Resurrection Cookies

Easter will be here in just a few days and I'm looking forward to making resurrection cookies with Eli... a tradition that I plan to start this year with my family and continue until my son (and children to come) are grown. Since I haven't actually made them yet, I don't have any photos to share, but I thought I'd post the recipe incase any of you would like to try it this weekend with your little ones.

What you'll need:

3 egg whites

1 cup whole pecans

1 tsp. vinegar

A pinch of salt

1 cup sugar

Zipper baggie

Wooden spoon

Tape

Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Make sure you preheat! This recipe will not work if you wait until halfway through the recipe to turn the oven on.

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let your children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into little 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 tsp. vinegar into the 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 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 it and brush the rest off 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

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup of sugar. 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 Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16

Beat with a mixer on high speed until stiff peaks begin to form (anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes). Explain that the color white represents purity in God's eyes for those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.

Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper-covered cookie sheet. Explain that the mounds represent the rocky tomb where Jesus' 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 and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.

Read Matthew 27:65-66

Go to Bed. Explain that just like they may be sad to have to leave the cookies in the oven overnight, Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.

Read John 16:20 and 22

On resurrection morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! (or at least they should be). On the morning that Jesus was resurrected, His followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.

Read Matthew 28:1-9

He has Risen! Praise the Lord!