Share the Easter story with others through this simple cookie recipe.
Taken from Destitute Gourmet – More Stunning Food from Small Change cook book by Sophie Gray
The recipe is more about the story of Easter than about the biscuits themselves. It tells the story of Easter in a very moving series of processes accompanied by Bible references. It is intended to be done with children, so create a memory with the kids this Easter and make these Easter story cookies.
Make the night before Easter Sunday.
What you will need
1 cup pecan halves 1 zip lock bag
1 tsp vinegar 3 egg whites
Pinch of salt 1 cup of sugar
Wax paper Wooden spoon
Mixer Tape
Preheat oven to 150 Degrees C
Place the pecan nuts in the zip-lock bag. Have children beat the bag with a wooden spoon to break the pecans into pieces. Explain that after Jesus’ arrest, the Roman soldiers beat him.
Read John 19:1-3 “Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.”
Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp into the bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty, he was given vinegar to drink
Read John 19:28-30 “After this, Jesus knew that everything had been done. To make the Scripture come true, he said, “I am thirsty.” There was a jar full of vinegar there, so the soldiers soaked a sponge in it. Then they put the sponge on a branch of a hyssop plant and lifted it to Jesus’ mouth. Jesus tasted the vinegar. Then he said, “It is finished.” He bowed his head and died.”
Add the egg whites. Eggs represent life. Jesus gave his life to give us life.
Read John 10:10-11 “A thief comes to steal and kill and destroy. But I came to give life—life in all its fullness. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.”
Sprinkle salt into each child’s hand. Let them taste it. Put a pinch in the bowl. Explain that the salt represents the tears that Jesus’ followers shed, and also the bitterness of our sins.
Read Luke 23:27 “A large crowd of people was following Jesus. Some of the women were sad and crying.”
Right now the mixture is not very appetizing. Add the sugar, and explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us and wants us to know and belong to him.
Read Psalm 34:8, & John 3:1-6. “Examine and see how good the Lord is.” “There was a man named Nicodemus who was one of the Pharisees. He was an important Jewish leader. One night Nicodemus came to Jesus. He said, “Teacher, we know that you are a teacher sent from God. No one can do the miracles you do, unless God is with him.” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth. Unless you are born again, you cannot be in God’s kingdom.” Nicodemus said, “But if a man is already old, how can he be born again? He cannot enter his mother’s body again. So how can he be born a second time?” But Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth. Unless you are born from water and the Spirit, you cannot enter God’s kingdom. A person’s body is born from his human parents. But a person’s spiritual life is born from the Spirit. Happy is the person who trusts the Lord.”
Beat with a cake mixer on high for 12-15 minutes until soft peaks form. Explain that white represents the purity in God’s eyes of those who have been cleansed by Jesus’ death.
Read John 3:1-3 “There was a man named Nicodemus who was one of the Pharisees. He was an important Jewish leader. One night Nicodemus came to Jesus. He said, “Teacher, we know that you are a teacher sent from God. No one can do the miracles you do, unless God is with him.” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth. Unless you are born again, you cannot be in God’s kingdom.””
Fold in the broken nuts. Drop by teaspoonfuls into a baking tray. Explain that each mound looks like the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid.
Read Matthew 27:57-60 “That evening a rich man named Joseph came to Jerusalem. He was a follower of Jesus from the town of Arimathea. Joseph went to Pilate and asked to have Jesus’ body. Pilate gave orders for the soldiers to give it to Joseph. Then Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth. He put Jesus’ body in a new tomb that he had cut in a wall of rock. He rolled a very large stone to block the entrance of the tomb. Then Joseph went away.”
Put the tray in oven and close the door. Turn the oven OFF.
Let each child put a piece of tape on the oven door. Explain that the tomb was sealed
Read Matthew 27:65-66 “Pilate said, “Take some soldiers and go guard the tomb the best way you know.” So they all went to the tomb and made it safe from thieves. They did this by sealing the stone in the entrance and then putting soldiers there to guard it.”
Go to bed. Explain that while your children are sad to leave the cookies, Jesus’ followers were devastated when the tomb was sealed.
On Easter morning open the oven. Eat a cookie (they are hollow inside), Observe that the cookies are empty inside just like the tomb was empty on that first Easter morning.
Read Matthew 28:1-9 “The day after the Sabbath day was the first day of the week. At dawn on the first day, Mary Magdalene and another woman named Mary went to look at the tomb. At that time there was a strong earthquake. An angel of the Lord came down from heaven. The angel went to the tomb and rolled the stone away from the entrance. Then he sat on the stone. He was shining as bright as lightning. His clothes were white as snow. The soldiers guarding the tomb were very frightened of the angel. They shook with fear and then became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid. I know that you are looking for Jesus, the one who was killed on the cross. But he is not here. He has risen from death as he said he would. Come and see the place where his body was. And go quickly and tell his followers. Say to them: ‘Jesus has risen from death. He is going into Galilee. He will be there before you. You will see him there.’” Then the angel said, “Now I have told you.” The women left the tomb quickly. They were afraid, but they were also very happy. They ran to tell Jesus’ followers what had happened. Suddenly, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings.” The women came up to Jesus, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.”
By Jo Cotton
