Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Sharing the Easter story with Children...through cookies!


The Easter Story Cookies


To be made the evening before Easter.

You need:

1 cup whole pecans

1 tsp. vinegar

3 egg whites

pinch salt

1 cup sugar

zipper baggie

wooden spoon

tape

A Bible


1) Preheat oven to 300 degrees. This is important! Don't wait until you'rehalf done with the recipe!


2) 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.


3) Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.


4) Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read 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 Luke 23:27.


So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing.


6) 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 Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16. Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaksare formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.


7) 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 Matt. 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.


8) Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain thatJesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matt. 27:65-66.


NOW 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.


9) 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 Matt. 28:1-9


*My MIL emailed this to me this morning. I haven't attempted the cookies, myself, but, the chemistry seems right :) What a precious idea for your older children who love to help out in the kitchen. I can't wait to try this with Ava someday!*

5 comments:

Amy@My Front Porch said...

I love this! I wish Lily was a little older so we could try it this year -- maybe next year though!

Kristi Stephens said...

We just made these on Monday night! They worked great and AG was definitely taking it all in... especially when we were beating the nuts. Her little eyes were so big - I don't know if she's ever really internalized what it meant when we say that the soldiers BEAT Jesus until that moment.

Mandi said...

Ladies, I'm so glad you like this.. I was a little sad my 15 year old wouldn't be able to do it this year. :( I love finding these little ways!

Mandi said...

Um, 15 month old... ah geez.

Tiffany said...

I have done this before, and it is fun! It is actually in our curriculum this week for school, but that has kind of taken a back burner to the stomach bug. We call them resurrection cookies. {grin} You could always do it with Ava this year. You really never know how much they understand, and it is never too early to teach them about Jesus! {wink}