Chinese New Year Cookies*
For the Cookies:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, plus extra to grease the baking sheet
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 egg whites
1 cup all-purpose flour
For the Fortunes:
paper or vellum for 16 fortunes
non-toxic ink
Preparation Time: 45 minutes plus standing
Baking Time: 8-12 minutes per cookie
Makes 16 cookies
Writing the Fortunes:
1. Cut paper or vellum into 5 x 1/2-inch strips. Write or type desired messages onto the paper.
Making the Cookies:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease the center of a baking sheet well.
2. In a medium bowl, cream together sugar and butter until fluffy; add vanilla.
3. In a small bowl, using a wire whisk, whisk egg whites until light and frothy. Add egg whites to sugar and butter mixture; whisk until smooth. Beat in flour. Let batter sit for 10 minutes.
4. Spoon about 1 tablespoon batter onto the baking sheet. Using a thin spatula, spread the batter into a 5-inch diameter round, making sure to keep edges neat.
5. Bake until golden around edges, about 8 minutes. With a spatula, gently lift the cookie from the baking sheet. (It will be hot.) Working quickly, fold the cookie in half.
6. Bend pointed edges of cookie toward each other; hang on the rim of a bowl to cool. Thread fortune into cookie; repeat with remaining batter.