An Invitation to BAKE through LENT
Check out this page for Holy Week baking recipes. We are offering Palm Sunday palm tree sugar cookies, Temple shortbread coins, Shrove Tuesday Pancakes, Last Supper Apple Blondies, Good Friday Hot Cross bun cookies, and Easter Sunday Resurrection rolls. Our site includes recipes, scripture and follow-up questions.
http://www.nsumckids.info/baking-through-lent.html
Recipes for Holy Week |
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Palm Sunday
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Thousands of people were gathering in Jerusalem, Israel’s capital city, for the Passover Party. The Passover Party happened once every year, celebrating the time long ago when God had chosen a man to free his people from the Egyptians. When Jesus came to Jerusalem riding a donkey, he was given a king’s welcome! People made a road for him through the crowds, placing palm leaves and even their own coats on the ground before him. The people shouted their party songs even louder: “Hosanna! Save us!” Many were wondering if Jesus was going to be their new leader, freeing them from the Romans who were ruling their country. (For more of the story, check out Mark 11:4-10)
Let’s make some Sugar Cookie Palm trees or donkey poop! LOL!
Sugar Cookie Palm Tree
Let’s make some Sugar Cookie Palm trees or donkey poop! LOL!
Sugar Cookie Palm Tree
- 1½ cups butter softened to room temperature
- ▢2 cups sugar
- ▢4 large eggs
- ▢1 teaspoon vanilla
- ▢5 cups flour
- ▢2 teaspoons baking powder
- ▢1 teaspoon salt
- ▢½ cup butter softened
- ▢3 cups powdered sugar
- ▢3 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
- ▢2 teaspoons vanilla
- In a large bowl/your mixer, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Gradually add flour, baking powder and salt, mixing well. Refrigerate dough for 1 hour. Quick tip: refrigerate remaining dough until you’re ready to roll it out.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- This is what makes them SO simple! Line your cookie sheets with parchment paper. Roll out dough to 1/4-1/3″ thick.
- Press your cookie cutter onto the cookie sheets, leaving a half inch or so between each. Peel away your excess dough. {No flouring needed! Yay!}
- Bake 6-7 minutes and allow to cool.
- Whip butter, gradually adding powdered sugar. Add heavy cream and vanilla. Blend until smooth.
- Warm icing and dip cooled cookies in to frost. Allow to set on parchment paper.
Chocolate Truffles
INGREDIENTS
Some people spread their cloaks on the ground for the donkey, carrying Jesus, to walk on. It was a sign of respect since cloaks, like coats, can be expensive and the people might not find their cloak again afterwards in all the busyness. Do you have a special item that you would find hard to give up or give away?
INGREDIENTS
- 15.25 ounce box brownie mix , make according to package
- 4 ounces cream cheese , softened
- 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips , melted
- Bake brownies according to directions on package. Do NOT over bake. Allow to cool.
- Once cooled, scoop out brownies into a large bowl. If the edges are hard, leave those out. Add in cream cheese and stir until combined.
- Line parchment paper onto a cookie sheet. Then roll your brownie mixture into balls and place on the sheet. Place in freezer for about 30 minutes or until firm.
- Melt chocolate in medium-sized bowl in the microwave. Then place your truffle ball on a fork and dip into the chocolate. Spoon chocolate on top. Once the ball is covered, tap the fork on the edge of the bowl to remove excess chocolate. Place ball carefully on the parchment paper. You can leave as is or top with sprinkles or extra brownie crumbles.
- Place sheet in freezer until the chocolate hardens. These are best kept in the freezer. Remove about 5 minutes before serving.
Some people spread their cloaks on the ground for the donkey, carrying Jesus, to walk on. It was a sign of respect since cloaks, like coats, can be expensive and the people might not find their cloak again afterwards in all the busyness. Do you have a special item that you would find hard to give up or give away?
