Fortune cookies
Valentine's Day is a good reminder that small surprises and kind words have great power. These crispy fortune cookies are a simple and heartfelt way to share that feeling—whether on Valentine's Day, mid-weekday, or simply when someone needs an encouraging message.
The cookies contain hidden messages that are motivating, encouraging, or simply warm words suitable for every day and every person. A small cookie and a few kind words can noticeably brighten someone's day.
I also decorated the cookies in a Valentine's Day theme and packed them into a jar so they would be nice and convenient to pass on as a gift—to a friend, colleague, or anyone you just want to do something nice for.
Crispy fortune cookies for Valentine's Day – a simple recipe with printable motivational messages + a gifting idea.
I've made a file for you with 40 motivational and encouraging sentences that you can use inside your cookies if you wish.
Before preparing the dough, print and cut out the messages and set them aside ready. This step ensures the small notes are prepared in advance for easy insertion into the cookies during shaping.
Print your fortune messages here!
Cookie dough (makes about 20 cookies)
You'll need:
- Egg whites 2 pcs (around 60g)
- Sugar 90g
- Melted butter 50g
- Wheat flour 70g
- Water 1 tbsp (around 10-15g)
- Vanilla paste
- Salt (a pinch)
- Melt the butter and let it cool.
- Whisk the egg whites lightly (not into stiff peaks), add sugar, and beat through.
- Add the melted butter, water, vanilla, and salt.
- Mix in the flour until you get a smooth, slightly liquid batter.
- Preheat the oven to 180°C; I used convection. Without it, bake at 190°C.
- Cover the baking tray with parchment paper. I drew circles with a form in advance so the cookies would be uniform in size. Use an 8-9cm diameter glass/form/etc. to mark the lines (if you draw circles with a marker, be sure to flip the parchment paper later).
- Bake only 2-3 cookies at a time, because when you take them out of the oven, you need to be very quick with shaping. The cookies harden in seconds. I recommend starting with 2 cookies at first. I used two baking trays; when one came out of the oven, I immediately put the other one in.
- Place 1 tsp of batter into the circle and spread it evenly with a spoon.
- Bake for 6-8 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden brown.
- NB! If you let the cookies get too brown, they will break immediately when taken out and cannot be shaped. But if the cookie is too thick or underbaked, it will also simply break when shaping.
- When shaping the cookies, be sure to use an oven mitt (cotton ones), as the cookies are very hot and you need to work very quickly. Take the cookies out of the oven, place a wish note in the center of the paper, and fold the cookie together (use a spatula to loosen the cookie from the tray). Then bend the cookie the other way to form the classic fortune cookie shape. You can do this with your fingers or by pressing it against the edge of a glass to curve it.
- Things to consider here: When folding the cookie together, don't press the note too hard against the cookie; as it cools, it might stick to it, and later when opening the cookie, you won't get the note out in one piece. The same happens if the cookie is still a bit soft in the center—the note will stick to it.
- You can leave the folded cookie in a muffin tin to cool completely.
Decoration
For the final touch, I dipped the top of the cookie in chocolate and sprinkled on Valentine's Day-themed decorations.
Ingredients needed: Chocolate 50-70g– I used pink ruby chocolate, but you can also use plain white or tint white with chocolate colors if desired to get a pinkish hue. If the chocolate is too thick and not smoothly flowing, then add about 1 tsp coconut oil or some neutral vegetable oil.
After sprinkling, use nonpareils, pearls, sprinkles, freeze-dried berry powders, or crumbs.
- Melt the chocolate and dip the top part of the cookie through the chocolate, sprinkle your favorite decorations on top, and let the chocolate set properly (you can put it in the fridge for a bit to speed it up).
- Store the cookies in a suitable jar (or keep in an airtight container).
- For a small decorative touch, you can tie a ribbon around the jar.
Helpful video for making the cookies is here: Fortune Cookies
I'm thrilled if you share photos and feedback of your baking and tag me on social media - Miila koogid
Happy baking!