To be made the evening before Easter

Ingredients:

1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
1 pinch salt
1 cup sugar
Ziploc baggie
Wooden spoon
Wax-papered cookie sheet
Tape
Bible

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300°. Place pecans in the zip lock bag and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, the Roman soldiers beat him.  

Read John 19:1-3
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
Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life on the Cross so that we could have life.

Read John 10:10-11
Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand. Let them taste it and then place a pinch of salt into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers, and the bitterness of sin.

Read Luke 23:27
Point out that so far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup of 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 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’ blood.

Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3
Fold in broken nuts. Drop cookies by teaspoon onto a wax-papered 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 OVEN OFF. Give each child a piece of tape to “seal” the oven door. Explain that the Roman guards sealed Jesus’ tomb.

Read Matthew 27:65-66
GO TO BED! Explain that they might feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus’ followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.

Easter Morning

On Easter morning, open the oven and give each child a cookie. Point out 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

**If desired, cookies can be ready in a couple of hours when left at a very low temperature (250°). When the surfaces of the cookies look dry and cracked, they are ready.