How to Make Fortune Cookies

Sunday, July 7, 2024
If you ever wondered how they make fortune cookies, we have a step-by-step tutorial on how to make them right here.

I've always found fortune cookies to be a great ending to a Chinese buffet meal and never realized how easy and fun these were to make in my own kitchen.

When I make these crispy cookies, the kids and young at heart all love the messages inside, we've even included some suggestions for you to use in your fortune cookies.

I always type up new messages for the event or party and family and friends joining us that are invited for some inspiration.

The homemade fortune cookies are so easy to make and I have all the photos to make this an easy fun project for the whole family to enjoy.

I won't lie though you can only make two at a time because you have to work fast while they are hot so you will need to set some time aside to make these.

Just scroll through the photos and tips and you will be making foolproof Chinese buffet easy homemade fortune cookies that taste fantastic with fun messages inside.

They are perfect for parties, potlucks, and picnics, and everyone is always eager to open their fortune cookie up to see what the future has in store for us!

You can also print off this recipe right at the end of this post and to avoid ads, just hit print and they will disappear.


a plate of homemade fortune cookies





homemade fortune cookies with messages inside on a purple plate


The Easiest Steps to Making Fortune Cookies

  1. prepare your baking sheet with a silicone mat, coffee cup set aside, and all tools handy, and preheat the oven to 400 degrees, get your area set up first so everything is ready to use
  2. Beat the egg whites until frothy-looking
  3. Make a thin batter
  4. Only make two cookies at a time, add the message, fold over, and place on the rim of a cup to make a half-moon crescent cookie let firm up before removing from the cup
  5. Remember just scroll down to see our photos, tips, and our printable recipe card below with measurements at the end of this post


preparing the batter for homemade fortune cookies


Baking Tools to Have on Hand for Making Fortune Cookies

  • large mixing bowls
  • baking sheet
  • offset spatula for lifting and turning over the cookies while hot
  • silicone mat
  • gravy ladle or small pouring scoop
  • thin-rim coffee cup
  • fortune messages cut up to fit the cookies


circles of batter for homemade fortune cookies


Tips to Create Perfect Fortune Cookies

  1. Beat the eggs white by hand with a whisk just until it's frothy looking (around 2 minutes)
  2. Bake on a Silpat mat
  3. Always preheat the oven
  4. Use a thin-rimmed cup to make the crease 
  5. The circles should be big enough to accommodate the messages
  6. Work fast as they harden quickly when folding and pinching the centers on the cup
  7. cookies on the cup need to cool and harden before removing
  8. to prevent them from getting soft from moisture, wrap them individually with plastic wrap


baked homemade fortune cookies


Shopping List for Making Fortune Cookies (exact measurements below in our printable recipe card)

  • flour
  • granulated sugar
  • pure vanilla extract
  • water
  • egg whites


how to mold homemade fortune cookies


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Fun Fortune Cookie Message Suggestions


Make whatever fun messages you would like, here are some fun ideas.


typed messages to add inside a homemade fortune cookie


step by step how to make fortune cookies, fortune cookie recipes, Chinese buffet fortune cookie recipes
cookie recipes, Chinese cookie recipes, Chinese fortune cookie recipes, fun creative recipes
Chinese, American
Yield: 14
Author: Claudia Lamascolo
How to Make Fortune Cookies

How to Make Fortune Cookies

Step by Step with photos on how to make Homemade Chinese Fortune Cookies just like the buffet with messages
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 8 MinTotal time: 18 Min

Ingredients

  • 2 egg whites
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • around 3 to 4 tablespoons of water
  • Inside the cookies made out of paper:
  • Fortune Cookie typed messages cut into strips

Instructions

  1. Preparation:
  2. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with a silicone mat.
  3. Get a coffee cup and set this aside.
  4. Make your fortune strips typed out for the inside of the cookies.
  5. Tip: Place an off-set spatula aside at your workstation to have it ready to flip the cookies. Only bake two cookies at a time because you have to work fast to ensure they will mold together properly and not harden before you make them shaped.
  6. Making the Fortune Cookies:
  7. In a medium-sized bowl whisk the egg whites, vanilla, and sugar until frothy looking.
  8. Sift the flour and add the water until it makes a thin batter ( start with 3 tablespoons and add more if necessary).
  9. Using a gravy ladle, add only around half the batter full into the ladle on place on a silpat mat then swirl the center of the batter in a circular motion to make a thin round.
  10. Make just two circle cookies it's way too hard to mold them as they cool so quickly if you try making more.
  11. Bake until the edges are golden brown and crispy looking edges.
  12. Bring the baking sheet to your workstation set up using a pot holder and set down the pan.
  13. Immediately place the fortune message into the center of the cookie typed-out inscriptions in the middle of the round cookie.
  14. Gently fold it in half using an offset spatula and fold it over pressing to seal the edges.
  15. Place the center (not the browned-edged side) of the cookie onto the rim of a coffee cup pinch it down side to side to make the crescent-shaped cookies and let this cool to harden.
  16. Refer to the photos.
  17. .Note: wrap each one individually with plastic wrap (if you leave these cookies out they may soften from the moisture in the air. Make sure the batter is very thin and watch they do not burn when baking them it takes anywhere from 7 to 9 minutes for two to cook. If you cook them too long they will crack when you try and fold and mold them.
  18. Warning: cookies are hot when you mold them if you are very sensitive skinned use cloth thin baker gloves.

Notes

Tips to Create Perfect Fortune Cookies

  1. Beat the eggs white by hand with a whisk just until it's frothy looking (around 2 minutes)
  2. Bake on a Silpat mat
  3. Always preheat the oven
  4. Use a thin-rimmed cup to make the crease 
  5. The circles should be big enough to accommodate the messages
  6. Work fast as they harden quickly when folding and pinching the centers on the cup
  7. cookies on the cup need to cool and harden before removing
  8. to prevent them from getting soft from moisture, wrap them individually with plastic wrap


The default measuring system for this website is US Customary. Unit conversions are provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. While we strive to provide accurate unit conversions, please be aware that there may be some discrepancies.



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