Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Easter Craft Activity: Ressurection Cookies

Do something different this year with the children in your life. Instead of surprise Easter baskets and Easter egg hunts, try this Easter cooking activity. If you are a Sunday School teacher, get on the phone and corral your kids to join you in your home or at the church to make this Easter surprise. If you are a parent, this will be a great way for you to involve your children in the Easter story. Thanks to my friend and faithful blog fan Rhonda for sharing this with me.

RESSURECTION COOKIES
(To be made the evening before Easter)

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
Pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
Ziplock bag
Wooden spoon
Mixing bowl
Electric mixer
Wax paper
Cookie sheet
Tape
Bible
Your children

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place pecans in the 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 in 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 the 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 that the sweetness part of the 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)

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff 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 3:13)

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoon 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 into 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 & 22)

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow. Explain that on the first Easter Jesus’ followers were amazed to find that the tomb was open and empty. (Read Matthew 28:1-9)

Whatever you do with your children, be bold in sharing the Easter message with them. After all, Jesus’ resurrection is the greatest thing that has ever happened.

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