Homemade Fortune Cookies (+Printable Fortunes & Takeout Box) (2024)

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Everything you need to create custom homemade fortune cookies: cookie recipe and step-by-step instructions, printable fortunes, and even an adorable, easy-to-make Takeout Box!

Homemade Fortune Cookies (+Printable Fortunes & Takeout Box) (1)
Jump to:
  • What Goes into this Recipe
  • How to Prepare the Fortunes
  • How to Make the Fortune Cookies
  • How to Make a Take-out Box
  • Related Recipes
  • Homemade Fortune Cookie Recipe

No matter how old you are, the moment when you crack open a fortune cookie still holds a little magic, and personalized fortune cookies are a great way to sayI Love You!

Homemade fortune cookies are perfect for birthdays, Valentine's Day, anniversaries, or any time you want to give someone a little something special.

What Goes into this Recipe

Fortune Cookies are made with a simple list of common ingredients.

  • Butter: If you use salted butter, you can leave out the added salt in the recipe.
  • Egg whites
  • Sugar
  • Heavy Cream
  • Flavorings & Seasonings: almond extract, vanilla & salt

This post also includes everything you need to create custom fortune cookies, including printable fortunes and an adorable, easy-to-make Takeout Box!

  • Fortune Cookie recipe & step-by-step instructions
  • Printable Valentine's Day fortunes
  • Chinese Takeout box DIY (akaOyster Pail)

How to Prepare the Fortunes

Personalized fortune cookies are perfect for kids, friends, family, teachers, and anyone else you want to surprise!

It is vital that you prepare the fortunesbeforeyou bake the cookies.You will not have time to do it when they come out of the oven!

Homemade Fortune Cookies (+Printable Fortunes & Takeout Box) (2)

Below are plenty ofprintable fortunes for your sweetheart, plus a page full of blanks for you to personalize!

TIP:Look to your favorite songs for fast fortune-writing.

Homemade Fortune Cookies (+Printable Fortunes & Takeout Box) (3)

How to Make the Fortune Cookies

Following the fortune cookie recipe below, it will take about 40 minutes to make 24 cookies. (Add about 15 minutes plus cooling time if you want to dip them in chocolate.)

IMPORTANT:No matter how crafty you are,planon a few broken cookies. They are going to happen –accept it.It’s OK though – just dip them in chocolate and enjoy.

Before you make the first cookie:

Preheat oven to 375°F [190°C].

Gather your materials:you will need a cookie sheet, a silpat mat or parchment paper, a cutting board, a coffee mug, and a muffin tin.

Mix the batter

In a blender or mixer, combine egg whites and sugar. Beat for one minute, and then add flour and salt and beat another 30 seconds. (I do this all in my blender.)

Add melted butter, heavy cream, and vanilla and almond extracts and beat until mixed.

Bake the Cookies

Be sure to have everything ready before you put the first cookie in the oven. (I know I already said this. I’m saying it again.)

Spoon 1 tablespoon of dough onto silicone baking sheet or parchment paper. (I use a Silpat sheet.)

Spread batter with the back of a spoon into a thin 4-5 inch circle.

Start by making 2 circles at a time. (I don’t ever do more than 3 at a time.) DO NOT try to make more than 3 or 4 cookies at a time, no matter how awesome you are. It won’t work. Really.

Bake for 5-6 minutes, or until the edges are very lightly browned. Remove from the oven.

Homemade Fortune Cookies (+Printable Fortunes & Takeout Box) (4)

These cookies are HOT when the come out of the oven.(Can a get a “Duh”?) You can wear non-cotton gloves if you want, but I find that very cumbersome. Instead, I use my fingernail to peel the cookie off the Silpat sheet, and then handle them gingerly with the tips of my fingers. Either way, you have been warned.

Fill & Form the Cookies

Immediatelytake one cookie and place it on a wooden cutting board. Keep bottom (the side that was "down" while cooking) down.

Place a fortune in the middle of the cookie and fold in half.

Place the middle of the flat side over the edge of a coffee mug.

Pull the corners down to shape.

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If your cookies cool too fast, 15-30 seconds back in the oven will soften them… a little.

