Resurrection Cookies

We started this tradition last year with Riley and plan to continue it again with both kids this year.  On the Saturday night before Easter we have the family gather in the kitchen and make resurrection cookies.  I found this recipe a few years back but had to wait until Riley was old enough to understand the verses in the Bible.  He understands the meaning of Easter and how God gave us the gift of his Son to bring us closer to Him.  He knows that Jesus died to forgive us of our sins.  This is a great illustration of the Easter story.

Resurrection Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup whole pecans                  1 cup sugar

1 tsp. vinegar                         ziplock bag

3 egg whites                         wooden spoon

pinch of salt                           Bible

Preheat oven to 300 BEFORE beginning.

1.  Place pecans in zipplock bag and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break them into small pieces.

Explain that after Jesus was arrested he was beaten by the Roman soldiers.  Read John 19:1-3

2.  Let each child smell the vinegar.  Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl.

         Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given

vinegar to drink.  Read John 19:28-30

3.  Add egg whites to vinegar.  Eggs represent life.

         Explain that Jesus gave HIS life to give us life.  Read John 10:10-11

4.  Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand.  Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl.

Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.  Read Luke 23:27

5.  Add 1 cup sugar.

Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus dies because he loves us.  He wants us to know this and how to belong to him.  Read Psalms 34:8 and John 3:16

6.  Beat with mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks form.

Explain that the color white represents the purity in God’s eyes of those who’s sins have been cleansed by Jesus.  Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3

7.  Fold in broken nuts.  Drop by teaspoon onto wax paper covered cookie sheet.

Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid.  Read Matt. 27:57-60

8.  Put the cookie sheet in oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.

9.  Go to bed.

Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight and Jesus’ followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.  Read John 16:20 and 22

10.  On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie.  Notice the cracked surface and take a bite.  The cookies are hollow.  On the first Easter, Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.  Read Matt. 28:1-9

Enjoy!