Make your own homemade fortune cookies with this easy recipe! These crispy, sweet cookies have a light almond flavor and are shaped while they're still warm, with a personalized fortune tucked inside. They're so much fun to make for Valentine's Day, Chinese New Year, birthdays, parties, classroom gifts, or just because.
Make a batch of these homemade fortune cookies and serve them with one of my homemade Chinese food recipes. They're especially fun for Chinese New Year or a family dinner!
I've been making these homemade fortune cookies since 2010. I made about a dozen batches that first year and gave them to my kids' teachers as gifts, and we've continued making them over the years. The kids especially love writing their own fortunes and tucking them inside the cookies.
These fortune cookies are crispy, sweet, and have a wonderfully light texture. I love the flavor of almond extract, so that's what I use in this recipe. You can also use vanilla extract if you prefer.
The most important part of making fortune cookies at home is working quickly. The cookies need to be shaped while they're still hot and flexible. Once they cool, they become crisp and will no longer bend without breaking. I'll show you exactly how to bake, fold, and shape homemade fortune cookies so you can make them successfully at home.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy ingredients. You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make these homemade fortune cookies.
- Fun to customize. The best part about making fortune cookies at home is choosing what goes inside. Write your own fortunes, jokes, compliments, predictions, or special messages.
- Light and crispy. These cookies have a delicate, crisp texture with a sweet almond flavor.
- Great for kids and families. Kids can write the fortunes while an adult handles the hot cookies and shaping.
- Perfect for parties and holidays. Homemade fortune cookies are fun for Valentine's Day, Chinese New Year, birthdays, classroom parties, dinner parties, and family gatherings.
- You can make them into edible bowls. The same batter can be shaped into little bowls for ice cream and other desserts.
What Others Are Saying
Just made these this morning. Yum! And fun! I found that using silicon baking sheets was easiest for getting them off the pan and making them round.---Jenni
Fantastic recipe and technique---They turned out so cute! We placed messages for the New Year inside, arranged them in a bowl, and gave them to our neighbor. Thank you for a fun time! 🙂---Shannon
Worked great, did 375 for 6-8 min. Super fun to shape and add own fortunes to them! Great experiment 🙂 thanks !---Bruce
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Tips for Making Fortune Cookies
- Have everything ready before you start. Fortune cookies need to be shaped while they're hot, so have your fortunes cut and ready, and have your cup or ramekin nearby before the cookies go into the oven.
- Bake only 2–3 cookies at a time. This is probably the most important tip. You have a very short window to remove, fill, and shape each cookie before it becomes crisp. Once you're comfortable with the process, you can work with a few cookies at a time.
- Spread the batter very thinly. Use the back of a spoon to spread the batter into an even circle. Try to keep the center from being much thicker than the edges so the cookie bakes evenly.
- Lightly grease the baking sheet. A very light coating of nonstick cooking spray works well. Too much spray can make it difficult for the batter to hold its shape.
- Watch the edges. Start checking the cookies around five minutes. You want the edges to be golden brown while the center remains lighter. If the cookies become too dark, they can become brittle and crumble when you try to fold them.
- Work with one cookie at a time. Remove one cookie, add the fortune, fold and shape it, then move on to the next. Don't remove all of the cookies from the pan at once.
- Use a small cup or ramekin. A ramekin is an easy way to help create the classic fortune cookie shape while the cookie cools.
- Don't worry if the first few aren't perfect. There's a little bit of a learning curve. Once you get a feel for how hot and flexible the cookies should be, the process becomes much easier.
Ingredients
- Egg whites: Give the cookies their light, delicate texture and help them become crisp as they bake.
- All-purpose flour: Provides structure for the thin cookie batter.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the cookies and helps give them their crisp texture.
- Water: Thins the batter so it can be spread into very thin circles on the baking sheet.
- Almond extract: Gives these homemade fortune cookies their classic almond flavor. You can substitute vanilla extract if you prefer.
See the recipe card below for exact measurements.
Watch How to Make Homemade Fortune Cookies
Watching the process makes a big difference with this recipe, especially when you're learning how quickly the cookies need to be folded and shaped.
How to Make Homemade Fortune Cookies
Step 1: Prepare the fortunes. Write or print your fortunes before making the cookies. Cut them into small strips that will fit easily inside the folded cookies.
Have your fortunes, baking sheet, and shaping cup or ramekin ready before you begin.
Step 2: Make the batter. Beat the egg whites until frothy peaks form.
Add the flour, sugar, and almond extract, then whisk until completely incorporated. Stir in the water.
The finished batter should be smooth enough to spread into very thin circles.
Step 3: Prepare the baking sheet. Lightly spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
You can also use parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. The important thing is that the baked cookies can be removed easily while they're still hot.
