Resurrection Cookies

One of our night before Easter traditions is to make Resurrection Cookies together as a family. Each ingredient has a symbolic significance assigned to it, and a verse from the Easter story to be read, as it's added. It's sort of a Christian version of the Seder dinner.

The author of the recipe has been lost along the way, I printed instructions from here. Little Page Turners has a printable version as well, with the verses typed out from the Holman Contemporary Standard Bible - the one's I've included below are taken from the New Living Translation.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup whole pecans
  
• 3 egg whites
  
• 1 cup sugar
  
• 1 tsp. vinegar
  
• 1 pinch of salt
  
• mixing bowl
  
• wooden spoon (we used a wooden tart maker)
  
• Bible
  
• Ziploc bag
  
• tinfoil
  
• cookie sheet
  
• tape

Place the pecans in the Ziploc bag, and let the children beat them with the wooden spoon, into small pieces, then put them aside (do not add them into the bowl, yet!!!). Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.

John 19:1-3 Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. The soldiers wove a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put a purple robe on him. "Hail! King of the Jews!"they mocked, as they slapped him across the face.

Let the children smell the vinegar, then add it to the mixing bowl. Explain, that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink.

John 19:28-30 Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, "I am thirsty." A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, "It is finished!" Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.

Add egg whites to the vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life for us.

John 10: 10-11 The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand, and let them taste it, then brush the rest into the bowl. Explain, that salt represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.

Luke 23:27 A Large crown trailed behind, including many grief-stricken women

So far, the ingredients have not been very pleasant, but their is a sweet side to the story. Add 1 cup of sugar, and explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died, because in our place, and because He loves us.

Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

John 3: 16 For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 15-30 minutes, until stiff peaks are formed. This part always takes forever - and is a good time for the children to get their pajamas on, and prepare for bed (this year I snuck in a teaspoon of cream of tarter, to help with this stage, too). Call them back when you have stiff peaks, and explain that the white color represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.

Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, let's settle this," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.

John 3: 1-3 There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader, who was a Pharisee. After dark one evening he came to speak with Jesus. "Rabi," he said, "we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you." Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God."

Fold in the broken nuts, and drop by rounded teaspoons onto a greased, tinfoil covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.

Matthew 27: 57-60 As evening approached, Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea who had become a follower of Jesus, went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. And Pilate issued an order to release it to him. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long sheet of clean linen cloth. he placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance and left.

Put the cookies in the oven. Close the door, and turn the oven off (very important!!!). Have the children seal the door with strips of tape.

Matthew 27: 65-66 Pilate replied, "Take guards and secure it the best you can." So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it.

Send the children 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. (I thought the children did a pretty good sad trudge off to bed.)

John 16: 20 and 22 I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy.

In the morning (if everything has gone right), the cookies will be hollow.

Matthew 28:1-6a Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. Then the angel spoke to the women. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He isn't here! He is risen from the dead just as her said would happen."

Amen!