Resurrection Cookies

Important: Plan ahead, this recipe requires the dough to sit overnight.

Note: In addition to the above ingredients you’ll need a Ziplock bag a wooden spoon or tart shaper, some masking tape and a Bible.

Preheat oven to 350 F before starting.

Place 1 cup pecans in the Ziplock baggie and let the children beat them with the wooden spoon or tart shaper to break them into small pieces.

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

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 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.

Add egg whites to the vinegar.

Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave his life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand. Let them taste. Then put a pinch of salt in the bowl.

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

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing! Add 1 cup sugar to the bowl.

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

Beat the ingredients with a mixer on high speed for 10 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks form.

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.

Fold in the broken nuts. Drop the batter by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheets.

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

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape to seal the oven door.

Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.

Leave the kitchen and go to bed. Acknowledge that the kids are feeling sad that they’ve worked hard to make these cookies, and now have to leave them in the oven overnight.

Explain that Jesus’ followers were also sad when Jesus died and the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.

The next morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Take a bite, the cookies are hollow!

Explain that on the first Easter morning, Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.

HE HAS RISEN! Read Matthew 28:1-9.