Immediately place the formed cookie into a muffin cup and allow it to cool completely.

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OPTIONAL: Dip cooled cookies in melted chocolate and decorate with festive sprinkles!

Wait until the cookies are completely cool before attempting to dip them in chocolate. This just makes sense, but some people try to rush the process. Don’t be one of them.

How to Make a Take-out Box

NOTE: One takeout box will take the seasoned crafter about 5 minutes (and those with four thumbs about 15 minutes).

Print out theChinese Takeout Box pattern. Be sure to hit “fit for page” before you print.

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Trace the pattern onto the back of a piece of heavy scrapbooking paper or cardstock.

Use scissors to cut along the SOLID BLACK lines.

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Valley fold along the DOTTED BLUE lines. - In avalley fold,the crease is at the bottom and the paper isfoldedforward into itself. The paper should form a "V" when you unfold.

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Mountain fold along the SOLID ORANGE lines. Amountain foldis the opposite of a valley fold. The paperfoldsto the opposite side.

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Expert Tips & FAQs

Color Code your cookies!

Chocolate and sprinkles aren't just for fun! You can use them to avoid fortune-awkwardness (like giving your daughter a fortune that says "You are my Knight in Shining Armor").

Use different sprinkle combinations for your Sweetheart, kids, friends, etc. (If you choose to leave them plain, you're on your own.)

Make the fortunes before you start the cookies.

This bears repeating: It is vital that you prepare the fortunesbeforeyou bake the cookies.You will not have time to do it when they come out of the oven.

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Where did fortune cookies originate?

Fortune cookies as we know them originated in somewhere California, most likely introduced by Japanese immigrants to the United States in the late 19th or early 20th century.

(For more about the background of these unique treats, check out The History of Fortune Cookies.)

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Homemade Fortune Cookies (+Printable Fortunes & Takeout Box) (16)

5 from 1 vote

Homemade Fortune Cookie Recipe

Easy, step-by-step directions for how to make homemade fortune cookies from scratch. Perfect for Valentines Day, or any time you want to give someone a little something special.

Print Pin Add to Shopping List

Course: Sweets

Cuisine: American

Diet: Vegetarian

Prep Time:35 minutes minutes

Cook Time:5 minutes minutes

Total Time:40 minutes minutes

Servings: 24 Cookies

Calories: 74kcal

Author: Renee

Equipment

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

  • 5 tablespoons butter melted
  • 4 large egg whites
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 1 cup all-purpose
  • teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
Optional:

Instructions

Before you make the first cookie:

  • Be sure to prepare the fortunes before you bake the cookies. You will not have time to do it when they come out of the oven!

  • Gather your tools:you will need a cookie sheet, a Silpat mat or parchment paper, a coffee mug, and a muffin tin.

  • Print out and cut fortunes.

    Be sure to do this before you bake the cookies. You will not have time to do it when they come out of the oven!

Mixing the batter:

  • In a blender or mixer, combine egg whites and sugar.

    Beat for about a minute, and then add flour and salt and beat another 30 seconds. (I do this all in my blender.)

  • Add melted butter, heavy cream, and vanilla and almond extracts and beat until mixed.

Making the cookies:

  • Spoon 1 tablespoon of dough onto silicone baking sheet or parchment paper. (I use a Silpat sheet.)

    Spread batter with the back of a spoon into a thin 4-5 inch circle.

    Start by making 2 circles at a time. (I don’t ever do more than 3 at a time.)

  • Bake for 5-6 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned.

  • Remove from the oven.

    Immediately take one cookie and place it on a wooden cutting board.

    Keep bottom (the side that was "down" while cooking) down.

  • Place a fortune in the middle of the cookie and fold in half.

    Place the middle of the flat side over the edge of a coffee mug.

    Pull the corners down to shape.

  • Immediately place the formed cookie into a muffin cup and allow it to cool completely.

  • Repeat process until all the batter has been used.

