Fortune cookies are a fun and tasty addition to any meal. They make great edible party favors for special occasions or celebrations with family, friends, and co-workers. The best thing about homemade fortune cookies is the fact that you can add fortunes you’ve written for specific guests or for specific occasions. They can be hilariously funny, or they can be serious and heartwarming. The choice is yours since you’re the fortuneteller.
To make a batch of homemade fortune cookies you will need plain white paper, a pen or fine-tip marker, scissors, a non-stick skillet, a spatula, a muffin pan, a spoon, a large bowl, a small bowl, a sifter, and a potholder. You will also need ÂĽ cup of cake flour, 2 tablespoons of sugar, 1 tablespoon of cornstarch, an egg white, 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, 1 tablespoon of water, and a dash of salt.
Before you begin, you will need to make fortunes to add to the cookies. Come up with funny phrases specific to your guests, or create fortunes similar to those found in store-bought fortune cookies. The following are some ideas for funny fortunes: “You will shower the dinner host with many expensive gifts.” “You will have good fortune if you do the dishes after dinner.” “This season you will have lots of indigestion.” You could also put specific guest’s names on the fortunes for even more fun and humor. For example, you could put: George will do the dinner dishes because he is so kind. Insert the name of a guest with a good sense of humor in place of the sample name.
The following ideas would be great to use for standard fortunes like those found in store-bought fortune cookies: “This year will bring you much joy and happiness.” “Good things will happen to you and your family.” “Good fortune comes to those with patience”. Use these examples, or make up your own unique fortunes. Cut out small strips of paper, and have the fortunes ready before making the cookies. You will need 8 fortunes for each batch of cookies.
Begin by preheating a lightly greased skillet. While the skillet is preheating, sift the flour, and mix in the sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Stir in the vegetable oil and the egg white, and keep stirring until the mixture is smooth. Add the water, and stir the mixture again until it’s thoroughly combined.
Check the temperature of the skillet by adding a couple of drops of water. If the water sizzles and evaporates upon contact, the skillet is hot enough for the batter. When you are sure the skillet is ready, pour a circle of batter about 3 ½ inches in diameter in the center. Cook it for approximately 4 minutes, or until it begins to brown. Carefully turn it over with a spatula, and cook the fortune cookie for an additional minute. Remove the cookie from the pan, and place it on a potholder. You must work quickly so the cookie doesn’t cool before you have a chance to properly shape it. While the cookie is still hot, place a fortune in the center. Quickly fold the circle in half, pick it up, and carefully bend the folded circle over the edge of a small bowl. This will give the cookie its characteristic shape. Set the finished cookie inside a muffin pan so it can retain its shape while cooling, and repeat this process until all of the batter has been used.
Homemade fortune cookies make unique gifts for friends and relatives. Securely seal the cookies in plastic wrap, and place them in a carryout container designed for oriental food. You can find these at stores that service restaurants and also sell to the general public. If you cannot find the containers in a retail store, next time you order oriental food, ask if the proprietor would be willing to sell a few containers. For an added bonus, include a gift certificate for a local oriental restaurant along with the fortune cookies. Those who love oriental food will surely love this unique and tasty gift.
