We made these nutty meringues with our children every Easter for years. It’s a wonderful object lesson for Easter and you get yummy cookies to boot. I wish I knew who to credit for the original recipe; it was passed to me by my Aunt Robin a very long time ago.
Ingredients and Supplies:
1 C whole pecans
1 tsp vinegar
3 egg whites
Pinch of salt
1 C sugar
Ziploc baggie
Wooden spoon
Tape
Bible
Wax paper
1. Preheat oven to 300. (This is very important — don’t wait till you’re halfway through the recipe!)
2. Place pecans in Ziploc bag and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces.
EXPLAIN that after Jesus was arrested, he was beaten by Roman soldiers.
READ John 19:1-3.
3. Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp vinegar into mixing bowl.
EXPLAIN that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, he was given vinegar to drink.
READ John 19:28-30.
4. Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life.
EXPLAIN that Jesus gave his life for us, to give us life.
READ John 10:10-11.
5. Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl.
EXPLAIN that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers and the bitterness of our own sin.
READ Luke 23:27.
So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing!
6. Add 1 C sugar.
EXPLAIN that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because he loves us. He wants us to know this and how to belong to him.
READ Psalm 34:8 AND John 3:16.
7. Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes (really!) 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.
8. Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper-covered cookie sheet.
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 “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 overnight; Jesus’ followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.
READ John 16:20 and 22.
11. On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface. Take a bite. The cookies are hollow!
EXPLAIN that on the first Easter, Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty!
READ Matthew 28:1-19.
12. Enjoy your cookies and your Easter Sunday!