Easter is the most exciting event on the church calendar for me. The enormity of what Jesus did by dying on the cross for my sins and the joy of his resurrection, which sealed my eternal salvation, is unrivalled in my mind by any other celebration. It truly was The Weekend That Changed the World. Easter doesn’t seem complete for me without attending our community Good Friday communion service and the joyful Resurrection Sunday service. But something else also helps our family celebrate the resurrection—Empty Tomb Buns.

Many of us remember dying hard-boiled eggs as an Easter activity, and many families continue that tradition. As a child, dyeing the eggs on the Saturday before Easter was an exciting event in our household. With our clear wax crayons and coloured dyes, we created masterpieces we thought rivalled modest Fabergé eggs. The following morning, we hunted for those magnificent eggs and Easter baskets containing candy our parents hid. The hiding places in our house were limited, but even so, the excitement never got old.

We continued that tradition when our children were young. We coloured eggs every Easter—long past when the kids showed much interest in it because I liked doing it, according to my husband. Eventually, we only hid chocolate eggs for the hunt because one family can only consume so much egg salad. And we significantly reduced the risk of terrible smells emanating from long-forgotten places if the eggs were chocolate.

Families have different food traditions to celebrate Easter, from Hot Cross Buns to Paska or Kulich (a Ukrainian or Russian Easter bread) to numerous other special foods that are traditional in different ethnic groups. But there’s a new kid on the block, a tradition with a purpose.

Baking Empty Tomb Buns has become a highlight of Easter in our family. But they’re so much more than simply a tasty treat. They’re buns made with sweet dough and have a marshmallow tucked inside that melts as they bake, leaving a hollow centre. No one objects to scraping the gooey, stretchy mess off the baking tray afterwards and eating it as the reward for their labour. When baked, we brush the tops with melted butter, dip them in cinnamon sugar, or glaze them and add sprinkles. I have not included a recipe because I use my go-to dough recipe and wing it from there. A Google search will give many recipe options if you want to make some yourself.

Our grandchildren look forward to this activity every year. I don’t know if it’s the squishy dough, the fun of burying the marshmallows, licking sticky fingers covered in sweet stuff, or just the big messy deal that appeals to them most. However, beyond the immediate payoff, it’s an object lesson written in dough and deliciousness. It’s a visual reminder that Jesus died for us but didn’t stay dead. In the words of the beloved Easter hymn, “He Arose!” That hole in the middle embodies eternal hope for all of us. Even toddlers can tuck a marshmallow into the flattened dough and, with help, create a lovely mishappen bun with the meaning of Easter awaiting discovery inside.

Do you make Empty Tomb Buns, or have some other way you celebrate the triumph of the resurrection in your family? If you have a tradition you’d like to share, please put it in the comments below. We’d love to learn more about how other families celebrate such a momentous event.

If you are unfamiliar with the biblical account of Jesus’ death and resurrection, which we call the Easter story, it’s from the books of Matthew, Luke and John. Here is a link to the passage in Luke:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+22%3A47-24%3A53&version=TLB

If you want to show your kids a cute, animated video of the Easter story and what it means for us or watch it yourself (I love it and have seen it many times!), here is a link: https://ministry-to-children.com/easter-gods-story-video-clip-for-kids/.

However you choose to celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord this weekend, I pray that the joy and awe of his gift continue to resonate with you throughout the year.

 “He is not here; he is risen!”

Luke 24:6a