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    You Are Here Home » Easter Recipes

    Published: Apr 8, 2020 Updated: Apr 1, 2022 by Hilda Sterner | This post may contain affiliate links Leave a Comment

    Empty Tomb Resurrection Cookies

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    the tomb is empty cookies pine

    Create lasting Easter memories with the Empty Tomb Resurrection Cookies recipe. This easy and interactive meringue cookie recipe really brings the Easter story to life! Then keep the Easter traditions going by making beautiful naturally dyed Easter eggs.

    resurrection cookies on a green plate

    Resurrection Cookies Recipe

    Resurrection Cookies have been around for years and are known by many names including Jesus Cookies, Easter story cookies, and He is risen cookies.

    These cookies were a part of our Easter traditions when my kids were little. The recipe was sent home with the kids from church one year.

    This recipe allows you to teach your children not only the true meaning of Easter but also the hope it gives us. And no, I'm not referring to the Easter bunny, I'm talking about the good news of Jesus' resurrection!

    As you read the suggested Bible verses (or tell the story in your own words), the kids interact by pounding the nuts, tasting the ingredients, and learning why we celebrate Easter!

    This recipe is meant to be prepared on the night before Easter. The oven is turned off and sealed with tape overnight. The kids get to anticipate unsealing the oven in the morning and tasting the cookies. The best part? The cookies will be empty, like Jesus' tomb!

    I'm also including a printable Resurrection Cookies PDF at the bottom of this post for easy printing.

    Jump to:
    • Resurrection Cookies Recipe
    • 🛒What You Need For This Recipe
    • 🔖Ingredient & Substitutions
    • 🍪How to Make Resurrection Cookies
    • 👩🏼‍🍳Pro Tips
    • 🥚Related Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    🛒What You Need For This Recipe

    resurrection cookie recipe ingredients, labeled

    🔖Ingredient & Substitutions

    • Egg Whites — Room temperature egg whites whip up better than cold egg whites, so be sure to remove your eggs from the refrigerator a few hours before starting on the recipe.
    • Cardamom — Cardamom is not traditionally part of this recipe, but since it's my favorite spice, I not only managed to sneak it in but also found a Bible verse to justify adding it!

    🍪How to Make Resurrection Cookies

    Preheat oven to 300-degrees F.

    Step 1: Place whole pecans or walnuts into the ziplock bag. Have your child/children beat the bag with a wooden rolling pin or wooden spoon to break the nuts into small pieces. 

    bag of walnuts being pounded by rolling pin
    crushed walnuts in a ziplock bag

    Beating the nuts represents how Jesus was beaten by the Roman soldiers after He was arrested. Read John 19: 1-3

    Step2: Let the children smell and taste the vinegar, then pour the vinegar into a mixing bowl. 

    Explain that when Jesus was on the cross He asked for a drink because he was thirsty. A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. Read John 19: 28-30)

    Step 3: Add the egg whites to the mixing bowl. 

    egg whites in a bowl

    Relay that the eggs represent life. Jesus gave up His life so that we could have eternal life. Read John 10:10-11

    Step 4: Add a pinch of salt to the bowl. 

    salt being added to mixing bowl

    Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand and allow them to taste it. The salt represents the salty tears that were shed by Jesus’ followers and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27

    Step 5: Finally, add the sugar and cardamom to the bowl. 

    sugar being added to a mixing bowl
    cardamom added to a mixing bowl

    The sugar in the cookies represents the sweetest part of the story: Jesus died to save us. Read John 3:16

    The cardamom represents the spices that were prepared for his burial. Read Luke 23:55-56

    Step 6: Beat the mixer on high speed for approximately 15 minutes, or until stiff peaks form. 

    whipping egg whites in mixing bowl
    stiff egg whites in a mixing bowl

    Explain that the color white represents purity. In God's eyes, our sins have been cleansed by Jesus and we are seen as white as snow. Read Isaiah 1:18

    Step 7: Fold the nuts into the egg whites. 

    merengue with nuts in a bowl
    folding nuts into merengue
    merengue in a silver bowl

    Step 8: Drop tablespoon-sized portions onto two cookie sheets lined with parchment paper or silicone mats. 

    spooning resurrection cookies on a tray
    the tomb is empty cookies on a cookie sheet
    the tomb is empty cookies on a baking sheet

    Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60

    Step 9: Put the cookie sheets into the oven, close the door, and turn the oven OFF. 

    oven door
    the tomb is empty resurrection cookie on cookie sheets
    oven door sealed with tape

    Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed and guarded by Roman soldiers. Read Matthew 27:65-66

