EASTER STORY COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
• Place pecans in a zip lock bag, close the bag, and let the children beat the bag with a wooden spoon to break the pecans into small pieces.
• Explain to the children that after Jesus was arrested, the Roman soldiers beat him.
• Let the children smell the vinegar.
• Put the vinegar into a mixing bowl.
• Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink.
• Add egg whites to the vinegar.
• Eggs represent life.
• Explain that Jesus gave his life to give us life.
• Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hands.
• 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 sin.
• So far the ingredients aren't very appetizing.
• Add 1 cup sugar.
• Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us.
• He wants us to know and belong to him.
• Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until the stiff peaks form.
• Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sin have been cleansed by Jesus.
• Fold in Broken Nuts.
• Drop by teaspoons onto a cookie sheet covered with wax paper.
• Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.
• Put the cookie sheet in the oven and turn OFF.
• Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.
• Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.
• Go to bed.
• Explain to the children that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight.
• Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.
• 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.
• He has risen!
• Happy Easter Everyone!