Easter Story Cookies

This is what our family will be making Saturday night before bed.  I thought it would be a great way for the kids to learn about the events of Easter.  They ask me every year why we celebrate it, maybe this will help them remember.

EASTER STORY COOKIES
To be made the evening before Easter...

You need:
1 cup whole pecans or pecan halves
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch of salt
1 cup sugar

extras:
ziploc baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (IMPORTANT:  Don't wait til you are halfway through the recipe)

Place pecans in baggie and let kids beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces.

Explain that Jesus was beaten by the Roman soldiers after He was arrested.  Read John 19:1-3

Have each child smell the vinegar.  Put 1 tsp into mixing bowl.  Tell the children 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.  Jesus gave His life to give us life.  Read John 10:10-11

Let children taste a tiny bit of salt and add a pinch to the bowl.  Salt represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.  Read Luke 23:27

The ingredients up to this point are not very appetizing.  Add 1 cup sugar and explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus dies because He loves us.  He wants us to know Him.  Read Psalms 34:8 and John 3:16

Beat with a mixer on hight speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks form.  Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those who have repented and whose sins are cleansed through repentance and the Atonement.  Read Isaiah 2:18 and John 3:1-3

Fold in broken nuts gently.  Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. 

Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.  Read Matthew 27:57-60

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF!  Let each child place a piece of tape on the oven to seal it.  Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.  Matthew 27:65-66

GO TO BED!!  Explain that they may be sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight.  Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.  Read John 16:20, 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 opened and empty.  Read Matthew 28:1-9


So now I want to know, does your family have any Easter traditions?  Spiritual or fun... doesn't matter.  We love trying out new ideas.