If you were to open my wallet, you would find a dozen fortune cookie messages tucked inside the side panel. I have grown fond of saving all of the fortunes from the cookies I have opened in the past few years. Consider them like collector’s coins. Except they are paper. Inside a cookie. Some range from thoughtful: “Your uniqueness is more than an outward appearance.” to completely not as thoughtful: “Eat your 5 fruits and veggies every day.” It would be interesting to see what messages I’d get from a homemade fortune cookie (am I foreshadowing here???)
It’s tradition when the cookies are placed on the table to scramble them around and allow your dining companion to choose which cookie they are drawn to. This way, it is an assurance that the message they receive is the message that was intended just for them. I am a firm believer that the message chooses you.
And so because fortune cookies hold a dear place in my heart, (well, the messages really more so than the cookies– I’ve never really enjoyed eating the cookies), I thought it would be a fun and fortunate (see what I did there?) thing to end this year with a bunch of fortune cookies for you, my dear friends, so you, too, can collect and hoard the messages in your wallets.
I absolutely *loved* my fortune this time around.
Gluten-free and Vegan Fortune Cookie Recipe
Makes 10 cookies, adapted from Paula Deen
**Have your fortune messages written and cut out before you begin!**
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 Tb Ener-G egg replaces plus 4 Tbs warm water, mixed until frothy
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 1/2 c. Bob’s Red Mill all purpose gluten free flour
- 1/3 c. sugar
- 2 Tb water
- pinch of salt
DIRECTIONS:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Combine all ingredients together in a small bowl.
- Spoon 1 Tb of batter onto a well greased HEAVY and/or FLAT cookie sheet (this will save you from heart palpitations! You NEED a cookie sheet that will not twerk in the heat, unless you want your cookies to either combine together and/or be shaped like a rabbit). Make sure they are THIN circles (3-4″ round). I had to do 1 cookie at a home because…well, you don’t wanna know what happened for the first 4 attempts…
- Bake for 8 minutes or until brown along the edges.
- Remove from heat, using a spatula, remove from cookie sheet. IMMEDIATELY: Fold cookie like a taco. Put message inside. Holding in place, dent the bottom middle onto a coffee mug and put into a muffin tin to keep shape.
Talk about one sexy muffin tin!
So go ahead and make yourself a batch of fortune cookies. The fortune message just might hold the key to your New Year in 2012. (The best part is that you are in control of writing all the messages so this just might be your year after all!)
Wishing you a very Happy New Year
and Good Fortune to all!
davidalanturneravid
I’m not sure there is enough water in the ingredients list… Do you really only add 2 Tablespoons of water (on top of the 4 from the egg replacer?)
Cara
Hi David! I know it sounds strange but the amount of water in this recipe is correct. The batter should be somewhat thick but not too runny so when you put in on the baking sheet it doesn’t drool all over the place. xo!
coldandsleepy
One of many things I really like about your blog is this: you don’t just try to make GF things. You try to make awesome and ambitious things that also happen to be GF. Fortune cookies!! I would have felt like these were totally out of my league in terms of doability before I read this… but now you’ve inspired me and I feel like I could totally make a batch.
Cara
You know, this has surprised myself as well. But the truth is, I’m tired of acting like I can’t have in on any of the action just because I’m GF. It’s my mission to make as many “out there” recipes as possible 🙂 Like they say in “Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World”: Gluten freedom, baby, gluten freedom 🙂 haha. I would love to see these posted on your blog, Nikki! Does this count as a baked good for your theme???
Heather
yep- i would have totally been the one to not write the messages out before hand – thanks for the tip to do so!
ohhh the messages that could get very interesting depending on who is writing them out too 🙂
Cara
And then you could be like, “I wonder how the fortune cookie knew that you needed to be less uptight??! Well, it’s coming from a cookie so it must be the truth!” 🙂
progress
While I love the fact that you provide a recipe for vegan, gluten-free fortune cookies, I was really looking for instructions. For others like me who find pictures useful, this page contains photos of folding the cookies: http://veganeatsandtreats.blogspot.com/2009/05/making-vegan-fortune-cookies-tutorial.html
Thanks for the idea and the recipe!
Cara
Thanks for stopping by, Progress! I hear you on finding pictures useful. Unfortunately, it was too difficult of a task for myself to take pictures while doing the instructions without an extra set of hands. I’m glad to see that there are other sites out there that provide the help you need–thanks for the link! I love Amey’s blog, myself 🙂
kirstentaggart
Those are very cool! I keep my fortunes in my wallet too. I have them tucked behind my licence. Happy 2012 to you too.
Cara
Now, the next questions are, how many do you have stashed? And do you keep even the bad ones?
Happy New Year to you as well, Kristen!
Anna @ hiddenponies
That IS a sexy muffin tin, and these fortune cookies are perfect!! Thanks for sharing, what a great way to start 2012!
Cara
Right??? I never knew I could lust after kitchen ware 🙂 Thank you for the fortune cookie love, Anna! A very Happy New Year to YOU! xo
Lou
How groovy is that muffin tin?!?
What a cute idea… love love LOVE this.
