[Update: I did make both types of cookies last Easter weekend! I have posted a picture of each under each recipe listed below. Personally, I didn’t care for the taste of the Type 1 cookie and they were very fragile (they crumbled easily). Type 2 was a lot easier and much more yummy 🙂 Next year, I may try dipping the rolls into butter and brown sugar instead of the sugar/cinnamon mixture. I also think that the correlation to the resurrection was little above my daughter’s head (age 3). But, when a friend’s daughter (age 5) saw them; she was really excited about it!]

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Have you ever though about how to teach your children the Resurrection Story? I have! In fact, I have been thinking about it all week. My oldest daughter is to the age where I think she will be able to understand it but I have not really known the best way of teaching it to her.

This morning I received an e-mail from my friend Amber (Thanks Amber!); which included a recipe for Resurrection Cookies! I think that this would be a perfect way to teach Kendal this year (and years to come)! In this blog, I have included two types of Resurrection Cookies along with scripture that will help you explain the Resurrection story. The first type of cookie must be started the evening before Easter and finished on Easter morning. The second type of cookie is much more simple and can be made anytime. I have never made either type; so I don’t have any pictures (but you can find pictures online). These would make great family time activities!

Have you made either of these Resurrection Cookies before? Or are you going to try them this week? Be sure to comment and let us know your experiences with them and how your children reacted!

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RESURRECTION COOKIES (Type 1)

***To be made the Saturday evening before Easter***

Ingredients & Supplies:

1 Cup Whole Pecans

1 teaspoon Vinegar

3 Egg Whites

Pinch of Salt

1 Cup Sugar

Electric Mixer

Zipper Baggie

Wooden Spoon

Tape

Bible

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. (This is IMPORTANT-don’t wait until you’re done with the recipe!)

2. Place pecans in zipper baggie 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:

“Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they struck him in the face.” John 19:1-3

3. Let each child smell the vinegar. Put vinegar into the mixing bowl.

***Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read:

“Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” John 19:28-30

4. Add egg whites to vinegar.

***Explain that the eggs represent life. Jesus gave His life in order to give us life. Read:

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:10-11

5. 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:

“A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.” Luke 23:27

6. So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add the sugar to the bowl.

***Explain that the sweetness part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know Him and belong to Him. Read:

“Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.” Psalm 34:8

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

7. Beat the ingredients in the bowl with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.

***Explain that the color white represents the purity in God’s eyes and those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read:

“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18

“Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.” In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” John 3:1-3

8. Fold in the broken nuts. Drop by teaspoon onto a wax covered cookie sheet.

***Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid. Read

“As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.” Matthew 27:57-60

9. Put 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’s tomb was sealed. Read:

“Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.” Matthew 27:65-66

10. GO TO BED!!!

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

“I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” John 16:20-22

***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. Read:

“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.” Matthew 28:1-9

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RESURRECTION COOKIES (Type 2)

Ingredients:

Large Marshmallows

Crescent Rolls (uncooked)

Sugar/Cinnamon Mixture

1. Wrap an uncooked crescent roll  around most of the marshmallow–leaving one side of the marshmallow exposed.

***The crescent roll represents the tomb and the marshmallow shows that the tomb is not empty.

2. Roll the crescent roll/marshmallow tomb in the sugar/cinnamon mixture.

3. Place them on a cookie sheet and bake according to crescent roll directions.

***Read the resurrection story (using the verses in the above recipe).

5. As they bake; the marshmallow will melt. Remove them from the oven according to directions.

***You will have an empty tomb!

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