Temple Tidy-Up
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Jesus visited the Temple in Jerusalem and was shocked at what it had become. The outer courtyard was filled with shops and the shop keepers were cheating people. Jesus said, “Didn’t God say, 'My house will be called the house of prayer for all people,' but you have made it a den of robbers”?! And he turned over the shop-keeper’s tables and stopped people from carrying things for sale through the Temple. This upset some people so much that they began to think of a way to get rid of Jesus. You have the option this week of baking biscuits that look like coins or making pretzels to remind us of the purpose of the Temple. (For more of the story, check out Mark 11:15-18)
Shortbread Rounds
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temp and cut into pieces
- 1 Heat the oven and prepare the baking sheets: Preheat the oven to 325°F and line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- 2 Combine all the ingredients: Place the flour, powdered sugar, salt, and butter into the bowl of a food processor and pulse until all of the butter is incorporated, about 10 to 15 one-second pulses, but could be more depending upon your food processor.
- It’s ready when the mixture looks like wet sand and clumps together when pressed. Stop when the mixture begins to climb up the bowl.
- 3 Bring the dough together: Dump everything onto the counter and gently press it together into a crumbly mound. I use a flexible bowl scraper to scoop and press the mound together at first, then knead the dough a few times and form it into a square shape.
- 4 Roll and cut the dough: Roll the dough out on a well-floured surface to 1/4- to 1/2-inch thickness (depending on how thick you like your cookies) and either use a knife to cut out rectangles or use a cutter to make shapes.
- 5 Transfer and chill the cookies: Transfer the cookies to one of the parchment-lined baking sheets. Chill the cookies on the sheet pan in the freezer for 15 minutes or until the cookies are solid to the touch.
- Transfer the frozen cookies, in batches, onto the other baking sheets, leaving about 1/2 inch between each cookie.
- 6 Bake the cookies: Bake the cookies, one pan at a time, for 15-18 minutes, or until the cookies are dry to the touch and the bottoms just begin to turn golden.
- 7 Cool and store: Remove from the oven and cool on a rack before transferring to a container for storage. The baked and cooled cookies can be stored in an airtight container for several days.
- The shops in the Temple were distracting people and even stopping some people from worshipping God. Worship is about noticing God. Worship recognizes how big and important God is and how much we need him. Can you think of a time when you noticed this? Worship is about spending not our money but our time with God. There are lots of ways to spend time with God such as praying to him, singing to him, being still, reading your Bible, enjoying nature, doing the things you are good at, or acting in a way that pleases him. Is there anything that gets in the way of you worshiping God? How could this change?
Pretzels
1 packet or 2½ tsp active dry yeast
1½ cups warm water
1 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp salt
4 cups flour
1 egg, beaten
Did you know that the pretzel shape is meant to show a child crossing their arms in prayer? It was designed by a monk to encourage children to pray. Can you cross your arms over your chest with your fingers touching your shoulders? What is your favorite way to pray?
1 packet or 2½ tsp active dry yeast
1½ cups warm water
1 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp salt
4 cups flour
1 egg, beaten
- o In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in water. Add the sugar and salt and mix.
- o Add 3 cups of flour and combine. Add ½ to 1 cup more of flour as needed.
- o Knead for 5-8 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- o Roll out chunks of dough into long strips and carefully shape the dough into pretzel twists.
- Bake at 350°F for 12-14 minutes
Did you know that the pretzel shape is meant to show a child crossing their arms in prayer? It was designed by a monk to encourage children to pray. Can you cross your arms over your chest with your fingers touching your shoulders? What is your favorite way to pray?
Last Supper
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Jesus’ last meal was a Passover meal. Each item on the Passover plate has special meaning which links it to the Exodus – the rescue of God’s people from Egypt long ago. God’s people had been forced to do hard work, building all sorts of buildings for the Egyptians. Haroseth is a sweet, brownish paste made with chopped apples which reminds them of the mortar, the mud-cement that their family had to build with when they were slaves in Egypt. God’s people had to leave Egypt so quickly that God told them to make flat breads for the journey since they didn’t have time to wait for the bread dough to rise. Wine is a special celebration drink, used in the Passover meal to celebrate freedom. (For more of the story of Jesus’ Passover meal, check out Mark 14:22-25)
Since haroseth is made with chopped apples, you have the option of making apple blondies (pale brownies) or a sweet take on a flat bread. You might want to eat these with grape juice or any red-colored squash using some of the suggested prayers.
Apple Blondies
Ingredients
- ▢1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- ▢1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- ▢1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- ▢1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- ▢1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled (1 stick)
- ▢1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- ▢1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ▢1 large egg, room temperature
- ▢2 apples, peeled, cored and cut into 1/4-inch squares
- Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line an 8-inch by 8-inch pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter and brown sugar until well combined, about 2 minutes. Add egg and vanilla and mix until incorporated. Add the flour mixture and stir just until combined (careful not to overmix). Fold in chopped apples.
