Here's a great way to teach the Easter story using this simple baking project. It would be fun to assign older students the job of copying the scripture verses on paper strips to put inside plastic eggs in a cute Easter basket in advance of the baking project. The eggs with scripture should be numbered to correspond with the directions below. Alternatively, you could mark your Bible in advance with numbered strips of construction paper corresponding to the directions; younger children can take turns finding the correct Bible marker, and readers can take turn reading scripture selections aloud.
This recipe was originally written by Wanda Long and published in Home Life Magazine. Be sure to follow the directions carefully.
Easter Story Cookies
Ingredients:
1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1 cup sugar
baggie with zipper
wooden spoon
wax paper
cookie sheet
tape
Bible
optional: plastic Easter eggs, paper strips, Easter basket
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees before you start.
2. Place whole pecans in baggie and allow children to beat them with wooden spoon to crush. Read John 19:1-3 and discuss how the soldiers treated Jesus when he was arrested.
3. Let each child smell the vinegar. Add vinegar to mixing bowl. Explain how Jesus was thirsty on the cross but was given only vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.
4. Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.
5. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand, and ask them to brush it into the bowl. Give them an extra pinch to taste. Explain that it represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.
6. So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar to the bowl. Explain that the sweetest part of the Easter 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.
7. Beat mixture with mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks form. Explain that the white color of the peaks 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.
8. Fold in broken nuts.
9. Drop batter by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheets. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60.
10. Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door, and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a pice of tape and seal the oven door. Explain the Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.
11. 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.
12. The next 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 morning, Jesus' followers were amazed to find Jesus' tomb open and empty! Read Matthew 28:1-9.
He Has Risen!
Easter Blessings,
Mrs. Sherry