4. Spread the batter. Spoon a small amount of batter onto the baking sheet and spread it into a thin 4–5-inch circle. Only make 2–3 circles per baking sheet. Shape the cookies immediately after they come out of the oven, so working in small batches gives you enough time.
Step 5: Bake. Bake until the edges begin to turn golden brown, about 5 minutes in my oven. Keep a close eye on them, since baking time can vary from oven to oven. You want the edges browned enough that the cookies are crisp, but not so dark that they break when folded.
Step 6: Add the fortune. Working quickly, remove one hot cookie from the baking sheet. Place a fortune across the center of the cookie.
Step 7: Fold the cookie. Bring two sides of the cookie together to form a semicircle.
Then gently bend the cookie over the edge of a small cup or ramekin to create the traditional fortune cookie shape.
Step 8: Cool. Place the shaped cookie inside the ramekin or muffin pan while it cools so it holds its shape. Continue with the remaining cookies, working quickly while they're still warm and flexible. Once the cookies cool completely, they'll become crisp and hold their shape.
Frequently Asked Questions
Homemade fortune cookies are best within the first couple of days. They are crispiest on the first day and may begin to soften around day two or three. Store them in an airtight container and keep them away from humidity.
Yes, but I recommend making them no more than a day or two ahead if you want them to have that classic crisp texture. Store completely cooled cookies in an airtight container.
I haven't found freezing to be the best option for this recipe. Because the cookies are so thin and crisp, moisture can affect their texture when they're thawed. For a party or event, I'd make them as close to serving time as possible.
Yes. Vanilla extract can be substituted for the almond extract, although almond gives these cookies their familiar fortune-cookie flavor.
Yes. A silicone baking mat can make it easier to remove the hot cookies from the baking sheet. A lightly greased baking sheet also works.
You can, but keep in mind that homemade fortune cookies are a little time-consuming because they need to be shaped individually while they're hot. If you're making a large batch, have the fortunes cut and all of your equipment ready before you begin.
The fortune can stick if the cookie hasn't baked long enough or if moisture remains in the center. Make sure the cookie is baked until the edges are golden and the cookie is crisp enough to handle. You also want to use plain paper for the fortunes rather than anything coated or glossy.
Yes! One of the fun things we've made with this fortune cookie batter is little ice cream bowls. Instead of folding the hot cookie into a fortune cookie shape, carefully place the warm cookie over an upside-down bowl or ramekin and shape it around the outside. Let it cool completely before removing it.
Fill the cooled cookie bowls with ice cream, whipped cream, fruit, or your favorite dessert.
One of my favorite things about making fortune cookies at home is that you can customize the messages.
Try:
Birthday wishes
Valentine's Day messages
Chinese New Year fortunes
New Year's predictions
Compliments
Jokes
Family inside jokes
Inspirational messages
Party messages
Classroom surprises
Personalized messages for friends
Keep the fortunes relatively short so they can be folded easily inside the cookie.
For Valentine's Day, I especially love having kids write their own messages. Their handwriting makes each cookie feel like a little homemade gift.
Homemade fortune cookies are at their crispiest on the first day. Because they don't contain preservatives, they can soften after a couple of days, especially in a humid kitchen. Once completely cooled, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. If they soften, you can crisp them back up by placing them in a 200°F oven for a few minutes. Let them cool completely before storing them again. For the best texture, I recommend making these no more than a day or two before you plan to serve them.
The center can remain softer than the edges if the batter isn't spread thinly enough or if your oven isn't baking evenly. Start by making sure your batter is spread into a thin, even circle. Also remember that ovens can vary quite a bit. One reader found that baking these at 350°F for a shorter period worked better in her oven, while another had success at 375°F for 6–8 minutes.
If your edges are becoming very dark before the center is crisp, experiment with a slightly lower oven temperature and a longer baking time. Stay close to the oven while testing because these cookies can go from underdone to overbaked quickly.
Fortune cookies can break for a few different reasons.
The cookies cooled before you shaped them. This is the most common problem. They need to be folded while they're still hot and flexible.
The cookies were overbaked. If they're very dark around the edges, they can become too brittle to bend.
The batter was spread too thickly. Thick centers can take longer to bake and may not have the same flexible texture as a thin, evenly spread cookie.
You're trying to shape too many at once. Start with just 2 cookies per batch if you're new to making fortune cookies. Once you get comfortable with the process, you can increase the number.
More Cookie Recipes To Make
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Homemade Fortune Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 egg whites
- ½ cup flour
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 Tbsp. water
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
Instructions
- Set oven to 400F degrees.
- Beat egg whites until frothy peaks form.
- Add flour, sugar, and almond extract.
- Whisk until completely incorporated.
- Stir in water.
- LIGHTLY spray a baking sheet with non stick cooking spray.
- Pour a small amount (1T.) onto baking sheet. Spread into a 4" or 5" circle.
- Make 2 -3 circles per baking sheet. Baking in small batches helps ensure that you can shape the cookies before they harden and cool.
