Easter Tomb Cookies Help Teach Children About Jesus

Easter is a time for candy-filled baskets, dyed eggs, spiral sliced ham, family gatherings, and the celebration of springtime. Easter is also a time that Christians remember how Jesus sacrificed his life for our sins to be forgiven, and rejoice in his resurrection.

The day before Easter is a great time to teach children about their faith with the aid of a simple cookie recipe. The ingredients are simple, the cookies are delicious, and the lessons, invaluable. The EasterTomb Cookie recipe has been passed through generations, altered by time and interpretation, but has proven to be a memorable event for parents and children alike.

Before you begin your Easter Tomb Cookie journey, be sure you have a Bible handy. Each step of the cookie making process has a corresponding verse to be read and then, discussed. This is a unique learning experience to help your children understand the religious significant of the Easter holiday season and one they'll continue to pass down through generations.

Ideally, Easter Tomb Cookies are created on the evening prior to Easter morning, an hour or two prior to bedtime.

EASTER TOMB COOKIES

Ingredients:

1 Tsp. Vinegar

Salt

1 Cup of Sugar

3 Egg Whites

1 Cup of Whole Pecans

Baking Items:

Medium Mixing Bowl

Wooden Mixing Spoon(s)

Electric Mixer

Cookie Sheet

Measuring cups

Measuring spoons

Wax Paper

Plastic Baggie(s)

Package Tape (or Duct Tape)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Place pecans in a plastic baggie and seal. Using a wooden spoon, have your child(ren) beat the spoon against the baggie to break the pecans into small pieces.

Explain that after Jesus was arrested, he was beaten by the Roman Soldiers. Read John 19:1-3. Discuss with children the significant and meaning of the passage.

Open vinegar bottle. Allow your child(ren) to smell the vinegar. Measure a teaspoon of vinegar and pour into a medium-sized mixing bowl.

Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, he was given only vinegar to drink, not water. Read John 19:28-30. Discuss with children the significace and meaning of the passage.

Separate three egg whites. Add egg whites to mixing bowl.

Explain that the eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave his life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11. Discuss with children the significance and meaning of the passage.

Shake or sprinkle a small amount of salt into your child(ren)'s hand. Let them take a taste of the salt, then brush the rest into the mixing bowl.

Explain that the salt represents the tears shed by Jesus' followers and that it also represents the bitterness of our own sins. Read Luke 23:27. Discuss with children the significance and meaning of the passage.

Add one cup of sugar to the mixing bowl.

Explain that the sugar represents the sweetest part of the story: Jesus died for our sins because He loves us. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16. Discuss with children the significance and meanings of the passages.

Using an electric mixer beat the mixture until stiff peaks are formed.

Explain that the white color of the cookie "batter" represents the purity. Explain that in God's eyes we are pure because our sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3. Discuss with children the significance and meanings of the passages.

Open baggie containing the crushed pecans. Pour pecans into mixing bowl and gently fold into mixture.

Line a cookie sheet with wax paper. Drop tablespoon fulls of cookie mixture onto the waxed paper, approximately one inch apart.

Explain that each mound of cookie "dough" represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was placed. Read Matthew 27:57-60. Discuss with children the significance and meaning of the passage.

Place the cookie sheet in the preheated oven. Close oven door. Turn the oven off. Have your child(ren) tape around the oven door to "seal" it.

Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66. Discuss with children the significance and meaning of the passage.

Have children prepare for bedtime.

Explain that leaving the cookies in the overnight may be hard to do, or they may feel sad in doing so, just as Jesus' followers were sad when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20. Discuss with children the significance and meaning of the passage.

The next day, ideally on Easter morning, have your child(ren) remove the tape from the oven door. Open the oven and remove the cookies. Give a cookie to your child(ren) and have them take a bite.

Notice that the cookies are hollow. Explain that just as they are surprised to find the cookies are hollow, on the first Easter, Jesus' followers were very surprised to find Jesus' tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9. Discuss with children the significance and meaning of the passage.

Continue to discuss the significance and meaning of the Easter holiday while enjoying the rest of the Tomb Cookies. Have the children share their cookies with relatives and friends, encouraging them to also share what they learned while making them.