Video Tutorial: Resurrection Cookies

VLOG: Resurrection Cookies from Lindsey Stomberg on Vimeo.

"Resurrection Cookies" is a recipe to make a meringue type cookie into an object lesson in describing the death and resurrection of Christ.  Easter is right around the corner, and since Christ's salvation story is the complete meaning of why we celebrate Easter, this is a great time to be trying this object lesson out on my girls.

I cannot take credit for this idea.  It is all over Pinterest.  That is where I first got the idea.  My girls are very young and do not quite have enough Bible knowledge yet to truly understand the meaning of Easter.  We do not practice the Easter bunny and egg hunts since we feel like it is rooted in pagan practices and only serves to divert our attention away from the true meaning of Easter.  We try to focus on Christ's death and resurrection fully when this treasured holiday roles around every year.  This year, since my girls are getting older - Hadassah is three-and-a-half years old and Zehava is two-and-a-half years old - I wanted to take advantage of the couple of weeks before Easter to really get the Gospel story on their minds and in their hearts.  This is my first attempt.  Please join us and enjoy your own "Resurrection Cookies!"  These yummy cookies are a great way to share with your children ... "Taste and See that the LORD is GOOD!"

*WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

• 1 cup of nuts (almonds or pecans)
• Plastic baggie
• Wooden spoon
• 1 teaspoon of distilled white vinegar
• Pinch of salt
• 3 egg whites
• 1 cup of sugar
• Electric mixer
• Bible
• Tape that will not leave a sticky residue

 *How to Proceed

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees before you begin.  
2. Pour the 1 cup of nuts in baggie and beat with wooden spoon in order to break into small pieces.  Read John 19:1-3.  Explain that Jesus was arrested and taken to jail.  Those who arrested Him beat Him even though He did not deserve it.
3. Hold the bottle of distilled white vinegar up for each child to smell it.  Talk about the stench and ask if they would like a taste.  Read John 19:28-30.  Explain that Jesus was thirsty on the cross and instead of giving Him water to drink, the soldiers gave Him sour wine to drink, like vinegar.
4. Add 3 egg whites to mixing bowl.  Read John 10:10-11.  Explain that Eggs represent life and that Jesus gave His life to give us life.
5. Sprinkle a little salt in each child's hand.  Have them taste the salt and brush the rest into the bowl.  Read Luke 23-27.  Explain that the salt represents the salty tears that not only the disciples shed, but that we shed too.  The disciples cried over the loss of Jesus when He died.  We cry over the realization that our sins put Christ on the cross - He died for us and bore the wrath of God that we so greatly deserved.
6. So far the ingredients have been salty and bitter - not very tasty.  Add 1 cup of sugar to the bowl.  Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.  Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Christ died on the cross for our sins.  He loved us so much that He gave His life for us.  He wants us to love Him too and to follow Him so that we might be in Heaven with Him one day.
7. Beat watery mixture on high for 10-15 minutes until stiff peaks form.  The watery mixture will turn white.  Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.  Explain that the color white represents how God washes us white as snow.  When we trust Him, and He saves us, he takes all of our sin away and makes us a new person.  It is as if we lived in darkness and then we live in the light!
8. Mix in nuts.  Drop mixture by the spoonful onto wax paper covered cookie sheets.  Read Matthew 27:57-60.  Explain that the mounded mixture represents the rocky tomb where Christ was laid after He died on the cross.  You might have to explain what a tomb is here depending on the age range.
9. Put cookie sheet in the oven and close the door.  Turn the oven off.  Read Matthew 27:65-66.  Have each child take a piece of tape and put it on the oven door to "seal" it.  Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed and that no one could enter it.  
10. Read John 16:20;22.  Explain that the children might be sad that they must leave the cookies for a while, but that it doesn't compare to how sad the disciples were when they thought that Jesus was gone forever.  
11. GO TO BED
12. In the morning, remove the seal on the oven and remove the cookies.  Point out the cracked surface of the cookie and as you take a bite notice that the cookies are hollow!  Read Matthew 28:1-9.  Explain that three days after Christ died, the disciples went to His tomb and the tomb was not only opened but it was empty.  Explain that Christ now lives at the right hand of the Father in Heaven and that when He left He didn't leave us alone.  He sent His Holy Spirit to reside in those that follow Him. The Holy Spirit lives in those who have faith in Christ and ensures that they live in obedience to God and secures them a place in Heaven with Jesus. 

Thank you for making Resurrection Cookies with us!  This is such a wonderful time to share salvation with our children in an extra special way.  I hope you have as much fun as we did!  God bless you and keep you - and may you remember this Easter the love that Christ had for us.  He did for us what we could never do for ourselves.  We did not deserve, and oh how we should be thankful for it!  Happy Easter! 

CREDITS:

***Material taken from www.sundayschoolnetwork.com

My Compliments to the Little Chefs -- the cookies were really yummy!

        Hadassah                                                       Zehava