A couple of months ago when we were having our Chinese dinner night at home (yes I make my own Chinese takeout – it's easy), I discovered just how simple homemade fortune cookies are to make. Those little cookies signal the end of a delicious Chinese meal, so I wanted to make some for my family — and they turned out perfect and only took just a few minutes!
I am all about trying something new when I am making Chinese takeout. That is how I discovered my favorite Cream Cheese Wontons and my Bang Bang Chicken recipes (just click each name to get those recipes).
This uses all pantry staples, so there is no extra ingredients to buy. Your list of ingredients are —
- 3 tablespoons butter, softened
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 large egg white
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Combine all of these according to the directions and mix together well. Your dough should look something like this —
How to Make Homemade Fortune Cookies
Preheat oven to 400°. Write fortunes on small strips of paper (3-1/2×1/4-in.). I made mine personal towards my family just to let them know how much I love them.
Now, just set them aside.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or you can use a Silpat like me.
In a small bowl, beat butter, sugar, egg white and vanilla. Add flour; mix well. Spread 1 tablespoon batter onto parchment paper or silicone mat.I used a tablespoon to make sure I got the accurate amount of batter needed
Bake 4-5 minutes or until lightly browned.
Place a fortune in the center of the other cookie; loosen cookie from parchment paper with a thin spatula. Fold cookie in half over fortune strip so the edges meet; hold edges together for 3 seconds.
You will want to do this quickly because they harden fast and once they harden, you cannot bend them. During this process I had my daughter help me so we could do it quickly — which is why I have NO pictures of this step.
Place center of cookie over the rim of a glass; gently press ends down to bend cookie in middle.
I used this video I found on Youtube to help me get it right.
Then after I folded them, I placed them in my muffin tin to help them hold their correct shape until they hardened.
And that is all it takes to make your very own homemade fortune cookies. It will definitely make your next Chinese meal at home more special, especially if you make the fortunes personal for each person.
How to Make Homemade Fortune Cookies

Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter, softened
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 large egg white
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°. Write fortunes on small strips of paper (3-1/2x1/4-in.); set aside. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a pencil, draw two 3-1/2-in. circles on a sheet of parchment paper. Place paper, pencil mark down, on a baking sheet; set aside.
- In a small bowl, beat butter, sugar, egg white and vanilla. Add flour; mix well. Spread 1 tablespoon batter over each circle. Bake 4-5 minutes or until lightly browned.
- Slide parchment paper onto a work surface. Cover one cookie with a kitchen towel. Place a fortune in the center of the other cookie; loosen cookie from parchment paper with a thin spatula. Fold cookie in half over fortune strip so the edges meet; hold edges together for 3 seconds.
- Place center of cookie over the rim of a glass; gently press ends down to bend cookie in middle. Cool 1 minute before removing to a wire rack. Repeat with second cookie. If cookies become too cool to fold, return to oven to soften for 1 minute. Repeat with remaining batter and fortunes. Yield: 10 cookies.
Kristin
Friday 24th of June 2016
This is so neat! Thank you for sharing think we will be trying these out.
CourtneyLynne
Friday 17th of June 2016
Omg I never thought of making my own fortune cookies!!! Loving this idea though because I swear I always get stale cookies from restaurants!
Eloise
Friday 17th of June 2016
I never knew you could easily make fortune cookies! I love getting them at restaurants... thanks for the recipe: )
Lynndee
Friday 17th of June 2016
I love fortune cookies and I've always wondered how they make them. So delighted to know that they're so easy to make. Thanks for this.
Michele D
Friday 17th of June 2016
I had no idea how easy these fortune cookies were to make. I can't wait to try your recipe.