Fortune Cookies are crisp, thin cookie that often contains a small slip of paper with a fortune or proverb printed on them. The cookie is typically made from a mixture of flour, sugar, egg whites, and vanilla, which is baked until crisp and then quickly folded while still warm to create a distinctive shape. The origins of the cookie are unclear, but it is believed to have been created in either Japan or the United States in the early 20th century. Today, fortune cookies are commonly associated with Chinese cuisine and are often served as a dessert in Chinese restaurants around the world. The fortunes of proverbs inside the cookies are typically intended to be playful or optimistic and are often interpreted as advice or predictions for the future. Fortune Cookies can be found in many grocery stores, and the recipe can be found in many cookbooks and online recipe sources.
Pre heat oven to 180 C/fan 160 C/gas mark 4.
In a large bowl, whisk the egg white and sugar lightly, until you have very soft peaks.
Add the melted butter, almond extract and vanilla paste, whisking gently. add the flour and salt, then mix lightly to make a batter.
Line 2 baking sheets with non sticky baking parchment. Put a heaped teaspoon of the batter on a sheet and spread it with a flexible spatula. Use an 8cm round cookie cutter as a guide to the size. If the top of the batter looks uneven, level it out with the spatula again.
When you have prepared the first 3 bake them in the oven for 5 to 6 minutes, until the edges are slightly brown.
While this first batch of 3 is cooking, prepare the next 3 on the other baking sheet.
When the first 3 are cooked, put the next batch in the oven, then work quickly to finish the baked ones, while they are still soft. Place a fortune paper in the middle of one, and fold the cookies in half pinching the edges to seal, then fold again into a typical fortune cookie shape. Place in the muffin tin to cool. Repeat with the other 2 and then with the next batch of 3, and so on, until you have use all the batter.
When the cookies have cooled, put them in an airtight container straight away. They are best eaten on the day you bake them, but will keep for 2 3 days in the container.
