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Friday, April 9, 2010

Easter Cookies

My friend in my small group sent us the recipe for Easter cookies and we decided to try them this year. Each step of making the cookies is symbolic for part of the Easter story. We would make part of the cookies...





then Daddy would read the Scripture that went with that step. We got to the part where we put the cookies in the oven and leave them overnight. We talked about how Jesus' friends were sad to leave him in the tomb just like we are sad to leave the cookies. Both of the girls start bawling. Sobbing. Kiran kept saying, "I'm just so sad to leave the cookies." They were still crying when we put them to bed. We walked out hoping we hadn't ruined Easter for the rest of our lives.


Sienna woke up in the morning saying, "Cookie!" and everyone was happy to see the cookies in the oven. Whew. The jury is still out on whether we will do these cookies again next year or not.


Easter Story Cookies

To be made the evening before Easter

  • 1cup whole pecans
  • 1tsp vinegar
  • 3 egg whites
  • pinch salt
  • 1 cup sugar
  • zipper baggie
  • wooden spoon
  • tape
  • Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important, don't wait till you're half done with the recipe!)

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break 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 1tsp vinegar into 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 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 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 for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. 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 broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents 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 they may feel sad 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 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 Matthew 28:1-9.

5 comments:

Erin Halsey said...

Awesome! Printing this off to remember it later. I read it to Jonathan and he said, "Wait, how long do you leave them in the oven?" and I told him. He thought you left them for 3 days. Yuck.

Emily said...

I absolutely love this idea. Thanks for sharing. (and how tender hearted of your girls to cry over their cookies :)

Katherine said...

I love this--what a great idea! We're definitely adding it to our Easter traditions.

Sara Beth said...

I've heard of these cookies but never seen a recipe. We might be doing "Easter Observed" as a family in the next week or two since we were traveling and sick over Easter this year. If you are looking for another idea since you aren't sure on the cookies, check my friend Kari's blog at www.minterlife.com --they did a week long teaching on Easter that looked like a lot of fun for the family!

merritt said...

What a neat idea! I've got recipe for brownies in which the kids have to read Scripture to figure out the ingredient, but this is even cooler.