Easter Cookie Recipe

I came across this Easter cookie recipe in my MOPS cookbook. What a great way to explain the love of Jesus and His resurrection to your kids while spending some great quality time together. ENJOY!

Make the evening before Easter.

YOU WILL NEED TO PREHEAT OVEN TO 300 (THIS IS IMPORTANT-DO NOT WAIT UNTIL YOU'RE HALF WAY DONE WITH THE RECIPE)!

1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1 cup sugar
zipper baggie
wooded spoon
tape
Bible

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let the kids beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces.
Explain that after Jesus arrested He was beaten by Roman soldiers.
Read John 19: 1-3

Let each child smell the vinegar.
Put 1 tsp. 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 the vinegar.
Eggs represent life.
Explain the 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 of sugar.
Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He love us.
He wants us to know and belong to Him.
Read Psalm 34: 8 and John 3: 16

Beat ingredients with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.
Explain that the color white represents - in God's eyes - the purity of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.
Read Isaiah 1 : 18 and John 3: 1-3

Fold in the 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 Matthew 27: 65-66

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 the Jesus' tomb was sealed.
Read Matthew 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 Matthew 28: 1-9