Crispy Red Envelope Fortune Cookies
These festive, crunchy fortune cookies are tinted red for Chinese New Year and filled with custom fortunes. They’re easy to make, delightfully crisp, and perfect for parties or gifting.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large egg whites (room temperature)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (sifted)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (or almond extract)
- 1/2 teaspoon red gel food coloring
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon water
- Small strips of paper for fortunes (about 2.5 x 0.5 inches, handwritten or printed)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Prepare fortunes and shaping tools.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together egg whites and salt until frothy. Add sugar and whisk until dissolved.
- Pour in melted butter, vanilla extract, water, and red gel food coloring. Whisk until smooth and evenly colored.
- Sift in flour and gently mix until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Drop 1 tablespoon of batter onto the prepared baking sheet. Spread into a thin 3-inch circle using the back of a spoon or offset spatula. Bake 3-4 cookies per batch for 8-10 minutes, until edges are golden and centers are set.
- Remove from oven and immediately slide a spatula under each cookie. Flip over, place a fortune in the center, and fold in half. Shape over the rim of a mug to create the classic fortune cookie shape. Transfer to a cooling rack or muffin tin to hold shape.
- Repeat with remaining batter, baking and shaping in small batches. Let cookies cool completely to crisp up.
- Optional: Dip cooled cookies in melted white chocolate and decorate with sprinkles.
- Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Notes
Work quickly when shaping cookies as they set fast. For gluten-free, use a 1:1 GF flour blend. For dairy-free, substitute coconut oil for butter. Store with dry rice or silica gel to keep cookies crisp. If cookies soften, re-crisp in a 250°F oven for 5 minutes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 45
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 15
- Fat: 2
- Saturated Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 6
- Protein: 1
Keywords: fortune cookies, Chinese New Year, party treats, crispy cookies, red envelope cookies, easy dessert, festive cookies, homemade fortune cookies