    When the kids and I prepared this recipe, I recall having them dress as "guards." With their blankets tied around their necks like capes and brooms in hand, they stood on each side of the oven to guard the oven, I mean tomb. 😬

    Tell the children it's time for bed. Acknowledge that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Remind them that Jesus’ followers were also sad and in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22

    Step 10: On Easter morning, have the kids unseal the oven and take a Resurrection Cookie each. Point out the cracked surface of the cookies and take a bite. Surprise, the tomb cookies are hollow! 

    the tomb is empty cookies on a cookie sheet
    the tomb is empty cookies on a green plate

    Explain that on the first Easter Jesus’ followers were amazed to find that the stone was rolled away and the tomb was empty! Jesus is risen!!! Read Matthew 28:1-9

    resurrection cookies on a green plate with more in the background
    Empty Tomb Resurrection Cookies

    👩🏼‍🍳Pro Tips

    • Since cardamom is not in the original recipe, feel free to leave it out, along with those specific verses.
    • The original recipe had pecans, but I prefer walnuts. Use either or a combination of the two.
    • If you or your child has allergies to nuts, you can skip acting out that part and just read the verse (or use your own words to tell the story). You can also try using a few Heath bars instead, although I haven't tried this myself.
    • If you're short on time, you don't have to wait overnight. The cookies are actually ready a lot sooner. The cookies should be ready after they've been in the oven for around 1 to 1-½ hours.

    If you prefer, you can use the resurrection cookies recipe pdf printable instead. Just click on the link below to do so!

    Resurrection Cookies Printable

    🥚Related Recipes

    • colorful Easter eggs
      Dying Easter Eggs With Onion Skins
    • kileche under a Christmas tree
      Kileche | Kleicha (Assyrian Holiday Cookies)
    • a slice of carrot cake on a white plate
      Carrot Cake with Pineapple
    • cadbury egg cookies on blue plastic nesting material
      Cadbury Mini Egg Cookies

    Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.

    Stay in touch with me through social media @ Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Facebook. Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

    📖 Recipe

    resurrection cookies on a green plate

    Empty Tomb Resurrection Cookies

    Hollow Cookies that tell the story of Easter and the Empty Tomb
    5 from 45 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 8 hours
    Total Time: 8 hours 20 minutes
    Servings: 30 cookies
    Calories: 53kcal
    Author: Hilda Sterner

    Equipment

    • 1 large Ziploc Bag
    • Rolling Pin
    • Bible
    • Tape

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup walnuts (or pecans)
    • 1 teaspoon vinegar
    • 3 egg whites
    • 1 pinch salt
    • 1 cup sugar
    • ½ teaspoon cardamom (optional)

    Instructions

    Bible Verses and Printable Resurrection Cookies PDF are in the post

      Preheat oven to 300-degrees F.

      • Place walnuts or pecans in the ziplock bag. Have your child/children beat the bag with a wooden rolling pin to break the nuts into pieces. 
      • Let the children smell and taste the vinegar, then pour the vinegar into a mixing bowl. 
      • Add the egg whites to the mixing bowl.
      • Add a pinch of salt to the bowl.
      • Finally, add the sugar and cardamom to the bowl.
      • Beat the bowl ingredients on high speed for approximately 15 minutes, or until stiff peaks form.  
      • Fold the nuts into the egg whites.
      • Drop tablespoon-sized mounds onto two cookie sheets lined with parchment paper or silicone mats.
      • Put the cookie sheets into the oven, close the door, and turn the oven OFF.
      • On Easter morning, have the kids unseal the oven and take a cookie. Point out the cracked surface and take a bite. Surprise, the cookies are hollow! Jesus is risen!!!  

      Notes

      • Cardamom is not in the original recipe, but I really wanted to add it. Luckily, I know my Bible and found these verses that mention spices (Luke 23:55-56) to sneak cardamom into the recipe. Feel free to leave it out, along with those specific verses.
      • The original recipe had pecans, but I prefer walnuts. Use either or a combination of the two.
      • If you or your child has allergies to nuts, you can skip acting out that part and just read the verse (or use your own words to tell the story). You can also try using a few Heath bars instead, although I haven't tried this myself.
      • If you're short on time, you don't have to wait overnight. The cookies are actually ready a lot sooner. The cookies should be ready after they've been in the oven for around 1 to 1-½ hours.

      Nutrition

      Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 53kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 22mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg
      Tried this Recipe? Please leave A Star Rating!Mention @HildasKitchenBlog or tag #HildasKitchenBlog!

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