Resurrection Cookies

Being a new mom it's important to me to start fun family traditions.  With Easter around the corner I really wanted to do something that was not only fun, but brought the true meaning of Easter in my home.  I tried this out with my 10-11 yr old activity day girls and they loved it.  (Fisher helped me with the first batch since I made some ahead of time so the girls could actually try them.)

Children of all ages LOVE to help make these cookies (as well as eat them) and reading the story that goes with it.  Ideally, you make them the night before Easter but you can enjoy them any time you want to remember and experience the joy of the Resurrection!  You will need:

• 1 cup whole pecans
• 3 egg whites (if using smaller eggs, add 1 additional egg white)
• 1 cup sugar
• A wooden spoon
• A Bible
• 1 teaspoon Vinegar
• A pinch of salt
• 1 zip-lock baggie
• Some heat-resistant tape

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees before you start
2. Place the pecans in the zip-lock baggie and let the 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 John 19: 1-3.
3. Let each child smell the vinegar.  Put the vinegar into a mixing bowl.  Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.
4. Add the egg whites to the 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 then 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
6. So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing! Add the 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.
7. Beat the mixture 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.  (Note:  If your mixture doesn't ever get to stiff peaks it just means it needed more egg whites.  Do not despair, use the batter as is.  It will still work.  It will just spread more cookie-like then staying in a mound)
8. Fold in the broken nuts.  Drop the mixture by teaspoons onto a wax paper-covered cookie sheet.  Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.  Read Matthew 27:57-60
9. Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door, and TURN THE OVEN OFF!
10. Give each child a piece of tape and let them SEAL THE OVEN DOOR with the tape.  Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.  Read Matthew 27:65-66.
11. 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.
12. On Easter morning (or the next 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.

Have fun with the cookies, and have a very blessed Easter.