Easter Story Cookies

My mother-in-law sent this to me and I thought it was a wonderful idea and wanted to try it. And now I want to share it with you! This is a great thing to do as a family, or even with a class.

Easter Story Cookie
To be made the evening before Easter
You need:
1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp. Vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible

* Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important-don't wait until you're half done with the recipe).

* Place pecans in zipper baggie and 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. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30. (I actually put a little on my finger for them to taste, and then next year I'll just have them smell it, but I wanted them to really grasp what Jesus was given).

*Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us eternal 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 Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16. (I had the kids taste a little sugar too. By then they weren't very trusting to what I wanted them to try-in fact Devin refused!)

*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. (We found out that 12-15 minutes is a long time in a child's eyes, so we also explained that it took a long time for Jesus to actually die on the cross).

*Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matt 27:57-60 (I needed 2 cookie sheets).

*Put the cookie sheet(s) 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 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 first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matt. 28:1-9

As you can see, and guess from the ingredients that this is basically meringue. They didn't come out very "hollow" on the inside, but they were certainly light and airy. (Some were really hollow in places and actually caved in when we tried to pick them up). We also saw how many cookies were made, and for our family will probably half the recipe next year. I think the recipe as is yields about 2 dozen cookies, give or take a few. They are really sweet, and not necessarily ones we would eat very many of. I'm very glad we did this and will be making this a family tradition every year. Right now the kids are young and just excited to help make something that they weren't necessarily listening to the Bible verses...but I know that Aiden was grasping the messages. I hope that over time they will really listen and understand all that our Lord and Savior did for us. Happy Easter everyone!