Resurrection Cookies

Make these the night before Easter.

You will need:

1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
1 ziploc bag
wooden spoon
scotch tape
Bible
electric mixer
baking sheet
waxed paper

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. This is important — don't wait until you're done preparing everything else.

Place the pecans in a ziploc bag and let the children beat them with the spoon until they are in small pieces (you could have more than one bag and spoon for each of your children and just split the nuts between the bags). Explain that after Jesus was arrested, he was beaten by Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. of vinegar in the mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was on the cross, He was thirsty and the soldiers gave him vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to the vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave his life for us. Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste the salt and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears that Jesus' followers shed and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.

So far, the ingredients aren't very appetizing. Add one cup of sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died for us because he loves us. He wants us to know and belong to him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat the ingredients on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks form. Explain that the color white represents purity in God's eyes of those whose sins are cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in the broken nuts, and drop by rounded teaspoons onto waxed paper covered baking sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus was buried. Read Matthew 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven and turn the oven OFF.

Give each child a piece of tape to seal the oven door shut. Explain that the tomb of Jesus was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.

GO TO BED! Explain that they may be sad to leave the cookies in the oven over night. 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 Resurrection cookies are hollow! On the first day of Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Jesus has risen! Read Matthew 28:1-9.