Notes

  • No matter how crafty you are,planon a few broken cookies. They are going to happen –accept it.It’s OK though – just dip them in chocolate and enjoy.
  • Be sure to have everything ready before you put the first cookie in the oven. I know I already said this. I’m saying it again.
  • Cookies are HOT when the come out of the oven. (Can a get a “Duh”?) You can wear non-cotton gloves if you want, but I find that very cumbersome. Instead, I use my fingernail to peel the cookie off the Silpat sheet, and then handle them gingerly with the tips of my fingers. Either way, you have been warned.
  • DO NOT try to make more than 3 or 4 cookies at a time, no matter how awesome you are. It won’t work. Really.
  • If your cookies cool too fast, 15-30 seconds back in the oven will soften them… a little.
  • Wait until the cookies are completely cool before attempting to dip them. This just makes sense, but some people try to rush the process. Don’t be one of them.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 74kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 42mg | Potassium: 14mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 100IU | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 1mg

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.

Have you tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

Homemade Fortune Cookies (+Printable Fortunes & Takeout Box) (2024)

FAQs

What are good fortunes to put in fortune cookies? ›

Fortune Cookie Sayings
  • Do not be afraid of competition.
  • An exciting opportunity lies ahead of you.
  • You love peace.
  • Get your mind set… ...
  • You will always be surrounded by true friends.
  • Sell your ideas-they have exceptional merit.
  • You should be able to undertake and complete anything.
  • You are kind and friendly.

How many different fortunes are in fortune cookies? ›

7. There is a limited number of unique fortunes. Wonton Food Inc. has about 15,000 fortunes in a database it uses for all its cookies. Donald Lau, former vice president and chief financial officer Wonton Food, wrote most of those fortunes as part of his job when he first started with the company.

How do you fill a fortune cookie? ›

Place a fortune on the cookie (close to the middle) and fold cookie in half around the paper. Place the folded edge over the rim of a measuring cup or coffee mug and pull the pointed edges down, one inside the cup and one outside. Place cookie into a muffin tin or egg carton to hold its shape as it cools.

What are the Lucky Fortune Cookie numbers? ›

This will give you a better chance at winning the lottery

The six numbers in FORTUNE COOKIES associated with the most winners are: 4, 14, 15, 22, 26 and 28.

What are the numbers at the bottom of a fortune cookie paper? ›

The numbers on the fortune cookie's are lucky numbers. The numbers are "lucky" , so everytime you see that number, you know that something lucky is going to happen… i think.

How long will fortune cookies stay fresh? ›

They do keep well for a few days in an airtight container (if it's humid, slip in a piece of bread to keep them crisp), so they can be made ahead. Write out, or print, fortunes on pieces of paper that are about 3/8 inch (1 cm) wide.

What are the rules of fortune cookies? ›

THE instructions on the red wrapper are very explicit: (1) Open the packaging. (2) Use both hands to break open the fortune cookie. (3) Retrieve and read the fortune. (4) Eat the cookie.

Why did fortune cookies stop telling fortunes? ›

Simply put, they no longer tell fortunes because the family-run companies that dominate this business cannot keep up with demand. Yet that doesn't spoil the fun of fortune cookies. Some companies create "adult" messages, and a few allow patrons to create their own fortunes.

How to put paper in a fortune cookie? ›

Answer. The cookies are baked as flat circles. After they are removed from the oven, slips of paper are folded inside while the cookies are still warm and flexible. As the fortune cookies cool, they harden into shape.

What to do when your fortune cookie is empty? ›

There are two popular beliefs about what an empty fortune cookie means but don't worry, both are good. The first is that you will soon have something good happen to you. The reasoning behind this is that you are now owed a fortune and it will be repaid to you with a good event.

What are the different types of fortunes? ›

Common methods used for fortune telling in Europe and the Americas include astromancy, horary astrology, pendulum reading, spirit board reading, tasseography (reading tea leaves in a cup), cartomancy (fortune telling with cards), tarot card reading, crystallomancy (reading of a crystal sphere), and chiromancy ( ...

What is written on a fortune cookie? ›

Nowadays, the fortunes inside the cookies contain just about everything from quotes to advice. Some companies even let you write your own fortunes! Often, they are written in both English and Chinese, and may have lottery numbers and smiley faces on them.

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