Every year we make Resurrection cookies on the Saturday night before Resurrection Sunday. The kids love this tradition and every year, the process behind making these cookies makes all that happened to our Savior that much more real. It gives them something tangible to connect with as they hear the story of Jesus being crucified and how he rose from the grave conquering death. We would do these on Friday morning to make it all the more real, however the chances of me needing the oven before Sunday morning is most definite so Saturday night will have to do.
Below is how we do the story of Easter and the Resurrection Cookies. The beauty of this recipe/activity is that all the kids can be involved and do some sort of task during the process. And every year, they pick up something new.
Easter Tomb Cookies
(Resurrection Cookies)
Bible
1 c whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
Pinch of salt
1 c granulated sugar
1 gallon size zip-top baggie
1 wooden spoon
1 piece of tape for each child
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. (Very important to do this first.)
Read: John 19:1-3.
Place pecans in Ziploc bag and let kids beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces.
The night that Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.
Read John 19:28-30
Let each child smell the vinegar. Add teaspoon of vinegar into the mixing bowl.
While
Jesus was hanging on the cross he got thirsty. The solders put a sponge
onto a piece of hyssop and soaked it in vinegar. They put that sponge
to his mouth for him to drink. After he had some of the vinegar, he
died.
Read John 1:29 & 10:10-11
Add egg whites to vinegar.
The
egg represents new life. Jesus gave His life to give us life. On the
Passover Seder plate the egg represents the Passover sacrifices that
were made in the temple. Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice.
Read Luke 23:27
Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl.
The
salt represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers. A large
number of people followed Him, including women who mourned and wailed
for Him. It also represents the bitterness of our own sins.
So far the ingredients are not very appetizing.
Read Psalm 34:8 & John 3:16
Add 1 cup of sugar.
The
sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He
wants us to know and belong to Him. Without His death there is no life.
Read Psalm 51:7, Isaiah 1:18 & John 3:1-3
Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.
 |
| Almost Stiff Peaks |
Explain
that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose
sins have been cleansed by Jesus. The only way we can become pure is
through Jesus.
Fold in carefully the broken nuts.
Read Matthew 27:57-60
Drop mixture by spoonfuls onto parchment paper on a cookie sheet.
 |
| A heaping tablespoon full seems to be perfect. |
Each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.
Read Matthew 27:65-66
Place the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.
Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.
 |
| A piece of tape for each child to seal the door. |
The guards sealed the tomb to make sure no one would come in and steal His body.
Read John 16:20 & John 16:22
GO TO BED.
Just as it is sad to leave the cookies in the oven all night Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.
On Easter morning, open the oven and remove the cookies.
Take a bite. Notice the cookies are hollow!
Read Matthew 28:1-10
On the first Easter morning Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.
 |
| The empty tomb. |
Some of the cookies are more "empty" than others. It is fun to see inside each one and compare the size of the hole. This recipe makes a lot of little cookies. Prefect for sharing with friends or family. We have had the kids explain the meaning behind the cookies and what each step of the process represents when they give them out. A great way to reinforce the lesson.
