EASTER STORY COOKIES

Easter Story Cookies 
This is a really neat family activity to do at Easter.

This is a recipe for teaching children about Easter while baking cookies and reading the Bible at the same time. My neighbor Lynn emailed me this to try with Cade and Quinn. The boys enjoyed the mixing while Scot read the Bible verses and I got the supplies ready and tried to further explain the verses and the symbolisms so they could understand the process. After the cookies were finished, Quinn was really worried that there would be a person inside the oven. Well, atleast we captured their attention for a while with this Lesson. Not sure if the intent of this recipe/story really sunk in the way it is suppose to; but we had fun anyway.


Supplies:
1 cup shelled whole pecans
1 tsp vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1 cup sugar
baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible

Preheat oven 300 degrees
Place pecans in baggie. 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
Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp of vinegar into the 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 to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.
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.
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 Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.
Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 - 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 Isa.1:18 and John 3:1-3.
Fold in the broken nuts. Drop by tsp onto a 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.
Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matt. 27:65-66.
GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel 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 cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matt. 28:1-9.

HE HAS RISEN!!!