This is a fun way to pull kids into the kitchen and share the Easter Story with them in a way that they will remember. The cookies get made in the evening and then sit in the oven overnight. It’s perfect to do the night before Easter, but any evening will work. Not only do they taste great, the Easter Story Cookies are for kids of all ages who want to focus on the significance of Easter.
Before I get to the instructions, let me share a few helpful hints.
There are quite a few Bible verses to read. I suggest looking these up and marking the places in the Bible before you gather the kids. You might even like to copy the verses on index cards and let one of the children read them. I found it took extra time to look in the small print of the Bible and I lost the kids’ attention while I looked for verses.
If you have time after making the cookies, or even on another day, have the kids draw the events in the Easter Story. Read through the verses again and let them illustrate the story, drawing pictures of the crown of thorns, cross, rocky tomb, etc.
One more tip – gather all your ingredients before you gather the kids. They will all want to crack the eggs, but the eggs need to be separated. Not an easy task for young ones. It’s easier to focus on the story if they only need to dump ingredients rather than measure them too. Save the cooking lessons for another time.
Easter Story Cookie Ingredients
- 1 cup whole pecans
- 1 tsp. vinegar
- 3 egg whites
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 cup sugar
- gallon size zip top bag
- wooden spoon
- tape
- Bible
1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.
2. Put the pecans in the plastic bag. Let the children take turns breaking them by beating with a wooden spoon. Don’t crush them finely, but leave in large pieces.
Explain that Jesus was arrested and beaten by the soldiers. Read John 19:1-3
3. Let the children smell the vinegar. Pour it in a mixing bowl.
Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, they gave him vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.
4. Pour the egg whites into the mixing bowl with the vinegar.
Explain that eggs represent life. Jesus gave his life so that we can have life. Read John 10:10-11.
5. Sprinkle salt into each child’s hand and let them taste it. Put a dash of salt in the mixing bowl.
Explain that salt represents the tears shed by Jesus’ disciples. It also represents the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.
6. Add 1 cup sugar to the mixing bowl.
Explain that this is the sweetest part of the story. Jesus died because he loves us. He wants us to know and belong to him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.
7. Beat the egg whites with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until it forms stiff peaks.
Explain that the white color 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 the broken nuts into the beaten egg whites. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheets.
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. Give each child a piece of tape and let them seal the oven door.
Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.
10. Go to bed!
Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven. Jesus’ followers were very sad when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.
11. On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Let them take a bite and show them that they are hollow inside!
On the first Easter morning Jesus’ followers were amazed to find his tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9.
He has risen!
This recipe can be found in many places on the internet. The note on my copy, which I printed in 1999 says that this is by Wanda Long and appeared in Home Life magazine. Here’s a post by Wanda Long’s daughter, telling more about the recipe.
Pin this picture for later …
I adore this recipe! What a wonderful,educational Easter activity that tells the real story behind Easter.
I LOVE this!!!!
Is there a way to do this without nuts? I have a little one that would love doing this but has an allergy to nuts.
I think it’s the nuts that help form the hollow place in the finished cookies. You could try it without them and see. Let me know if you do.
We are going to try them with pretzels (so we won’t be able to beat them very much) as one of my children has a very serious nut allergy. We will let you know how they turn out. Thank you for posting this recipe.
I work in a Catholic school that is a nut- fee school so kids with allergies can attend. I make these every year and in place of nuts I use M&Ms. It beautifully ties in the promise of God not to send another flood on the Earth with the promise of Resurrection because in the hollow tomb (cookie) the kids see the rainbow.
Great idea!
Ditto Nikki! I usually do the “grands biscuit & marshmallow” version with my children and my Sunday School kids. They love it! Thanks for the recipe & lesson to go along with it. I plan to try it this weekend!
Could you give me the grands biscuit and marshmellow version using this story?
Susan, here’s a link I found for the biscuit/marshmallow version.
I’m so excited that I already have all of these ingredients! We will definitely do this this weekend. I have never seen this recipe before. I think my kids will love it!
I used to do this with my kids when I was little and wanted to share it on my blog this morning, but couldn’t locate my recipe. So glad that you had posted it. I just linked right to your post!
Happy Easter — He is risen indeed!
Thank you so much for sharing! I am very excited to do this with my preschooler as he is just now starting to grasp the concept. What a great visual to go along with it!
He has risen!!!
Thanks so very much for this. I have linked to it on my blog post today. http://www.trainupthechild.org/2011/04/23/ideas-for-day-seven-of-passion-week/
Thank you! I want to try this with my boys 🙂
We did this with our son last year. Can’t wait to continue the tradition this year!! Such an awesome way to share the Easter story with little ones.
Thank you for the mention of my mom at the bottom of your post.
Bless you!
My grandkids loved these and they were called “Resurrection cookies” We didn’t put nuts in them either and they puffed fine.
How long would it take as I would like to do it in a class setting. Love the story but would not be able to do the overnight part. Only have an hour.
I’m not sure how long it takes in the oven, but more than an hour. Maybe you could have some ready for them?
I was thinking about having my Sunday school kids over on the evening of Good Friday and doing them and bringing them to Sunday school Sunday morning. Do you think they would be ok for 2 nights?
Yes, I think so.