Homemade Fortune Cookies

Yes, you read the title correctly. I am going to show you how to make Fortune Cookies.  I have a ton of new recipes I want to try, but today I wanted to work on perfecting this recipe, so I thought I'd give it a whirl...for the 2nd time.  

Here's what you'll need:

1/2 cup flour (if you have bread flour, use it)- I used all-purpose flour & it worked fine.

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla (or you could use 1/2 tsp almond and 1/2 tsp vanilla)

2 egg whites

Put all ingredients in a mixing bowl and beat to combine.  

This is how it looks after you mix it all together.  Once mixed, put in the fridge and chill for 1 hour.  (patience is a virtue...or so I've been told)

Spray cookie sheet with butter spray. Spoon a little batter on cookie sheet and form a thin circle. (they will rise a little, so you don't need a ton of batter)  I would recommend only putting about 3 cookies on each cookie sheet, so they don't cool off and harden before you can form your fortune cookies.  Place the cookies about an inch and a half to 2 inches apart.  Bake at 400 for 5-6 minutes or until the cookies are brown just around the edges and a little toward the centers. 

Remove from the oven and let sit for a few seconds before removing from pan. Don't let them sit too long or they'll harden and you won't be able to fold them. Loosen edges of cookies with a spatula.  Turn cookie over on a plate.

Place the fortune in the middle of the cookie.

Fold cookie over so the edges meet and press the edges together. Gently fold the cookie over the rim of a small bowl or glass and hold for a few seconds until set.  Repeat with the remaining cookies.  If the cookies have hardened, you can place them back in the oven for 15-20 seconds to heat back up, add the fortunes, and press together.

Place in a bowl and let them continue to cool.  Here are a few of the fortune cookies I made.

You can leave the cookies on the side of the bowl or cup in order to help them hold their shape while they cool.

Mmmm.... The recipe makes about 24 fortune cookies.  If you want to be creative with your fortune cookies, you can decorate them.  I decided to give it a try...

Melt semi-sweet chocolate chips (or white chocolate chips....or both!) in the microwave. Once melted, dip a fortune cookie in the gooey deliciousness.

Wipe off any excess chocolate.

Add sprinkles, toffee bits, candies, etc.

Place wax paper on a cookie sheet.  Lay decorated cookie on the wax paper to dry.  If you're in a hurry, you can place the cookie sheet in the freezer to help speed up the drying process.

Here are some of my decorated fortune cookies. I decided to try both semi-sweet & white chocolate and both are yummy.

Close up of one of my decorated (aka "gourmet") fortune cookies.  It was a fun project, though I will warn you that it takes a little practice. This was the 2nd time I've made them and they turned out much better this time. Don't be discouraged though. Sometimes it just takes a little practice to perfect a recipe.  You can have so much fun with these cookies.  You can use them to play Mad Gab and put the phrases in the cookies.  You can make them for baby & wedding showers, birthday parties, Valentines Day, etc. 

I'm going to make them for a bridal shower at the end of this month. I've come up with some fun wedding fortunes/phrases that will be a big hit!  So, if you have time, ingredients, and a little patience, you'll have a ball with this recipe!