Details about the Easter Story Cookies:

(To be made the night before Easter, a great teaching tool.)

1 cup whole pecans
1 teaspoon vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon or wooden rolling pin
tape
Bible

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important, don't wait until you're done with the recipe!)

2. Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the 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.

3. Put 1 teaspoon vinegar into mixing bowl, and let children smell how unpleasant it is. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

4. Add egg whites to vinegar. Explain that eggs represent new life, and Jesus gave His life to give us life Read John 10:10-11

5. 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

6. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that so far the ingredients are not very appetizing, but the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know Him, love Him, and belong to Him. Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.

7. Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 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 3:1-3

8. Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto wax 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 in the oven; close the door, and TURN THE OVEN OFF!

10. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66

11. 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 and 22

12. On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take 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