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.
Robin Rue (@massholemommy)
I love this. I had no idea I could make them myself. Totally need to try this 🙂
Katie
What?! SO cute!! That would be a good idea for someone looking to propose! 😉
Jeanette
Oh my gosh I’ve always wanted to know how to make these things. My problem is is not eating them. I am absolutely addicted to fortune cookies.
Jennifer Sikora
Me to Jeanette
Annemarie LeBlanc
Fortune cookies are something I always look forward to every time we go to a Chinese restaurant. I did not know making them only required a few ingredients and simple steps. I’ll try my hand at making my own too. Wish me luck!
Allie
I never in a million years thought I could make a fortune cookie at home, but this looks pretty doable. Can’t wait to try it!
Nellwyn
I love fortune cookies but I would never have thought to make them at home. Such a fun idea for a dinner party!
Nellwyn | http://www.thecardinalpress.com
Jennifer Sikora
They were so easy to make!
Aubrey
awe, that sounds like a lot more fun then the typical cookies to bake with the kids!
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle
How fun! Family fun will be coming to my table soon. My lucky numbers are 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
Aimee Smith
My kids re obsessed with fortune cookies. I will have to make these with them, they would think that was pretty cool.
Lisa Collins
I didn’t know fortune cookies were that easy to make! My son loves them and now I can put them in his lunch all the time!
Nancy L.
I never realized the ingredients were pretty basic. I know it is like a sugar cookie, but I always thought because of the unique shape, it would have some unique ingredients. Absolutely love this idea for a fun treat at a party.
Kelly Hutchinson
How cool is this? I have always wanted to do this! Now, I can! Thanks for showing me how!
janis
Those cookies look like they may take a while to prepare, but I bet its worth it. Writing the fortunes and watching people cracking them open would be my favorite part.
Amy Desrosiers
Wow they really are easy to make! What a fun project to do with the kids on a rainy day.
lisa
I love fortune cookies! I want to try making these right now! They look so fun and easy to make!
Kathy
I love fortune cookies! I remember making these in cooking class in school. I had a hard time folding them then. I want to try out this recipe though. They taste so good!
Vera Sweeney
I love this idea of making homemade fortune cookies!! My kids would have a blast making their own fortunes for their cookies!
OurFamilyWorld
I’ve always wondered how they do fortune cookies. It’s not as hard as I thought. I would love to try your recipe.
Ann Bacciaglia
This is a fun idea. I have never made my own fortune cookies before. I will have to try this recipe.
Winona Rogers
I am excited to try this recipe. It will be perfect for my next dinner party.
Claudia Krusch
I never thought I could make a fortune cookie at home, but this looks pretty easy. Can’t wait to try it! Thank you for sharing it!
Mistee Dawn
These are so fun! We always look forward to these, and now we can make our own! So cool!
ricci
I have never seen a recipe for fortune cookies!! This looks really fun!!
Jennifer L. } Modern Chic
These are fun treats to do for guests for the summer. Thanks for the recipe!
William Sweeney
I had no idea you could make these at home!! I would have so much fun making these for the kids to eat.
Tatanisha Pitts-Worthey
When I was a little kid, I was always amazed with fortune cookies! This sounds so much fun to make at home, I am definitely making this. My boys would love opening their cookies!
Melissa Dixon
This is so cool. I had no idea how to make these at home. We have to try to do this!
Chrystal | Nevermore Lane
I had no idea it was so simple to make fortune cookies. This would be a really fun food project to work on. I could come up with some great fortunes. LOL
Michele D
I had no idea how easy these fortune cookies were to make. I can’t wait to try your recipe.
Lynndee
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.
Eloise
I never knew you could easily make fortune cookies! I love getting them at restaurants… thanks for the recipe: )
CourtneyLynne
Omg I never thought of making my own fortune cookies!!! Loving this idea though because I swear I always get stale cookies from restaurants!
Kristin
This is so neat! Thank you for sharing think we will be trying these out.