Create lasting Easter memories with The Tomb is Empty Resurrection Cookies. This easy and interactive meringue cookie recipe really brings the Easter story to life! 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!
Then keep the memories going by making beautiful naturally dyed Easter eggs.
The story behind resurrection cookies
Resurrection Cookies have been around for years and are known by many names including Jesus Cookies, Easter cookies, and He is risen cookies.
These cookies were part of our Easter tradition 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 good news 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!
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 including a printable PDF version of this recipe at the bottom of this post.
What Goes Into This Recipe
Ingredient Notes
- 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 The Tomb is Empty Cookies
Preheat oven to 300-degrees F.
1. 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.
Beating the nuts represents how jesus was beaten by the Roman soldiers after He was arrested. Read John 19: 1-3
2. 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 and was given vinegar. Read John 19: 28-30)
3. Add the egg whites to the mixing bowl.
Relay that the eggs represent life. Jesus gave up His life so that we could have eternal life. Read John 10:10-11
4. Add a pinch of salt to the bowl.
Allow the children to taste a few grains of salt. The salt represents the tears that were shed by Jesus’ followers and the bitterness of our sins. Read Luke 23:27
5. Finally, add the sugar and cardamom to the bowl.
The sugar 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
6. Beat the bowl ingredients on high speed for approximately 15 minutes, or until stiff peaks form.
Explain that the color white represents purity. God sees those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus as white as snow. Read Isaiah 1:18
7. Fold the nuts into the egg whites.
8. Drop tablespoon-sized mounds onto two cookie sheets lined with parchment paper or silicone mats.
Explain that each mound represent the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60
9. Put the cookie sheets into the oven, close the door, and turn the oven OFF.
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 when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22
10. 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!
Explain that on the first Resurrection morning, 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
Recipe Expert 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.
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The Tomb is Empty Resurrection Cookies
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
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.
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