fortune cookie favors
I needed a favor for my friend Emily's baby shower recently, and decided to make some personalized fortune cookies. I'm not a fan of the crunchy stale fortune cookies you usually get after a meal in a chinese restaurant, but these homemade fortune cookies not only look cute, they actually taste pretty delicious!
I came up with as many fortunes as I could for this new baby girl, things like "Baby Wight will never cry" or "Baby Wight will grow up to be a famous trapeze artist" or my favorite, "Baby Wight will be a boy! Surprise!". The fortunes were printed and cut into strips, mine are about 1/2" high and 7" or so wide.
The recipe I used is a traditional tuile batter, which you drop by spoonful onto a Silpat. Then using the back of your spoon, you push the batter into a 4" circle, keeping it as thin and even as you can. The cookies bake quickly, you want to watch them carefully and pull them out when the edges are just barely golden.
Once the cookies come out of the oven, you need to work quickly to add the paper fortunes and form the cookies. If the cookies cool, they will harden and be too brittle to twist and shape. Small batches work best, I started doing 4 at a time, and got up to 6 (but you've really got to work fast to get all 6 twisted and folded before they are too brittle).
It takes a few batches to get all this figured out. Just a few extra seconds in the oven can change the color of your cookie pretty quickly. The cookie at top was pulled out a bit early, the middle cookie is just right, and the bottom cookie stayed in the oven a little too long.
I packaged the cookies in little white takeout boxes, filled with some pink and white dotted glassine, and I packed a few larger boxes with some extra cookies for Emily and her family.. full of wishes and good fortunes for their new little baby.
Welcome little one.
05.6.2009
Reader Comments (70)
These are beautiful! We had some personalized ones made for my son and DIL's wedding reception, but I love the idea of making them yourself if you're having a smaller group. This was an awesome tutorial. Thank you so much!
I felt a little teary, reading your fortunes - little blessings - for this new life.
Such a creative idea, time consuming I am sure but if you plan ahead it works.
these are amazing!
what a wonderful shower favor!
a d o r a b l e !!!!
Such a wonderful idea! Your friend must have been thrilled!
I'm so glad you shared this! I saw a similar idea years ago but have never been brave enough to try it! Now I think I will give it a go! Coming up with the fun fortunes is the best part!
How absolutely wonderful! Gosh, I really love your blog. :) (Please excuse the unabashed gushing!)
I love this idea, how personal and sweet.
WOW! Your vision, attention to detail and patience are inspiring! The take out boxes, the beautiful paper inside...I can't get enough!
I love the excitement of welcoming a new little one :)
love this. so thoughtful, beautiful and yummy! :)
you are a good friend.
someday. someday i will do this. i think you just gave me the most perfect idea for my sister's bridal shower. thank you.
man, that looks like a lot of work, but sooo thoughtful and sweet! thanks for sharing!
This is a beautiful idea - I am in the process of organising a baby shower for a good friend. Any ideas for appealing games for a fairly sophisticated crowd - ones that are tasteful and fun?!
Oh my, you're a saint for making these I tell you. What a lucky friend to have you around. I tried to make these cookies once and they turned out to be a disaster, although a sweet one so it wasn't too much of a loss. Perhaps I'll give it a try again you make it look so easy.
Fab idea. Cute and crafty and sweet. When will you begin work on your own book? I'm sure that date cannot be too far away -- with all your tips & tricks, it's sure to be a best seller in the craft world!
Your cookies look perfect!!
Mara and I did fortune cookies for a wedding shower several years ago. Once we got the hang of folding the cookies it was really fun.
These are wonderful! Momma-to-be will love them!
Clever!