Fortune cookies are crisp, sweet cookies that are typically served as a dessert in Chinese restaurants in the United States and other Western countries. Each cookie contains a small slip of paper with a printed message, which can be a fortune, a proverb, or a piece of advice. They are often enjoyed after a meal, adding a fun and whimsical element to dining. The origins of fortune cookies are debated, but they are believed to have been popularized in the early 20th century in California. Unlike traditional Chinese cuisine, fortune cookies are not commonly found in China and are considered a Western invention.