Homemade Fortune Cookies {+ FREE Take-out Box Pattern DIY & Printable Valentine’s Day Fortunes}

Personalized homemade fortune cookies are a great way to say I Love You. 

^{This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.}

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 say I Love You! (Or Happy St. Patrick’s Day, or Joyous Arbor Day, or whatever day you want to celebrate.)

Everything you need is right here:

• Fortunes: Just print out the PDF and cut out the ones you want or write your own in the blanks provided.
• Chinese Take-out Box: Print out the pattern. One box will take the seasoned crafter about 5 minutes, and those with four thumbs about 15.
• Cookies: Following the recipe below, it will take about 40 minutes to make 12 cookies. (Add about 15 minutes plus cooling time if you want to dip them in chocolate.)

FREE Fortunes Printable

• PDF Download – Here are plenty of premade fortunes for your sweetheart, plus some blanks for you to personalize – for kids, friends, family, teachers, and anyone else you want to surprise!

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

FREE Chinese Take-out Box Pattern

No need to reinvent the wheel. This pattern is free on Craftsy right now, or you can just download the PDF. Use heavy scrapbooking paper or cardstock, and be sure to hit “fit for page” before you print.

• PDF Download
• Direct link on Craftsy (If you have an account on Craftsy, you can use this link to add it directly to your patterns.)

Print

Homemade Fortune Cookies

Course Sweet Treat

Servings 24 Cookies

Author Renée ♥ The Good Hearted Woman

Ingredients

• 5 tablespoons butter melted
• 4 egg whites
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 cup all-purpose
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Optional:

• Dipping Chocolate
• Sprinkles

Instructions

Before you make the first cookie:

1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. Gather your materials: you will need a cutting board, a coffee mug and a muffin tin.
3. 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:

1. 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.)
2. Add melted butter, heavy cream, and vanilla and almond extracts and beat until mixed.

Making the cookies:

1. Spoon 1 tablespoon of dough onto silicone baking sheet or parchment paper. (I use a Silpat sheet.) Spread with 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.)
2. Bake for 5-6 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned.
3. Remove from the oven and immediately take one cookie and place it on a wooden cutting board. Keep the side that was "down" while cooking down.
4. 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.
   
5. Immediately place the formed cookie into a muffin cup and allow it to cool completely.
   

Place a fortune in the middle of a warm 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.

PRO TIP: Color code your fortune cookies! If you choose to dip-n-sprinkle your cookies, you can avoid fortune-awkwardness (like giving your daughter a fortune that says “You are my Knight in Shining Armor“). Just use different sprinkle combinations for your Sweetheart, kids, friends, etc. (If you choose to leave them plain, you’re on your own.)

 Notes:

• No matter how crafty you are, plan on 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.
• There are many recipes for fortune cookies out there, but in my experience, this is the best one. (It has 25% less sugar than most and the cookies are still plenty sweet, just so you know.)

Thank you so much for being a faithful reader and supporter of The Good Hearted Woman. ❤ Be sure to Pin and Print this recipe!

    
P.S. I’m sharing this recipe on the Weekend Potluck Recipe Linkup. Check it out for more great recipes!
^{Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!}