Resurrection Rolls

I didn't grow up with a very formal religious background. As we grew up, we would go to church on Easter and Christmas. I stumbled my way to salvation on a Disciple Now weekend when I was in high school. Even after that, I still didn't attend church on a regular basis. I would go through times where I would go regularly and then would move just far enough away so that it wasn't convenient to continue to attend the church we liked. While not going to church, I do worship in my own way. I talk to God regularly and marvel at His work in my life. I feel like being out in nature is a great way to celebrate God's work.

As Peanut has gotten older, I felt like I wanted him to have more knowledge of God than I had at his age. We started back in December, when we followed a Bible reading advent leading up to Christmas. I loved his enthusiasm for learning about the birth of Jesus! Peanut received a kid's devotional book at Christmas that we try to read each night. 

While some of the devotions are a bit over his head, we still get to talk daily about God and read from Peanut's Bible. And as a bonus for the Woodman and I, the daily passages seem to be just perfect for situations we have going on in our lives as well. 

As Easter approached, I began looking through Pinterest to see what ideas they had for teaching children about the Resurrection. I wanted Peanut to know the real reason for Easter, not that it was about the Easter Bunny and candy. I came across many different posts for Resurrection cookies and rolls. I decided to do the rolls because it'd also solve my problem of what to eat for breakfast Easter morning! Starting on Good Friday, I laid the groundwork for Easter by reading about the crucifixion from Matthew 27:11-55. Peanut and I talked about how Jesus said he would tear down the Church of God and rebuild it in three days. We then counted and Peanut discovered that the third day was Easter Sunday. Easter morning, Peanut and I read from Matthew 27:57-66, which described how Jesus' body was prepared for burial. We then made our Resurrection Rolls.

Resurrection Rolls

Ingredients- a can of crescent rolls, 8 large marshmallows, 2 Tbsp melted butter, and 1/4 cup cinnamon sugar (make your own by mixing 1/4 cup sugar with 1 tsp. cinnamon), and a Bible 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cover a shallow cookie sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy clean up. 

Unroll the crescent rolls. Take one and flatten out the wider end a little more. 

*The crescent roll represents the cloth used to wrap Jesus' body.*

Give your child a large marshmallow. 

*The marshmallow symbolizes Jesus' body. Peanut and I talked about how it was white and that white is used to show His purity.*

Roll the marshmallow around in the melted butter.

*This represents the embalming oils.*

Roll the marshmallow in the cinnamon sugar.

*This represents the spices used to anoint Jesus' body.*

Tightly wrap the marshmallow up in the crescent roll and seal up the sides.

*This represents the wrapping of the body.*

He was super excited to seal the tomb. Hence the action shot.

Repeat with the rest of the crescent rolls and marshmallows. Put onto cookie sheet and put into oven for 10-12 minutes. Warning- marshmallows will probably ooze out the sides, hence the need for parchment paper or aluminum foil. 

*The oven represents the tomb and the cooking time represents the three days.*

While the rolls were cooking, Peanut and I read Matthew 28:1-10, which tells of finding the tomb empty on the third day.

After the rolls finished cooking, allow the rolls to cool slightly. When the rolls were cooking, the marshmallow melts. When your child breaks open their crescent roll, they will find an empty spot where the marshmallow was.

Peanut was amazed to find his roll empty! His reaction- "Where did Jesus' body go?!?!" He has Risen!!