Monday 31 December 2012

New Year's Fortune





Homemade Fortune Cookies have been high on our to do list since we found a gorgeous image on Pinterest months ago, and New Year's Eve seemed like an ideal occasion to try them out. We were initially a bit worried about the whole folding process, but, after watching this video tutorial, it was easier than we had anticipated. With their very own homemade fortunes inside, these little treats are going to be the perfect sendoff to the year that's been, and the perfect introduction to 2013... Here's hoping their fortunes come true!

C&S








{Using a template to achieve perfect 9cm rounds}

{Once folded in half, and still pliable, cookie is bent over the rim of a mug to make the crescent shape}





HOMEMADE FORTUNE COOKIES

2 large egg whites

¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon zest (optional)
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
8 tablespoons plain flour
½ teaspoons corn flour
¼ teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons white sugar
3 teaspoons water

Write/type fortunes of pieces paper that are about 7.5cm long and about 1cm wide.

Preheat oven to 150°C.
Grease and line two baking trays with non-stick baking paper, and 2 9cm circle templates underneath per tray.
In a medium bowl, lightly beat the egg white, vanilla extract, lemon zest and vegetable oil until frothy, but not stiff.
Sift the flour, corn flour, salt and sugar into the bowl, and add the water (more water may be need if mixture is too thick).
Stir until batter is smooth.
The batter should not be runny, but should drop easily off a wooden spoon (mixture should be somewhere between the consistency of pancake and crêpe batter).
Place level tablespoons of batter onto the baking paper, spacing them about 5cm apart.
Gently use the back of a dessert spoon to make circular motions on the surface of the batter, to form circles about 9cm in size using the templates as a guidelines.
Bake until the outer edges of each cookie turns golden, and they are easy to remove from baking paper with a thin spatula (about 15 minutes).


Working quickly, remove the cookie with a spatula and flip it over in your hand.
Place a fortune in the middle of the cookie.
To form the crescent shape, fold the cookie in half, and then gently pull the edges downward over the rim of a mug.
Place the finished cookie in the cup of a muffin tin, so that it keeps its shape as it cools.
Continue with the rest of the cookies.

Makes about 14 cookies.

NOTE 1: Place no more than 2 cookies in oven at one time. 
NOTE 2: If after cooking and folding the cookies the centres are still soft and pliable, or not golden enough, you can pop the folded cookies back into the oven for a minute or two to let them harden and colour in the muffin tin. Just be careful not to leave the cookies in the oven for too long as they will turn dark brown and/or burn.


16 comments:

  1. I tried making these with some of the kids I work with once...before trying it out myself. They ended up watching The Family Channel while I spent 40 minutes trying to scrape the hardened cookie batter from the cookie sheets. Yours turned out beautifully - will have to try this recipe. Happy New Year to you both!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh no, that's such a bummer that they didn't work out for you!!!

      Yes, this recipe was relatively easy to whip up, and with the addition of a little lemon zest, had a great flavour.
      A good tip is just to bake two cookies at a time so ensure that the others don't harden before being folded.
      It was also important to achieve the correct consistency for the batter - too thick and the cookies wouldn't fold; too thin and they'd crack easily.

      Anyway, this recipe is worth a try definitely! Check out the link to the recipe - there are step-by-step photos to guide. Also, watch the video tutorial we've linked - it was really helpful!

      Happy New Year to you!!!
      C&S

      Delete
  2. Those look lovely! My favorite fortune (from a Peter Sellers Pink Panther movie): "Never trust waitress who gives fortune cookie in Japanese Restaurant." (The "waitress" in this case was Inspector Clouseau's servant Cato, who, as part of a running joke in the film series, is instructed to attack Sellers/Clouseau unexpectedly, to keep Clouseau's combat skills and vigilance sharp). Moments after Clouseau reads the fortune aloud, yes in a Japanese restaurant, the "waitress" jumps him.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Nancy!

      Ha ha that is very funny! I don't think I've seen that version of the Pink Panther...will have to get it out to watch some time :)

      Have a lovely week,

      C&S

      Delete
    2. It wasn't the first Pink Panther movie - it was one of the sequels - not sure which one.

      Delete
  3. Happy New Year!This is going to be a great year.
    Wow! I always thought it's a lot of work to make fortune cookies.
    They make it so hard when I watch them make it at Chinatown.
    Will be trying this soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Happy New Year to you too! We hope that 2013 brings you and your family much happiness :)

      Yes, that's what we thought too! Mind you, they did take a while and we were left with red fingers from the biscuits but as long as the batter is the right consistency and you are quick shaping them, they will work out a treat :)

      If you have a look at the link to the blog where the orginal recipe was posted, the author has put up some photos of the processes and also the video we have provided the link for was of great assistance in mastering the shaping technique.

      Wishing you all the best with making them! They were a lot of fun to crack open on New Years with the family. Let us know how you get on!

      C&S

      Delete
  4. these look so good girls!! :) love the messages too - and great photos!
    Happy New Year!

    Daisy and the Fox

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Bec! They were a lot of fun to crack open on New Year's Eve :)

      Happy New Year to you too! Hope 2013 is a great year :)

      C&S

      Delete
  5. Wow...these are seriously impressive...I didn't even know you could make your own fortune cookies! I love the fortunes you came up with as well! Happy New Year :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much!!

      We didn't realise either but we stumbled across this recipe a little while ago and couldn't wait to give the cookies a go!!

      Happy New Year!

      C&S

      Delete
  6. Hello Chloe and Sarah! This is a gorgeous post... I similarly didn't even think about the concept of making my own fortune cookies, but I reckon I'll be giving them a go now! Love your 'fortunes', haha! I've just discovered your blog via an awards page and it's gorgeous... love everything about it: your creativity, beautiful recipes, the fun and lighthearted element... inspiring! I'll be following you both from now on; thanks for sharing with us! x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for stopping by!!

      The fortune cookies were something we has been wanting to make for a while so it was the perfect excuse to whip up a batch! It was a lot of fun making up the fortunes too :)

      Thank you so much - it makes us so happy to read comments like this and know that people enjoying reading our posts :)

      Have a lovely week!!

      C&S

      Delete
  7. wow - that is amazing! you actually make them look easy to make!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much!! They are a little tricky but certainly a lot of fun!!

      C&S

      Delete
  8. Oh this so tasty, i love every bit of it!

    ReplyDelete