The following is an easter tradition to be made the night before easter morning. Add each ingredient followed by reading scripture to teach the children the “real reason” for celebrating Easter.

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. 1 cup whole pecans: Place in plastic baggie and allow child to beat with a wooden spoon, Set aside. Explain: After Jesus was arrested he was beaten by Roman Soldiers- John 19:1-3
3. 1 tsp. vinegar: Put into mixing bowl. Let child smell. Explain: While on the cross, Jesus was offered vinegar to drink instead of water- John 19:28-30.
4. 3 egg whites. Add to the vinegar. Represents Life. Explain: Jesus gave his life so we could have eternal life- John 10:10-11.
5. Pinch of Salt. Sprinkle a little in child’s hand and let them taste it. Explain: Represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’s followers and the bitterness of our own sins- Luke 23:27.
6. 1 cup sugar. Explain: Sweetest part of story is that Jesus died because he loves us he wants us to know and belong to him- Psalms 34:8 & John 3:16.
7. Beat ingredients with a hand mixer until stiff peaks form. Explain: the color white represents purity of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus- Isaiah 1:18 & John 3:1-3
8. Fold in nuts. Place 12 mounds of batter onto greased cookie sheet. Explain: The number 12 represents Jesus’ 12 disciples. Each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus was buried- Matthew 27:57-60.
9. Put in oven. Turn off oven. Allow child to place tape on oven door to “seal” it. Explain: Jesus’ tomb was sealed after he was buried- Matthew 27:65-66.
10. Go to bed. Explain: It is ok to be sad to leave cookies. Jesus’ followers were sad when the tomb was sealed- John 16:20-22.
11. Easter morning…Give everyone a cookie. The cookie is HOLLOW! Explain: On the first easter, the tomb was empty because Jesus’ had risen from the dead- Matthew 28:1-9.