Making homemade fortune cookies is easier than you think, and all you need are a handful of staple ingredients! In no time, you can whip a batch of these crispy delicious delicate treats with your very own custom printed fortunes folded inside. Make it simply for the family or any special event, and watch everyone gasp as they open and read their fortune cookies.
Here is a batch of homemade fortune cookies I made for Valentine's Day. I dipped them in melted white chocolate adding one of my favorite all-natural food coloring powders from Suncore Foods. It was so rewarding to make and I love how it adds that little extra personal touch to the occasion.
You will have so much fun customizing your messages - I'm sure you can think of a few clever fortunes right now that will delight and surprise everyone! Not interested in customizing them? They are great to enjoy on their own, and hands down better than the fortunes cookies from your local Chinese takeout.
I watched a lot of YouTube tutorial to learn how to make these fortune cookies successfully. One of the most helpful videos I came across was by Sweet Dumpling - her slower pace was so easy to follow! I tweaked her recipe for a slightly crispier fortune cookie and still use it today.
Looking for classic cookie recipes? Check out my New York Levain-Inspired Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies or my chocolatey Brownie Cookies. Or if you want to bake something unique for your holiday treat boxes, make my Starbucks Copycat Cranberry Bliss Bars!
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Are Homemade Fortune Cookies Easy To Make?
Making the cookie batter can't be any simpler - all the ingredients go straight into one bowl. Shaping the cookies takes a little practice and timing. The challenge is shaping the cookies straight out of the oven and folding them before they cool. But do not worry - once you get that first cookie, you'll master quickly how to do the rest.
A Few Notes About The Ingredients
- Rice flour: Label should read rice flour, not to be mistaken with glutinous rice flour or sweet rice flour.
- Cornstarch: You can also use wheat starch.
- Egg whites: Save the egg yolks to lemon curd, custard, or make my Creme Brûlée Cookies!
- Vanilla or almond extract: I prefer using only vanilla extract, but many people feel almond extract gives the most authentic fortune cookie flavor. Add one or both.
How To Make Homemade Fortune Cookies
Sift dry ingredients to sugar.
Separate eggs - save yolks for future recipes. Add all other wet ingredients and whisk until frothy.
Combine wet and dry ingredients.
Batter consistency resembles similarly to sweetened condensed milk.
Pour approx 1 tablespoon batter onto silicone mat. Spread batter in a circular motion evenly 3½ inches (9cm) across.
Start with two cookies until you master shaping them quickly.
Working quickly, flip cookies with spatula immediately once they are baked.
Insert fortune paper and fold cookie in half. Be cautious not to crease the center of the cookie.
Using the lip of any mug or small dish, crimp a fold in the center and push ends down to create fortune cookie shape.
Place in a muffin pan to help maintain its shape until cookie fully hardens. Place full tray in oven turned off after baking is done.
Suzy's Tips For Success
- Silicone mat works better than parchment paper: I have tried both, and the silicone baking mat is the clear winner for me. It withstood the multiple baking much better and the fortune cookies baked more evenly.
- Work quickly: Be ready to shape the cookies once you take them out of the oven. Once they cool, the cookies will harden making it difficult to fold into their classic shape. Have your spatula ready to flip the cookies, gloves on, any edge/rim to help crease the cookie center (I used a sauce ramekin), and muffin pan on the side.
- Start with two cookies on two trays: Bake two cookies. Once they're done, bake the second tray while you shape the two cookies from the first tray. After you have mastered folding two successfully, increase each tray to three cookies. We know you could bake much more than three, but shaping them in time is the issue. You'd be surprised how fast these cookies harden!
- Use oven cool down to crisp up the cookies: Once all the baking is completed, transfer pan of finished cookies into the oven turned off for 5 minutes. This will help crisp up the cookie, especially the center.
How To Store Homemade Fortune Cookies
Store in an airtight container or ziplock bag at room temperature for up to 5 days. If your area is humid, include a slice of bread. You can also freeze for up to 3 months.
FAQ
Mostly likely, you are pouring more than one level tablespoon of batter or not spreading it out thin enough. Use the back of a small spoon to make a circle 3½ inch (9cm) in diameter. Some recipes claim 3 inches is best. Try your best to create a thin layer of batter before baking.
The cookie center takes the longest to dry and harden because of the fold we create. To speed up the process, I transfer all finished cookies back into the oven with heat turned off for 5 minutes. The low reduced heat helps the cookie dry quicker.
No, it's not required. People have different tolerances to heat, and I found the cookies to be quite hot when they come out of the oven. I tried folding them with just my hands, but I found using any type of gloves were very helpful. You don't have the luxury of waiting for the cookies to cool down and it's not worth the risk of blistering your fingertips
Approximately 2¾in x ¾in (7cmx2cm) each. I printed mine, but feel free to handwrite.
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Equipment
- paper to write fortunes
- 2 silicone baking mats
- thin spatula
- rim/lip of any mug, cup, or ramekin
Ingredients
- 100 g granulated sugar
- 60 g all-purpose flour
- 20 g rice flour
- 5 g cornstarch
- 2 g sea salt
- 2 egg whites
- 25 g water
- 32 g any neutral oil
- 5 g vanilla and/or almond extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 340°F (170°C). Prep baking sheets with silicone baking mats(recommended) or parchment paper. Handwrite or print fortune cookie messages, approx 2¾in x ¾in (2cm x 7cm) each.
- In a medium mixing bowl, pour in sugar and sift in both flours, cornstarch, and salt. Mix and set aside.100 g granulated sugar, 60 g all-purpose flour, 20 g rice flour, 5 g cornstarch, 2 g sea salt
- In another bowl, combine egg whites, water, any neutral oil (vegetable, avocado, grapeseed, etc), and vanilla or almond extract. Whisk evenly until mixture becomes frothy and tiny bubbles remain on the surface.2 egg whites, 25 g water, 32 g any neutral oil, 5 g vanilla and/or almond extract
- Combine wet ingredients into the dry ingredients in two batches. Mix well until consistency is smooth and similar to sweetened condensed milk.
- Spoon one level tablespoon of batter onto silicone mat. Using the back of a the small spoon in a circular motion, smooth out until it’s an even circle approx 3½ inches (9cm) across. Repeat, then bake for 10-11 mins or until edges are golden. Bake two cookies at a time until you master the cookie shaping. Pour two more spoonfuls of batter on second baking sheet.
- As you remove first baking tray out of the oven, place the second tray in to bake. Working quickly, flip cookie over with a thin spatula. Using gloves (optional), place cookie in one palm. Lay paper fortune message side down horizontally in center of the cookie. Gently fold bottom end to meet the top, similar to wrapping dumplings. Place middle of cookie on top a ramekin or glass lip and press down the cookie ends to create a fold. Transfer cookie into a muffin pan to help cookie set while it hardens. Repeat with the next cookie. Pour two more spoonfuls of batter onto empty tray.
- Shape cookies from second tray while you bake the first tray again. Continue to pour batter and shape cookies while rotating both baking sheets. Once you master shaping two cookies, you can attempt baking three cookies on each tray.
- Once you have finished baking, turn off heat and place finished cookies back inside oven to help crisp the cookie centers. Remove from oven, allow to cool, and enjoy!
Nutrition
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Farukh says
I loved this recipe! Great instructions and taste. THANK YOU for including the measurements in the recipe start and body!
Suzy says
Thank you, Farukh! I'm so glad the measurements in the recipe body was helpful. I appreciate you trying it out!