Easter Cookies - A Family Project

This is a family project and is to be made the evening before Easter. (I like to call it Resurrection Day.)

What you need:
1 c. whole pecans
3 egg whites
1 c. sugar
1 tsp. vinegar
pinch salt
mixing bowl
mixer
wooden spoon
zipper baggie
wax paper
cookie sheet
tape
Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. (This is important. Do not wait until you are half done with this recipe.)

Place pecans in the zipper baggie and let the children 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

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 vinegar. Eggs represents life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.
Read John 10:10-11

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hands. 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 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 loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.
Read Psalms 34:8 and John 3:1-3

Beat with mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until 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 Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3

Fold in the broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto a wax paper covered cookie sheet. 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 and turn it OFF.
Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.
Explain that 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 empty!
Read Matthew 28:1-9

** I got this recipe as a handout years ago and I kept it. I do not know it's origin. I haven't tried it yet because of my kids' age and the busy-ness of Easter Sunday. This Easter, I am going to try it and allow for enough time in the morning BEFORE church to experience the hollow cookies. If you try this activity, please write back and tell me how it went. I would love to hear from you.

Happy Easter planning and cooking!