Photo: from open sources
The winner of the show “MasterChef” Lisa Glinskaya showed how to easily and simply prepare fortune cookies for a New Year’s party
Chinese fortune cookies are a funny confectionery product of a special shape, inside of which are hidden notes with prophecies, aphorisms or lucky numbers. Baking such cookies is not difficult even if you have very little culinary experience. Prepared for a New Year’s corporate event or for a friendly New Year’s party, this delicacy will delight everyone present and create a cheerful atmosphere. The main thing is to approach writing predictions with kindness and humor. The winner of the TV show “MasterChef-2” Elizaveta Glinskaya shared her recipe for fortune cookies.
History of fortune cookies
Fortune cookies, which in English are called Fortune cookies, are associated with the Chinese New Year, but in fact, historically, they have nothing to do with China or the New Year. But, you see, it is perfectly suited for this holiday, when everyone makes wishes and hopes that the coming one will be successful.
These cookies are served for dessert in Chinese restaurants in the US and some other countries, but, strangely enough, they are not baked in China. The exact origin of these cookies is unknown, but most likely they were brought to the United States at the beginning of the last century by Japanese or Chinese immigrants, and the prototype of these cookies appeared in Japanese temples in the 19th century.
Fortune cookies became associated with China during World War II, when mass ethnic cleansing of people of Japanese descent began in the United States, and fortune cookie production was taken over by the Chinese diaspora.
No matter who is credited with the authorship of this confectionery product, it is very popular with those who want to receive a “sign of fate” along with a delicious dessert. About 3 billion of these cookies are sold around the world every year. And the largest manufacturer is the New York company Wonton Food, which produces 4.5 million fortune cookies per day.
Recipe
Ingredients:
- egg white – 120 g (from about four eggs);
- powdered sugar – 120 g;
- wheat flour – 90 g;
- butter – 80 g;
- zest – from one orange or lemon.
Preparation:
- Separate the whites from the yolks, mix the whites with powdered sugar.
- Melt the butter over low heat, pour into the egg whites and stir.
- Add the zest, sift in the flour and stir until smooth.
- Place the dough in a pastry bag and refrigerate overnight.
- Prepare notes with predictions. Think about what you would like to wish for those who eat your cookies. Avoid gloomy predictions so as not to spoil the upcoming holiday for anyone. Cut the paper into small strips and write a prediction on each of them. You could also simply write the numbers in order, based on the number of guests at the party, and use the cookies to draw lots for a Secret Santa.
- Preheat the oven to 180℃. Line a baking tray with baking paper or a silicone mat.
- Squeeze 3 cm diameter cookies out of the bag, leaving space between them. No more than 6 pieces fit on a standard sheet.
- Spread each piece of dough in a circle with a spoon to form a thin pancake with a diameter of 7-8 cm.
- Bake in the preheated oven for a few minutes. The cookies will be ready when the edges are browned.
- While the cookies are baking, fold the fortune papers into four.
- Remove the finished cookies from the oven, place them in the center of the prediction, fold the cookies in half, pressing the edges so that they stick together, then in half again, as shown in the video. Place the folded cookies in glasses so that they retain the desired shape as they cool.
