Waffle Cone Fortune Cookies

What better way to celebrate the upcoming Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year holidays than with a crispy pile of golden fortune cookies! I always find it amusing how these humble little cookies have such a festive and auspicious place in popular culture. I also love that they are distinctively Asian American, created in the good old USA with Chinese and Japanese inspiration.As far as I’m concerned, one thing is clear. Any message I receive through a fortune cookie is solid information. True? Maybe not at this very moment, but you never know what tomorrow will bring! A cookie with a hidden message of whimsical wisdom tucked inside…gotta love the fun in that!
With this recipe for Waffle Cone Fortune Cookies, I’ve made the traditional fortune cookie just that much more gourmet. Instead of using regular milk, I use coconut milk and a splash of vanilla extract for extra fragrance and flavor. Served plain or even dipped in melted chocolate, they are like a standard fortune cookie with a bit of extra yum.
Although I use my new favorite kitchen toy, a Petit Waffle Cone Maker, to create these, you can easily use a regular griddle or a flat pan over medium heat. Some recipes out there suggest using the oven, but this has never worked for me since I can’t shape the cookies fast enough when they come out 6 at a time, all at once.

Time is of the essence here, as you must work quickly to shape the cookies while they are still warm. The process of taking the flat cookie off the griddle, placing the fortune paper inside, and then shaping the cookie should take no more than 10-15 seconds. If you have heat-sensitive fingers you may want to have a small bowl of chilled water nearby for relief, just incase.As for me, I pull in the corners of each hot, folded cookie in one swift, sturdy motion. A single chopstick makes it easy to create an inner angled corner to this crescent-shaped cookie. The cookies are best eaten just after they are made, with a hot cup of Chinese tea like a Pu-erh or Oolong. Remember, work fast and without hesitation, and you’re destined to get the most beautiful looking fortune cookies…that’s my lucky message for you!Waffle Cone Fortune Cookies

Makes 16 cookies. 

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp butter

1/3 cup sugar

1 egg

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

pinch of salt

2 Tbsp coconut milk

1 tsp vanilla

Equipment:

scissors or exacto knife with cutting mat

fortune cookie message template, printed with 16 messages

small microwave-safe mixing bowl

teaspoon measure

Petit Waffle Cone Maker or griddle or pan over medium heat

thin spatula

chopstick

small teacup or bowl, to hold shape of cooling cookie

small bowl of chilled water (optional, if you have delicate hands)

work surface or large plate

Directions:

1.)  Print and cut out the fortune cookie messages. I used a blank fortune cookie template, then typed in the messages before printing. If you have nice penmanship you can write them in too!
2.)  Make the batter by melting the butter in the microwave-safe bowl on low for about 30 seconds, until fully melted. Add the sugar to the butter, then mix well. Mix in the egg, until the batter is evenly incorporated. Add the flour and salt, then mix again to create a pancake-like batter. Finally add the coconut milk and vanilla extract and mix in throughly.

3.)  Heat the Petit Waffle Cone Maker to medium heat (I used the #3 setting). When the heat has come up to temperature, spoon out 2 teaspoons of the batter into one of the 3″ cone circles. Lower the top of the waffle cone maker to create an evenly thin cookie. If using a griddle or pan, you will have to use the back of a spoon to smooth out the batter to an even 3″ circle. Let the flat cookie cook for about 1 minute or until it looks golden brown.

4.)  Using a thin spatula, quickly move the flat cookie to a work surface. Place the fortune inside, then fold the cookie over to create a taco-like shape. The faster you move, the better. 
5.)  Immediately, use your left hand to hold the tip of a chopstick at the center base of the taco shape, then use your right index finger and thumb to pull the sides of the cookie inwards.  

6.)  Carefully place the cookie in a small teacup or bowl until it cools completely. Repeat steps 3-5 to create 16 Waffle Cone Fortune Cookies.