Dear PDS parents,

During Holy Week, I hope you can take advantage of this extra family time and give thanks together for the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus gave for each of us. If you are like me, I can’t wait for my “normal” routine to return. However, I am trying to think of this time together as a family as a gift.

When my family was younger, we always made Easter Cookies on the night before Easter. My kids looked forward to this event every year and were amazed at the results all through preschool and elementary school. I imagine this recipe is floating around the internet, but I am sharing the version that came home in my oldest’s backpack when she was in pre-kindergarten 18 years ago.

Easter Story Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup whole pecans
• 3 egg whites
• 1 cup sugar
• Wooden spoon
• Bible
• 1 tsp. vinegar
• Pinch of salt
• Zip-top bag
• Tape

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Be certain to do this step first.

Place pecans in a zip-top bag and let your son beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, the Roman soldiers beat him.

Read John 19:1–3

Let your son smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into a small mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, he was given vinegar to drink.

Read John 19:28–30

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.

Read John 10:10–11

Sprinkle a little salt into your son’s hand. Let him taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ follower, and the bitterness of our own sin.

Read Luke 23:27

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves. He wants us to know and belong to Him.

Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 10–12 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

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoon onto wax or parchment paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid.

Read Matthew 27:57–60

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door, and turn the oven OFF. Give your son a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed.

Read John 16:20 and 22

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