Fortune cookies are enjoyed worldwide as a fun way to receive words of wisdom or encouragement while enjoying a delicious treat. They have also become popular gifts for special occasions such as weddings or anniversaries due to their positive messages and symbolic significance.
Brief History and Origin
The earliest known reference to fortune cookies dates back to the late 19th century in Japan. The traditional Japanese cookie version was tsujiura senbei and made with miso, sesame seed, and rice flour. It was believed that these cookies would bring good luck and prosperity to its eater.
In 1909, Makoto Hagiwara, a Japanese immigrant living in San Francisco, introduced his version of the fortune cookie at Golden Gate Park’s Japanese Tea Garden. He decided to add a piece of paper inside each cookie containing an inspirational message or proverb. This new version of the fortune cookie quickly became popular among visitors to the tea garden and eventually spread throughout California and beyond.
By 1918, fortune cookies had become so popular that they began appearing in Chinese restaurants across America. However, it wasn’t until after World War II that they became popular as more Americans travelled to China and discovered this unique snack for themselves.
Fortune Cookie – The Recipe
- Preparation Time: 10 mins
- Cooking Time: 10 mins
- Total time: 20 mins
- Servings: 8
Ingredients
- 1 egg whites
- ½ tsp. vanilla extract
- ½ tsp. almond extract
- 1 ½ tbsp. sunflower oil
- 50g all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp. cornflour
- 50g white sugar
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Prepare the oven and preheat it to 160 degrees C. Also, prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper. Write fortunes on a 6cm long and 1cm wide paper.
- In a bowl, add vanilla extract, oil, and 2 tsp. cold water, almond extract and egg whites; whisk well using an electric mixer for 20 to 30 seconds until frothy.
- In another bowl, add cornflour, flour and salt, mix all the ingredients and sift over the egg white mixture. Whisk again until you get a batter-like smoothness. Transfer the batter to the refrigerator for 1 hour or until chilled.
- Add a tbsp. of the mixture on the prepared baking sheet. Use an oiled metal spoon to spread the mixture into an 8 to 10cm diameter circle. Repeat the process with another cookie, and keep enough space in between.
- Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges turn golden.
- Take out of the oven, and remove from the baking sheet one by one using a palette knife. They are still soft, and you can easily shape them, so they work quickly.
- Place the fortune in the circle’s centre after flipping the cookie over. Then, fold the circle in half and seal it by pinching the two edges together. To create a fortune cookie shape, place the cookie on the rim of a cup or mug and gently pull down the two corners.
- Hold the cookies in the same position for 10 seconds, then place them on the muffin tins until they are completely cool while holding the same shape.
- When ready, serve immediately or place in an air-tight container for future use.
Popular variations
Here are a few ways you can change this basic recipe to adjust it to your liking:
- Brown Butter Fortune Cookies: These fortune cookies are crunchy and has a distinct nutty flavor from the brown butter. We like this recipe because of its explained process of cooking, and they are using waffle iron to make these cookies.
- White Chocolate Fortune Cookies: Fortune Cookies dipped in white chocolate gives them fun appeal and a hint of sweetness. These are best for party favors.
- Strawberry Fortune Cookies: These strawberry flavored Fortune cookies are sweet, crunchy and have this beautiful light pink color. We found it perfect for Valentine’s Day “Pick a date” game or surprises.
- Green-Tea Fortune Cookies: The Matcha flavored fortune cookies have slight bitterness with herbal freshness. They are best to have with tea with anyone who loves matcha.
