Easter Story or Resurrection "Cookies" (Soy, Wheat, Milk and Fish-Free, Can Be Nut-Free)





Made with Enjoy Life Mini Chocolate Chips and Pecans

Being a Christian, I have been wanting to come up with a fun, visual way to share the true meaning of Easter with my kiddos.  Sure, we talk about it, they hear it at church, but I am a very visual person in a lot of ways, and so are my kids.  I wanted them to have an activity to DO that would help cement what Christ did for us in their minds.  When I saw the recipe for these on jdaniel4smom.com (and here, too), I knew I just had to make them, and when I saw how allergy friendly they were, I knew I had to pass them along to you! :)

These "cookies" are really meringues, and they are soy (if you use all soy-free ingredients), wheat, milk and fish-free, and can be nut-free (see variations).  They are a lot of fun to make, very simple and quite tasty!  I hope they will become a part of your Easter traditions, as they have ours.

Note: These "cookies" are meant to be made the night before Easter, but you can certainly do them at any time before.  You can also just make them as meringues for a special treat whenever, too, and not incorporate the story/Bible verses. :)

Just out of the oven

Easter Story or Resurrection "Cookies"



 1 Cup whole pecans

1 teaspoon white vinegar

3 egg whites

pinch of salt

1 Cup of white sugar

1. Preheat your oven to 300^oF.  Do this before you go any further, because you will be turning the oven off to finish the recipe, so it needs to be to temp!

2. Place the pecans into a zipper bag and let your child(ren) beat them with a wooden spoon or rolling pin to break into small pieces.  While they are doing so, explain to them that, after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.  Read John 19:1-3.  Set the pecans aside for later use.

3. Let each child smell the vinegar before pouring it into the mixing bowl.  Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink.  Read John 19:28-30.

4. Add the egg whites to the vinegar.  Explain to your child(ren) that eggs represent life, and that Jesus gave His life to give us life.  Read John 10:10-11.

5.  Place a pinch of salt into the bowl before sprinkling a little salt into each child's hand and letting them taste it.  Explain that salt represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers and the bitterness of our own sins.  Read Luke 23:27.

6. So far the ingredients are not very appetizing.  Add 1 Cup of sugar to the mixture while beating.  Explain that 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. (For more information on this, go here.)

7.  Beat the mixture with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until the mixture turns white and stiff peaks are formed.  Explain that the color white represents purity in God's eyes.  When He looks at those of us who have asked Christ to be their Savior, He sees that our sins have been cleansed, and we are white as snow.  Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

8. Fold in the broken nuts and drop by teaspoons onto a waxed paper covered cookie sheet.  Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.  Read Matthew 27:57-60.

9. 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.

10. Go to bed if you are doing this in the evening or leave the cookies in the oven for 8 to 12 hours.  Explain to your child(ren) that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight/all day.  Jesus' followers were also in despair when the tomb was sealed and they had to leave Him there. Read John 16:20 and 22.

11. On Easter morning (or later in the day or whenever 8 to 12 hours later is), open the oven and give everyone a cookie.  Notice the cracked surface before taking 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. 

Makes 12 to 24 cookies, depending on size.

Variations (Please keep you individual allergen needs in mind when using substitutions, thank you!):

• Nut-Free: Substitute chocolate chips for the nuts.  To keep the recipe milk-free, use a dairy-free chocolate like Enjoy Life.
   
• You can use both pecans and chocolate chips, too, if you like.

Aren't they just too cute?!?!
They look like white rocks, which is so appropriate since they represent the tomb!

What a great way to share the Easter Story, right? I thought it was amazing and moving (Yes, I got teared up over cookies!), and we will definitely be doing this again and encouraging parents interested in sharing the true meaning of Easter with their kids in a fun, visual way to try this! :)

Have an amazing Easter, all!

(This recipe was originally posted on my original site, Natural and Free.)