As we leave 2011 in the dust, we look towards a happy and healthy 2012 filled with plenty of laughs and lots of treats along the way. I see many good things for you in 2012 (especially these homemade fortune cookies.) Start the year off by giving them out as favors at your New Year's Eve party and impress your friends with your fortune writing skills. D.I.Y. fortune cookies are great, because you can add a little personality to each fortune. I decided to re-use a favorite fortune that I actually received from a Chinese take out fortune cookie. It said, "You like Chinese food." Ha, that's insightful!
I'll be spending these last few days of 2011 reflecting on the year we leave behind and wishing for a fortunate and very sweet new year for all of you!
Fortune Cookies
Makes 12-15 cookies
INGREDIENTS
2 egg whites
1 teaspoon pure vanilla or almond extract
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup superfine sugar
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Write fortunes on precut 3 inch wide strips of paper. Grease or line a baking sheet. (Non-stick baking liners work best.)
2. In a medium bowl, use a whisk to lightly beat the egg white, vanilla extract and vegetable oil until frothy, but not stiff.
3. Add the flour, cornstarch, salt and sugar into the egg white mixture and stir until you have a smooth batter. The batter should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
4. Spoon out a tablespoon of batter onto the cookie sheet and use the back of the spoon to smooth out the batter into a perfect circle (about 4 inches in diameter.) Repeat this step once more so you have two circles. It’s best to work with two at a time to ensure each cookie is shaped correctly.
5. Bake until the outer rim of each cookie turns golden brown (about 7 minutes). Working very quickly, remove the cookie with a spatula and flip it onto a clean dish towel. Place a fortune in the middle of a cookie. The cookie will be very hot, so use the dish towel to fold the cookie in half, then place on the rim of a glass or mug and gently pull the sides down until they reach the edge of the glass. Hold in this position for 15 seconds, then place the finished cookie in the cup of a muffin tin so that it keeps its shape. Repeat this step with the remaining cookie and repeat all steps until all the batter is finished.
