Watch the recipe video here:
👉 https://youtube.com/shorts/AhHBg5MQ85c
Chinese New Year desserts are often more than something sweet to eat. They carry symbolism, blessings, and well wishes for the year ahead. These Big Orange Fortune Cookies are inspired by the classic New Year greeting “大橘大利”—a phrase that sounds like “great fortune and prosperity.”
Shaped like golden oranges and filled with a soft, creamy centre, these cookies are crisp on the outside, tender inside, and gently sweetened with red sugar (brown sugar powder) for a warm, caramel-like depth.
They are festive, meaningful, and surprisingly approachable to make at home.
Why Red Sugar Works So Well in Festive Baking
Red sugar is commonly used in traditional Chinese desserts for its rounded sweetness and deeper flavour. Compared to refined white sugar, it adds subtle molasses notes and warmth, making baked goods taste more comforting and layered.
In these cookies, red sugar helps:
-
Create a richer, golden colour
-
Add depth without excessive sweetness
-
Balance the creamy cheese filling
-
Enhance the overall festive character of the dessert
It pairs especially well with butter and dairy, making it ideal for New Year treats that feel indulgent yet familiar.
Big Orange Fortune Cookies Recipe
Step-by-step video tutorial:
👉 https://youtube.com/shorts/AhHBg5MQ85c
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
-
Unsalted butter
-
Red sugar (brown sugar powder)
-
Egg
-
Cake flour
-
Cheese powder
-
Milk powder
Creamy Filling
-
Cream cheese
-
Raw cane sugar
-
Whipping cream
Decoration
-
Chocolate (for stems and details)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Cream the Butter and Red Sugar
Beat softened butter with red sugar until light and fluffy. This step introduces air into the dough and is key to achieving a tender, crumbly texture.
Step 2: Add Egg
Add the egg in two stages, mixing well after each addition to prevent separation. The mixture should be smooth and cohesive.
Step 3: Incorporate Dry Ingredients
Sift together the flour, cheese powder, and milk powder. Fold gently into the butter mixture until a soft dough forms.
Step 4: Chill the Dough
Roll the dough to an even thickness and refrigerate for about 30 minutes. This makes shaping easier and helps the cookies hold their form during baking.
Step 5: Shape and Bake
Cut the dough into round shapes and arrange them on a baking tray, leaving space between pieces.
Bake at 150°C for approximately 18 minutes, covering loosely with foil if needed to maintain an even golden colour.
Step 6: Decorate
Once cooled, melt chocolate and pipe small stems and highlights to transform each cookie into a cheerful orange.
Step 7: Prepare the Cream Filling
Mix cream cheese, raw cane sugar, and whipping cream until smooth and light.
Step 8: Assemble
Pipe the filling onto one cookie and sandwich with another. The result should be crisp on the outside with a soft, creamy centre.
Texture and Flavour Notes
-
Crisp edges with a tender bite
-
Gentle sweetness from red sugar
-
Savoury-cheese notes balancing the cream filling
-
Light, not cloying, and easy to enjoy
These cookies are designed to feel celebratory without being heavy.
A Sweet Way to Welcome Good Fortune
Big Orange Fortune Cookies are more than a seasonal dessert. They are a small, handmade expression of hope for the year ahead—sweetness, prosperity, and shared joy.
Whether served to guests, gifted to friends, or enjoyed with family, they bring both flavour and meaning to the New Year table.
Watch the full recipe video again here:
👉 https://youtube.com/shorts/AhHBg5MQ85c
Comments (0)
There are no comments for this article. Be the first one to leave a message!