- Transfer batter to prepared baking pan (the batter will be a little thick). Bake for 25 to 28 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool and cut into squares and serve.
Pancakes
Ingredients2 cups all-purpose flour
1 T. baking powder
2-3 T. white sugar
1/2 t. salt
2 eggs
1.5 cups milk (if batter is too thick, add a little extra milk to thin)
2 t. vanilla
2 T. melted butter, vegetable oil or coconut oil + more for cooking
As you add something sweet to your pancakes, thank God for something ‘sweet’ or good in your life. God wanted life to be good, but it is often mixed with tears. Add some lemon juice to your pancake (or if you don’t have any just leave the pancake plain) and tell God about something ‘bitter’ or difficult in your life. Thank God that he is with us through both the good times and the hard times.
Ingredients2 cups all-purpose flour
1 T. baking powder
2-3 T. white sugar
1/2 t. salt
2 eggs
1.5 cups milk (if batter is too thick, add a little extra milk to thin)
2 t. vanilla
2 T. melted butter, vegetable oil or coconut oil + more for cooking
- Preheat a griddle. If you’re using an electric griddle, preheat to 350 degrees.
- In a mixing bowl add flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Mix well.
- Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add eggs, milk, vanilla, and butter/oil. Stir to combine. Remember, don’t overmix!
- On a hot griddle, add butter to coat pan to keep pancakes from sticking.
- Pour batter onto hot griddle, about 1/2 cup per pancake. More or less depending on the size you prefer. Let cook about 3 minutes, until bubbles begin to pop on the batter, and edges are brown. Flip pancake and cook other side for about 2 minutes.
- Serve hot with butter and maple syrup.
As you add something sweet to your pancakes, thank God for something ‘sweet’ or good in your life. God wanted life to be good, but it is often mixed with tears. Add some lemon juice to your pancake (or if you don’t have any just leave the pancake plain) and tell God about something ‘bitter’ or difficult in your life. Thank God that he is with us through both the good times and the hard times.
Garden of Gethsemane
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After the Passover meal, Jesus and his friends went to a quiet garden filled with olive trees to pray. This garden was old and tough, having been planted along the rocky slopes of a mountain. Jesus was hurting inside because he knew he must die soon. He knew that the next few days were going to be really hard for him and he had a mixture of feelings about it. He also knew that one of his closest friends had made a deal to get him captured. So Jesus prayed to God about it all and God gave him strength. He asked his friends to keep watch and to also pray, but they kept falling asleep. (For more of the story, check out Mark 14:32-43)
Rocky Road
Ingredients
- ▢2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ▢¾ cup peanut butter
- ▢3 cups mini marshmallows
- ▢1 cup walnuts coarsely chopped
- ▢½ cups peanuts chopped
- Line a 9 x 9 inch pan with foil.
- Melt together the chocolate chips and peanut butter over low heat until smooth.
- Stir in nuts and remove from heat. Allow to cool 3-4 minutes.
- Add marshmallows and stir to coat.
- Spread in pan and refrigerate until firm.
*It is important to cool chocolate mixture a bit so that the marshmallows remain intact and do not melt.
Jesus took time to listen to God, to wait, and to pray again. Do you find listening and waiting easy or hard? Why?
Peanut Butter Cheerio Clusters
Ingredients
Judas had agreed to help trap Jesus for 30 silver coins. Money had tempted him to do something he later wished he hadn’t. When he realized his mistake he even tried to give the money back. Why can saying sorry feel such a hard thing to do?
Ingredients
- 2½ cups cheerios (plain, low sugar variety)
- ½ cup natural peanut butter
- ½ cup brown rice syrup (or sticky sweetener of choice)
- Place the cheerios in a large bowl.
- In a large saucepan (or microwave safe bowl), combine peanut butter, and brown rice syrup.
- Heat until mixture is hot, and thins out a bit and its easy to mix together.
- Add to Cheerios and mix until coated.
- Drop by spoonful onto parchment paper or waxed paper coated cooking sheet. Place in fridge for around 30 minutes until set.
- Keep stored in the fridge.
