Make Easter Story Cookies
When preparing for the celebration of Christ's resurrection, an important part is to spend time relating the story with your children. Not only is this a fun way to teach young children about Christ's resurrection but you'll also end up with a delicious, tasty treat!
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole pecans
- 1 teaspoon vinegar
- 3 egg whites
- Pinch salt
- 1 cup sugar
Steps
- Preheat the oven to 300ºF/150ºC. Place the pecans in a zipper baggie. Let the children beat them with the wooden spoon to break them into small pieces.
- Explain that after Jesus was arrested, the Roman soldiers beat him. Read John 19:1-3 together.
- Encourage each child to smell the vinegar. Put the teaspoon of vinegar into a mixing bowl.
- Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30 together.
- Add the egg whites to the vinegar. Eggs represent life.
- Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11 together.
- Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste the salt and brush the rest into the bowl.
- Explain that the salt represents the salty tears that were shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of sin. Read Luke 23:27 together.
- Sweeten it. So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add the cup of sugar.
- Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. Read Psalms 34:8 and John 3:16 together.
- Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.
- Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3 together.
- Fold in the broken nuts. Drop teaspoons-full of the cookie mix onto a wax paper covered cookie sheet.
- Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60 together.
- Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. The cookies will bake with the residual heat. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.
- Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66 together.
- Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in deep despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22 together.
- Go to bed!
- On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! Explain that on the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Jesus had risen! Read Matthew 28: 1-9 together.
Tips
- Do not forget to turn the oven OFF when you go to bed.
- Start early in the evening. This takes at least one half hour with all the readings and especially whipping the egg whites.
Warnings
- As with all allergy common sense, make sure no one is allergic to nuts. If someone is, you can substitute the nuts with something else like raisins or choc chips in the cookies to accommodate their needs.
Things You'll Need
- Zipper baggie
- Wooden spoon
- Tape
- Bible
