My cousin recently sent me the recipe for these cookies and I was immediately inspired to make them this year with my boys! Although the magnitude of Christ's sacrifice on the Cross extends exponentially beyond just baking these simple cookies, it still is a practical way to help teach our children about the Truth and focus behind Easter Sunday, Christ's death and resurrection! And while we understand that it is only God who can call us to His saving grace, we also know that he uses means. In the words of Noel Piper in her book, Treasuring God In Our Traditions, "He uses God-centered traditions and Bible-saturated family patterns and grace-laden heirlooms. Only God can give our children a taste for the sweetness of God. Only God can awaken them to his worth. But year in and year out there are traditions that show them: God is our Treasure. "
INGREDIENTS:1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
Pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
Ziploc bag
Wooden spoon
Tape
Bible
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important-don't wait until you're half done). Place pecans in ziploc bag and let 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. of vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirty on the cross He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30
Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that 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 sugar. Explain the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us and He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16
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 Matthew 27:57-60
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 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 open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9
Pray together as a family thanking God for the perfect Lamb
Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. of vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirty on the cross He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30
Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that 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 sugar. Explain the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us and He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16
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 Matthew 27:57-60
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 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 open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9
Pray together as a family thanking God for the perfect Lamb
4 comments:
Who would've thought a cookie could truly make you cry. I love this Sarah. I can't wait to have kids to share this with. It's very creative and easy to understand. Off the bigger subject- how do the cookies taste?
What a beautiful story and great idea for an wonderful and very special Easter tradition! I don't think Xander's old enough yet, but it'd be fun tradition to do when he's a tad older : )
Wow Sarah. You're a marvel with words. I love your introduction to these cookies! My older 3 got to make these cookies in the "lamb" department at our church in Dallas. I had forgotten about them, and need to do these with Chloe! (I think the other kids will enjoy them again!)
I just realized your version is different. The one my kids used to do involved marshmallows put in the center, and the marshmallow would be gone (melted) in the morning.
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