Judas had agreed to help trap Jesus for 30 silver coins. Money had tempted him to do something he later wished he hadn’t. When he realized his mistake he even tried to give the money back. Why can saying sorry feel such a hard thing to do?
Good Friday
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Jesus’ death was a big event. Lots of strange things happened when Jesus died like the day becoming dark for three hours. A Roman centurion standing by the cross even began to wonder whether Jesus could be God. Usually on the day we remember Jesus dying we eat hot cross buns. They are called hot cross buns because they are marked on the top with a cross, reminding us that Jesus died by being hung on a cross. The buns are made from bread dough and filled with raisins, reminding us of what Jesus had said at the Last Supper about the bread being like his body and the wine being like his blood. The dough is also filled with spices since Jesus’ dead body was covered in spices at his burial. Below is an easier alternative to hot cross buns, as well as the option of making a tasty sun. (For more of the story, check out Mark 15:31-39)
Hot Cross Cookies
Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 375 °F . Line a rimmed baking pan with parchment paper and set aside. Sift flour, baking soda, spices and salt together in a bowl and whisk to combine. In another bowl, beat together butter, brown sugar and vanilla with a hand mixer until combined. Add the egg and beat until well mixed. Add the dry ingredients and mix to combine. Stir in the raisins, dried cranberries and chocolate.
Spoon or roll the mixture in 1 tablespoon portions about 2-inches apart on the baking tray. Bake in the oven for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are browned. Cool the cookies on the tray for about 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
To make the icing, beat together all the ingredients until smooth. If you think it needs to be thicker, add more icing sugar, or thin with more orange juice. Use a piping bag (or a Zip top baggie with a hole cut in the corner) to pipe crosses on the cookies. Let them set for 30 minutes so the icing can harden. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
When you see or write a cross sign – x – what could it mean? We use crosses as a sign for love or to show a kiss. We use crosses as a sign of adding and multiplying. Crosses are used when we get an answer wrong and crosses are also the sign on ambulances and hospitals, the place people go to get better. A cross can show where there’s treasure. It might sound strange to call the day that Jesus died ‘Good’ but many good things happened because of Jesus’ death (including the fact that three days later he beat death and rose to life!). Can you use some of the ideas we’ve just mentioned to explain why Jesus’ death on a cross turned out to be a good thing? Why did Jesus die?
Hot Cross Cookies
- 1 ¼ cups flour
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup butter, softened
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 1/3 cup golden raisins
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries
- 1/3 cup chopped white chocolate
- Icing
- 1 cup icing sugar
Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 375 °F . Line a rimmed baking pan with parchment paper and set aside. Sift flour, baking soda, spices and salt together in a bowl and whisk to combine. In another bowl, beat together butter, brown sugar and vanilla with a hand mixer until combined. Add the egg and beat until well mixed. Add the dry ingredients and mix to combine. Stir in the raisins, dried cranberries and chocolate.
Spoon or roll the mixture in 1 tablespoon portions about 2-inches apart on the baking tray. Bake in the oven for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are browned. Cool the cookies on the tray for about 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
To make the icing, beat together all the ingredients until smooth. If you think it needs to be thicker, add more icing sugar, or thin with more orange juice. Use a piping bag (or a Zip top baggie with a hole cut in the corner) to pipe crosses on the cookies. Let them set for 30 minutes so the icing can harden. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
When you see or write a cross sign – x – what could it mean? We use crosses as a sign for love or to show a kiss. We use crosses as a sign of adding and multiplying. Crosses are used when we get an answer wrong and crosses are also the sign on ambulances and hospitals, the place people go to get better. A cross can show where there’s treasure. It might sound strange to call the day that Jesus died ‘Good’ but many good things happened because of Jesus’ death (including the fact that three days later he beat death and rose to life!). Can you use some of the ideas we’ve just mentioned to explain why Jesus’ death on a cross turned out to be a good thing? Why did Jesus die?
Easy Soufflé Cheesecake
Ingredients
Darkness is often linked to bad and light is often linked to good. Jesus died to save us from darkness. He wants us to live as children of light. As you wait for your sun-shaped cake to bake, can you think of some ways that you could be light to others? What kinds of things could you do and say to bless others today?