Happy New Year to you, clever lady 🙂
Cara
Isn’t that the best? Is it possible to actually be in love with a piece of bakeware???
Happy New Year to you, Lou! Much love and gratitude for all of your support. xo
Isobelle
Why must you talk to me like a stripper! haha
I do not stuff my pockets with other people’s money. Or my own. I don’t even really carry cash anymore. That’s not good.
yes! I grew up around lots of Indian food but I never liked it. I’m not big on spicy stuff. Now I’m really wishing I behaved and ate my curry for dinner when I was younger. But, you know me..I just opted for being sent to my room. Too stubborn 🙂
Cara
My new name for you is Fizzy Izzy <–stripper name 🙂
It is never too late to start shoving Indian food down your throat. Man, that is my favorite kind of food ever. I think I'm an Indian woman stuck inside a white girl’s body… You? Stubborn? This is completely false 🙂
Richa@HobbyandMore
just came by to read this conversation!!.. stuffing pockets with monies and eating curry and bread. sounds like a plan!
isobelle, we can play with the dishes to your liking:).. there r different cuisines from every state(28) in india.. and the restaurants serve like 2 or 3 types. and thats it.. so there are lot more curries/gravies/spices to explore! 🙂
and we will deglutenize the naan!
ok back to snoozing.. i was up to watch the fireworks.. then my pom got spooked and wanted to cuddle and sleep..started today by giving him a bath for his upcoming playdate with a puppy labradoodle mia! lets see if he teaches her a thing or 2.
Cara
You are blowing my mind away with this info! 28 different varieties as opposed to 2??? Whhhaaaaaa? I cannot wait! Best weekend ever.
P.S. Hope the playdate went well 🙂
Isobelle
haha, Fizzy Izzy.
Yeah. I’m trying to like Indian food. I made a chickpea curry today but I purposely left out most of the spices. I couldn’t bare the thought of having to waste all of those chickpeas if it came out too hot.
I’m more of a mediterranean type foodie 🙂
Isobelle
oh ps. Richa:
I’m with Cara – whaaa? We have so much to learn from you!
Cara
Teach us! Teach us!
Cara
It’s never too late to convert, Fizzy Izzy 🙂
Isobelle
you say WHAAA!?
no way! that’s exciting.
yeah that’s right, Richa lives over here too. I think she needs to teach us how to make her naan bread.
Cara
If I come up there, then I can stuff your pockets with money for all your artwork. Wait, did that sound bad?
About Richa teaching us true Indian food: That is EXACTLY what I was thinking! 🙂
Isobelle
ahem.
These are awesome.
Happy New Years lass
Cara
Do you have something in your throat, missy?
Happy New Year to you as well, Isobelle! xo Planning a trip in 2012 out to WA to visit you and Richa. How fun!
Veggie V! @ Veggie V's Vegan Adventure
I used to love fortune cookies! I have everything in the pantry to make these. I see a project coming!
Cara
Oooooohhh, make sure you give yourself some rather magical fortune messages! And then act surprised when you choose one and read it after you break open your cookie 🙂
Richa@HobbyandMore
yipppieee.. fortune cookiess with personally written fortunes.. and i so love that muffin tin.. shopping in the new year starts with anthropologie. te store 10 blocks from my home and i havent been there yet! wat the!
this is a super cool post.. leave it to u to come up with such super fun creations and posts.. whats better on NYE than a fortune cookie..
and i thought u were on a break cuddling away with greg…
Happy New Year to you and your family and everyone around u! Wish you a wonderful 2012!
Cara
We had to come up for air 🙂 haha. That sounded gross…
Never been to an Anthro that is 10 blocks away?? Okay, another thing to add to the list of “Things to do” on my trip to WA to visit Richa. Shopping, here we come!
K
Gluten Free fortune cookies nice and yes I love the muffin tin!
Cara
The muffin tin is a huge hit today. Me thinks I need to bring it back for more salivating 🙂
Brooke
What an awesome idea! I never thought about making my own before! Also, I have serious muffin tin lust right now. Where do I go to confess? And “twerk?” Favorite new word of 2011!
Cara
I was trying to be like you with “twerk” 🙂 Go to Anthropologie and you can confess your lust there. They of course will ask for money in return but it is worth it 🙂
mj monaghan
1) As usual, great post.
b) The smell of those cookies from here is fabulous!
3) Love that mom reads your blog.
And secondly, I made the persimmon cookies at the beginning of the week for my lovely bride. She LOVED them. So … thanks for that, Cara!
Happy New Year, my friend!!
PS Here is your fortune: You will touch many lives and hearts, and will continue to bake great things!
Cara
Isn’t my mother the best??! Gosh, she’s great 🙂 And yay, I’m so happy that the wife liked, er, loved the cookies! Good news, indeed.
And just for the record, I’m printing out my fortune–that one is a KEEPER! Happy New Year! xo
naturalnoshing
1. I LOVE the fact that you keep fortunes from fortune cookies in your wallet…oh how do I love thee? Let me count the million ways!!
2. Fabulous and festive recipe idea for New Years Eve Day – you rock (again, how many times do I say this?!? I hope it isn’t getting old)
3. That tin is adorable… must get one immediately…
Happy New Year sweet Cara!