- Bake for 5 minutes, or until edges start to brown.
- Working fast, quickly remove one cookie from the baking sheet and place a paper fortune across the center. Bring two sides of the cookie together (to form a semi circle) then bend the cookie (on the fold) over the edge of a cup to create the fortune cookie shape.
- I like using a small ramekin to form the cookie, then I place the cookie inside the ramekin or a muffin pan while it cools.
- Repeat for remaining cookies.
Bruce Wain says
Worked great, did 375 for 6-8 min. Super fun to shape and add own fortunes to them! Great experiment 🙂 thanks !
Adam Sandler says
Love the recipe its my favorite!
Shannon says
Fantastic recipe and technique!
For my oven, I used 350-degrees for 4 minutes, and checked on them each minute after that to be sure I didn't overcook them. Each batch seemed to take different times, so I stayed close to the oven and peeked at them.
I used a silicon mat on my cookie sheet and I covered another sheet with tin foilv(just to see if one was better but both worked great). I also lightly sprayed the nonstick cooking spray on each baking sheet.
They turned out so cute! We placed messages for the New Year inside, arranged them in a bowl, and gave them to our neighbor. Thank you for a fun time! 🙂
Brandy says
So glad they turned out so well! 🙂
Nikki says
Hello!
I made these for the first time and can’t seem to get the temperature and timing right for my oven. I have tried the 400 degrees for 5 minutes and the 375 degrees for 8 minutes. I have also played around with the timing on both. The issue I am having, is the center part of the cookie is soft and not crunchy like the rest of the cookie. The outside edges are a nice golden brown color and almost to the point of not wanting to cook it longer or it will burn. They look like the cookies in the picture where it shows you what they should look like when you take them out of the oven. Any thoughts? Also, I am spreading the batter very thin so I don’t think that is the issue. Please help!
Brandy says
Hi Nikki! It's frustrating how things can vary from kitchen to kitchen. What works for mine won't necessarily work for yours since the cookies are so thin! You might try baking them on parchment paper instead of directly on the pan to see if that extra layer helps them cook more evenly!
Alexandra S MacLeod says
I wonder if you have a gas oven? Making cookies with.my old gas oven was frustrating with the inconsistent temperature, so important with cookies. I keep an internal thermometer in my oven now and was shocked, at first, with what it reads to what the appliance stated the temperature was. I replaced the gas oven, which was fine for foods that aren't so temperature sensitive, with an electric convection double oven...pure Bliss.
Kelly says
Hi Brandy,
I would love to make these but I don’t know how much 1/2 cup is. Could you tell me how much that is in grams? As I am from The Netherlands 🤗
Thank you!
Brandy says
65 grams flour
108 grams sugar
Jenni says
Just made these this morning. Yum! And fun! I found that using silicon baking sheets was easiest for getting them off the pan and making them round. For some reason when I sprayed the pan, the shape was weird and they were still hard to get off.
Brandy says
Yay! They can be a little tricky so I’m glad you found a system that worked best!
Lora says
Thinking of making these for a wedding as seating cards. We would need a lot of them. Can they be frozen once cooked and shaped? Thanks!
Brandy says
Hi Lora! How exciting! Honestly, I'm not sure I'd use homemade fortune cookies for a giant crowd. They are fun to make, but time consuming, and after a day, begin to soften a little. I'm just not sure they'd stay crispy after being frozen.
Kay says
How long will these stay fresh?
Brandy says
Because they are homemade, they will start to soften around day 3. Best eaten within a couple of days. If you're looking for cookies that snap when you break them open they are best fresh.
Leslie Germain says
Hello Brandy. Thand you for posting this fun idea. I found your blog through a pin for the fortune cookies. I made these for my son's Ninjago party. Thank you. The party will be featured on my blog tomorrow with a link to your page. If you have a chance, stop by and check it out.
Leslie
http://www.thememorynest.blogspot.com
Kalleen at Second Street says
Thanks for linking up so many great ideas brandy!
Angie@treasures for tots says
Delicious!! Yummy!!
Thank you for sharing at Thursday's Treasures!
Come share again this week!
Steph @ somewhatsimple says
i have been wanting to make these forever now!
Jennifer says
We did a Chinese New Year Family Home Evening last year with food and games and such and I tried fortune cookies but the paper ended up sticking to the cookie. I'm not sure if it was the recipe or perhaps I didn't bake it quite long enough. I'll definitely have to try this recipe and hopefully it works a little better. Thanks for the link!
Gwen says
I ran into that too the first time I tried this recipe. But I tried reducing the temperature to 375F and baking for 8 minutes and it got more even bake all the way to the center and fixed the sticking issue for me!
Kay says
Good to know! I had the same problem
JHill says
So cute! I am going to bookmark this one because we are going to do a yummy Chinese meal on V-day since it's also Chinese New Year's. Thanks for the idea!