!

Categorized as: Asian Recipes, Cookies, Cuisines, Desserts, Holidays, New Years, Recipes

About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

More About Kristyn

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Fortune Cookie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is fortune cookie dough made of? ›

The ingredients (typically made with a base of flour, sugar, vanilla, and sesame seed oil) are mixed in a large tank and squirted onto fast moving trays. These function like a conveyor belt and are heated to cook the dough. Cookies are compressed with round hot plates to shape and cook them.

How to make fortune cookies in Little Alchemy? ›

Recipes
  1. Paper + Cookie.
  2. Paper + Cookie dough.
  3. Paper + Gingerbread man.

Do you read the fortune first or eat the cookie? ›

THE instructions on the red wrapper are very explicit: (1) Open the packaging. (2) Use both hands to break open the fortune cookie. (3) Retrieve and read the fortune. (4) Eat the cookie.

What are the numbers on the bottom of a fortune cookie for? ›

The numbers on the fortunes in fortune cookies are known as " lucky numbers " and are believed to bring good luck and fortune to those who receive them .

How are traditional fortune cookies made? ›

Answer. The cookies are baked as flat circles. After they are removed from the oven, slips of paper are folded inside while the cookies are still warm and flexible. As the fortune cookies cool, they harden into shape.

What gives fortune cookies their taste? ›

The Making of Fortune Cookies

The basic components include flour, sugar, water, and vegetable oil, which form the cookie's crisp and light texture. Some recipes also call for a small amount of almond or vanilla extract to enhance flavour.

What is the hardest recipe in Little Alchemy? ›

Tardis. The Tardis from the Doctor Who series is considered one of the most challenging items to create in Little Alchemy due to its specific and unique combination of elements.

Can my dog have fortune cookies? ›

Technically, yes, dogs can eat fortune cookies. Fortune cookies are basic foods with few ingredients, and it is safe to give them to your dog in most circ*mstances. However, fortune cookies are not necessarily good for dogs. Dogs do not need to eat processed foods and sugars.

Can I eat a fortune cookie? ›

Yes we do and the kids love them too, they're only like an egg biscuit. We break the open and read our fortunes out to each other and eat the cookie too, it's fun.

What country invented fortune cookies? ›

The latest history of the fortune cookie is that it originated in Japan. A wood block image from 1878 shows what seems to be a Japanese street vendor grilling, fortune cookies. They can still be found in certain districts of Kyoto Japan, but are larger and darker than the fortune cookie we are familiar with.

How are Japanese fortune cookies different from American fortune cookies? ›

The Japanese cracker, Lee wrote, was larger and darker, made with sesame and miso instead of the vanilla and butter used to flavor fortune cookies found in modern Chinese restaurants in America. Lee cited Japanese researcher Yasuko Nakamachi, who said she found these cookies at a generations-old family bakery near a ...

What does an empty fortune cookie mean? ›

The reasoning behind this is that you are now owed a fortune and it will be repaid to you with a good event. The second is that your fortune is a blank slate. You are in control of your own future and are able to take the reins and make what you want to happen, happen.

Has anyone ever won the lottery using fortune cookie numbers? ›

A North Carolina veteran turned a restaurant meal into a Mega Millions jackpot after he used the numbers from his fortune cookie to win a $4 million prize. Gabriel Fierro and his wife eat at the Red Bowl Asian Bistro in Charlotte, N.C., about once a week, according to the NC Education Lottery.

Are fortune cookies healthy? ›

The edible portion of a fortune cookie contains approximately 20 calories in an 8-ounce serving, according to Panda Express. Although the calorie count is not huge, you also forgo consuming a healthy food — fortune cookies offer little to no nutritional value.

What are the ingredients in garden fortune cookies? ›

**Wheat Flour, Sugar, Butter, Egg, Leavening / Raising Agent (Diphosphates (E450), Sodium Carbonate (E500)), Artificial Colour (Carotene (E160a)) (Contains Antioxidant (Sodium Ascorbate (E301), a-tocopherol (e307)), Thickener (Gum Arabic (E414), Anti-caking Agent (Silicon Dioxide (E551))).

Are fortune cookies made with wheat? ›

The essential components of these cookies include flour, sugar, vanilla extract, and oil. While the type of flour used can vary from one manufacturer to another, it is crucial to note that most fortune cookies are made using wheat flour, which contains gluten.

Who makes up the fortunes in fortune cookies? ›

They are mostly written by two people: Donald Lau, president of Wonton Food, Inc, and Lisa Yang, vice president of Yang's Fortunes. Wonton Food also contracts freelance writers once every couple of years to craft new messages for their database of fortunes.

References

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