Cara
1). I’m a sucker for stuff like that. I used to buy my horoscope roll at the register at the grocery store. I love a good fortune 🙂
2). NEVER gets old, are you kidding me?? Keep it coming. ha. And thank you for always loving on me!
3). Anthropologie for a mere $36 (eek!) but worth it!!
Happy New Year to you too, my little chocolate-covered Nora! xoxo
Kris
d’oh! I have a recipe for v + gf fortune cookies written, untested. since the summer.
I LOVE fortunes in cookies, AND I love eating the cookies themselves!
Like the last fortune too, I do.
Cara
I found your message: “He who does not test recipes gets not to eat cookies.”
hehehe 🙂
Laurel
Yoda likes beautiful muffin tins, rabbit shaped cookies and fortuitous messages. He’s still trying to figure out whether the message goes in before the taco fold or after but as it’s the last day of the year I’m giving him a break. Have a Wonderful Early to Bed New Year. xox
Cara
Always a good eye, Laurel. Put the message in right before you fold them over like a taco!
Hopefully yoda will like these 🙂 xo
cadryskitchen
Ah! So cute! How much fun did you have writing out fortunes? There are so many ideas there, thinking of how you could gear them to the evening’s recipients. That sexy muffin pan is awesome. It’d be hard to keep it in the cabinet most of the time. It needs to be seen. I hope you have a very happy New Year!
Cara
I really loved doing the messages part! Although I found that I catered them all towards ME 🙂 <–selfish. hehe.
And that was the first debut the muffin tin made–I'm so proud of it. It was a huge hit. Check out Anthropologie and all their ADORABLE bakeware. I also got a rolling pin that matched. Eeeee! I'm going to spend my life savings over at that place.
HAPPY NEW YEAR! xo
cadryskitchen
Anthropologie has some great kitchen stuff! I don’t make it there as often as I’d like, but whenever I do, I always check out their sale area too. I’ve gotten some deals that way, including one of my favorite dresses.
Cara
I shop there way too regularly. I had to stop going so often when all the girls who work there started to call me by my first name. HA!
cadryskitchen
I hope they pronounced it correctly! 😉
Cara
I was paying too much money for them *not* too 🙂 ha
Ashlae W.
FORTUNE COOKIES?!?! SERIOUSLY?!?!?! HOW?!?!?!?
Ok, enough with the exclamatory questions. But, I am.. like.. totally blown away. I’ve never cared for fortune cookies, but I have to try these. And just hand them out to random people. Would that be weird?
Oh! How I missed you while I was gone.
PS – I still have to send your package. Ugh. I’m lazy.
Cara
I think that a). would be awesome, and b). you would make their day!
I MISSED YOU!!! In fact, last night I was wondering whether or not it was too late to text you and see if you were home yet. Glad to be back???
P.S. I still haven’t mailed your package either. hahha.
Your biggest fan!
I love fortune cookies! These look like they would just melt in your mouth. Remember where we always used to eat our New Year’s Eve dinner when we lived in CA? And…..where did you get those great muffin tins?
I’m so proud of you for creating this amazing blog, for putting yourself “out there” and for being the fabulous person that your are!
Happy New Year! I bet that I’m in bed before you 🙂
XOXOXO
Cara
I learned from the best 🙂 Thanks mom, for always being my #1 fan and for continuously coming here and reading this! Means more to me than you know…
I got the muffin tin at Anthro (but of course). It was love at first site.
Your biggest fan!
I think I realized the muffin tin was from Anthrpoloy before I even read your answer! 🙂 Duh! How could I not know that?
On the rare occasion that I have missed a day, I always play catch up – I wouldn’t want to miss a single word even if I don’t do the recipes.
Now I’m getting a little verklempt. Talk amongst yourselves. I’ll give you a topic: to do a New Year’s resolution or not. Discuss! There I feel better.
I love you Miss Wings!!!
Cara
BAHAHAHA!!! Excellent discussion topic, Carol. I’m very impressed 🙂 I say to do! But it must be a good one, not weight loss related or something but more like, “Love myself a little more this year!” What do you think?
mylovelybites
THAT is a sexy muffin tin. Seriously, it has a Latino feel to it, it’s unresistible!
Cara
I only buy sexy bakeware 🙂 Thank you! You can buy it at Anthropologie.
Caitlin
wow- i don’t think i’ve ever seen a recipe for gf vegan fortune cookies before! these look absolutely perfect!
have a fantastic early night new years eve tonight, cara!
Cara
Hehehe…and you have a fabulous late night, party girl! 🙂 xo
reid
Cool!!!
I like that you get to write the fortunes. (I’ve gotten some really blah ones in the recent past…after giving the cookie to my cookie eating companion..:D)
That muffin tin seriously rocks.
Happy New Year Cara!
Cara
I got the muffin tin at Anthropologie–it was my last Birthday gift to myself (I’m still celebrating, a month and a half later) 🙂
Write the most amazing fortunes for yourself, Reid. Heck, don’t even make the cookies either–just the fortunes and store them away when you need them!