Sunday is Easter. I love Easter Eggs, Easter baskets, and getting dressed up for church, but I also like to make sure the focus on Easter is firmly on Jesus’ resurrection. That is the reason my family supports Easter, and I want to make sure my children don’t lose sight of that.
Still, sometimes it’s difficult to bring the point of Easter home, amidst Easter Egg hunts and other activities children generally find exciting and fun.
I first read the following recipe in the Roseburg News-Review when my daughter was a toddler. I love it, because it gets children involved in the Easter story, and explains it in such a way that they can remember and reflect on it’s meaning.
Except for the pecans, everything in this recipe is probably already in your cupboard. And if you can’t swing the pecans, use walnuts. They’re less expensive and work just as well.
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole pecans (we use walnuts)
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 3 egg whites
- pinch salt
- 1 cup sugar
- Plastic Ziploc Baggie
- Wooden spoon
- Rolling pin
- Tape
- Bible
Instruction
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. (Do this before doing anything else.)
- Place nuts in baggie and beat them with a 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
- Open the vinegar and let everyone smell it. Put 1 teaspoon into the mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, all He was given to drink was vinegar. 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
- Put a little salt into each person’s hand. Let them taste it, then brush the rest into the bowl. (If you have lots of kids, put a pinch of salt in yourself, and then let each child taste the salt…otherwise there will be too much salt in the recipe) 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. Sprinkle a little sugar into each person’s hand. Let them taste it, then brush the rest into the bowl. 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 mixer on high speed for 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents our purity in God’s eyes because our sins are cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18
- Fold in nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto cookie sheets lined with parchment paper. 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 THE OVEN OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door shut. Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66
- Now 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
- 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 third day, Jesus followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9
- Head off to church and the rest of your Easter celebrations, knowing that you have started the day as a family, remembering the reason you celebrate Easter.
What is your favorite Easter tradition? I’d love to hear it!
@ Plonkee- yes these are in fact meringues.
These are very clever. Does it really work? And what do they taste like? Are they like meringues?
Apparently I’m full of questions today.
I just sent this recipe to my youngest son’s godmother this morning before I read your post! We used this recipe with our older son when he was around 7 or 8 years old. It came home from his church faith formation class. He is a very sensitive child, and the whole thing was very emotionally wracking for him. He went to bed in tears, I’m sorry to say. Now that he’s older, I think I’ll try it again. For most children it probably wouldn’t upset them as it did my little man with the delicate heart, so I would definitely recommend this activity to other families. It would even be appropriate for middle schoolers and high schoolers.
Actually, these cookies are my favorite tradition. We started doing it two years ago, and I was surprised at the impact that it had on me as much as my kids. When we beat the nuts, I just shudder.
I have always wanted to make these cookies. I think this will be the year I finally do it! Thanks for posting the recipe.
Lynnae, we always do our “Easter” traditions and celebrations on Saturday, so that we can focus on Resurrection Sunday and the true meaning of the Holy Day on Sunday. This has really helped my daughters to understand the difference between Easter chicks and bunnies (and candy!) and the resurrection.
Julieanne
http://www.joyinourjourney.com/
WOW! I was just just just talking to a girlfriend about this recipe. It circulated a few years back in our Bible Study group but this year it seemed like no one could find it! Divine intervention and the power of prayerful thought is so powerful!
I have never heard this. Thanks for sharing.
This is incredible. I will definitely be doing this with my daughters this weekend. I’m going to post this on my blog and link back to you. Thank you so much for sharing.
I guess great minds think alike. I also did a post today that includes the Resurrection Cookies.
This is a really great way to teach kids that Easter is about so much more than just baskets, candy, eggs and bunnies.
Would you believe I was just thinking about and wanting to get that recipe? Thanks so much! My frugal Easter gift idea will be posted tomorrow.