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 5 large eggs, room temperature and separated
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (rice flour for gluten-free)
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar (optional)
- 1/2 cup sugar
- Heat the cream cheese, egg yolks, butter, milk, lemon zest and juice over low heat, whisking until smooth before removing from heat and mixing in the flour and corn starch.
- Beat the egg whites and cream of tartar into soft peaks, before beating in the sugar.
- Fold the egg whites into the cream cheese mixture 1/3 at a time.
- Pour the batter into a greased 8 inch spring form pan, wrap the bottom of the pan in foil, place in a larger pan with a small amount of hot water and bake in a preheated 350F/180C oven until the top is lightly golden brown and just a little wiggly, about 30-45 minutes, before removing from the oven and letting cool to room temperature.
Darkness is often linked to bad and light is often linked to good. Jesus died to save us from darkness. He wants us to live as children of light. As you wait for your sun-shaped cake to bake, can you think of some ways that you could be light to others? What kinds of things could you do and say to bless others today?
Easter Sunday
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When the women arrived at the place where Jesus had been buried, he was not there! Jesus had been buried in a sort of cave, and the large stone that had been in front of it had been rolled away. An angel spoke to the women saying, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was killed on the cross. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said”. (For more of the story, check out Mark 16:1-7)
Resurrection Rolls
- Ingredients:
16 large marshmallows
4 tablespoons butter, melted but cooled
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• To assemble the resurrection rolls, lay out the crescent rolls and separate them.
• In a small bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon.
• Dip a marshmallow in the melted butter, rolling it around to cover it completely. (The butter can be warm but not very hot. You don’t want to melt the marshmallow.)
• Then roll the buttered marshmallow in the cinnamon and sugar mix.
• Place the cinnamon marshmallow in the center of a roll and wrap the dough around it, sealing any openings.
• Put the rolls on a baking pan with raised sides, sprinkle with any extra cinnamon and sugar if desired, and bake according to package directions for the rolls.
• Allow the rolls to cool on a wire rack before serving to children. Remember that the melted marshmallow inside will be very hot when they first emerge from the oven.
When Jesus’ friends visited his tomb, it was empty: Jesus’ body wasn’t there. Christ is risen!
Chocolate Easter Nests
Ingredients
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
3 cups rolled oats old fashioned or quick oats work
1 cup shredded coconut
Chocolate eggs
Instructions
Line 2-3 cookie trays with wax paper.
In a medium saucepan melt together the butter, milk, sugar and cocoa powder while whisking until no lumps remain.
Bring to a gently boil for 5 minutes as you continue to whisk the mixture.
Remove from the heat and stir in the oats and coconut.
Drop tablespoon sized cookies onto the lined trays and place 2-3 mini eggs in the middle of each. You can shape the cookies with your fingers for more uniform nests.
Place the trays in the fridge for 45 minutes to set.
Do you know why we have eggs at Easter? One of the reasons is to celebrate new life. In the spring birds are building nests for their eggs, which is a sign that new life is coming after winter. And at Easter we are celebrating that after the dark sadness of dying, Jesus came back to life. Another reason is that the shape of the egg helps us to remember the tomb that Jesus’ body was put in. Usually Easter eggs are empty on the inside – just like Jesus’ tomb was empty when the women visited it on Sunday. It was empty because Jesus had come back to life and is alive!
Ingredients
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
3 cups rolled oats old fashioned or quick oats work
1 cup shredded coconut
Chocolate eggs
Instructions
Line 2-3 cookie trays with wax paper.
In a medium saucepan melt together the butter, milk, sugar and cocoa powder while whisking until no lumps remain.
Bring to a gently boil for 5 minutes as you continue to whisk the mixture.
Remove from the heat and stir in the oats and coconut.
Drop tablespoon sized cookies onto the lined trays and place 2-3 mini eggs in the middle of each. You can shape the cookies with your fingers for more uniform nests.
Place the trays in the fridge for 45 minutes to set.
Do you know why we have eggs at Easter? One of the reasons is to celebrate new life. In the spring birds are building nests for their eggs, which is a sign that new life is coming after winter. And at Easter we are celebrating that after the dark sadness of dying, Jesus came back to life. Another reason is that the shape of the egg helps us to remember the tomb that Jesus’ body was put in. Usually Easter eggs are empty on the inside – just like Jesus’ tomb was empty when the women visited it on Sunday. It was empty because Jesus had come back to life and is alive!
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