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Resurrection rolls are a special Easter tradition. They are simple and help teach a sweet lesson about the holiday!
For more Easter traditions try Rice Krispies Easter Nests and Easter Dirt Cake.
He is Not Here: For He is Risen
For me, and any Christian, those words send pleasant chills down my spine. It’s important to me that my children know the true REASON we celebrate Christmas and Easter.
While it’s fun to dye Easter eggs and make Easter desserts, I make sure we take time to talk about Jesus’s sacrifice and the fact that He was resurrected (especially with these rolls).
Why we love them:
- The message. These Resurrection Rolls are a great way to teach kids the Easter story and why we celebrate and enjoy something tasty all the while.
- Easy. The recipe is simple enough that little hands can help in the kitchen and have a meaningful learning experience.
- Loved by all! The kids will love making a visual reminder of the Resurrection as you celebrate this Easter season.
The Resurrection Rolls Story
Using visual aids is a wonderful way to teach children, especially an object lesson that can be eaten after. Consider making these Resurrection Rolls WITH your family and explaining how the different steps represent the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection. For example:
- Rolling the marshmallow in the cinnamon and sugar is like when Jesus’ friends prepared his body for burial with fragrant spices.
- Wrapping the dough around the marshmallow is like wrapping Jesus’ body in linens.
- Since Jesus was inside the tomb for 3 days let the children sit in front of the oven and watch them bake. You can talk about how His friends and family must have felt and share your feelings as well.
- As the rolls are cooling, read the account given in Matthew 28:1-6. You can also find the account written in John chapter 20.
- Allow the children to eat the Resurrection Rolls and see that the center is empty just like the tomb.
Ingredients
- refrigerated crescent dinner rolls – The concept of the melting marshmallow will work no matter what dough you use. I like the ease of using the canned crescent roll dough, but thawed Rhodes freezer rolls or your favorite recipe for Homemade Dinner Rolls will also work. Adjust the bake time according to the different dough recipes.
- large (Jumbo) marshmallows
- unsalted butter
- cinnamon – you can also add nutmeg
- granulated sugar
How to make Resurrection Rolls
- PREP. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with a parchment or silicone liner. Open the crescent roll package and separate the rolls into eight triangles.
- COAT. In a small bowl, whisk together the cinnamon and sugar. Dip each of the marshmallows in the melted butter, then roll in the cinnamon sugar mixture.
- FILL. Place a marshmallow in the middle of each dough triangle, then roll the dough tightly around the marshmallow, pinching to close all of the seams.
- Be very careful to seal the edges of the rolls, as the marshmallows will ooze out while they bake.
- BAKE. Place the rolls on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10-14 minutes, or until golden brown.
Make them in a Muffin Liner
Dip the dough into the melted butter and place seam-side down into the muffin tin. Bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes, until puffed and golden. The original recipe called for 12 minutes in the oven, but ours were ready at 8.
To add a glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- a few tablespoons of milk or heavy cream
- almond extract (optional)
- COMBINE. Mix powdered sugar with drops of milk or whipping cream. Add liquid until the desired consistency is reached.
- GLAZE. Almond extract is optional. Add a few drops and mix until smooth and creamy. Top the warm Easter Rolls with glaze and serve.
Recipe + SToring Tips
- Easy clean-up. It’s important to pull them off the baking sheet quickly after baking and use a non-stick liner or parchment paper because the melted marshmallows caramelize and harden when they cool and then it gets harder to remove the rolls from the pan.
- Gift of love. Put together a little basket of ingredients along with instructions to give to friends with children so they can make these symbolic empty tomb rolls at home. Include a tube of dough, a baggie of marshmallows, and a packet of the cinnamon mixture as well as the recipe instructions and Bible verses.
- STORE. Once baked, the resurrection rolls will last for 1-2 days when placed in an airtight container.
For More Easter Treats:
Resurrection Rolls Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 (10-ounce) can refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
- 8 large marshmallows
- ¼ cup butter, melted
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ¼ cup sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with a parchment or silicone liner. Open the crescent roll package and separate the rolls into eight triangles.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the cinnamon and sugar. Dip each of the marshmallows in the melted butter, then roll in the cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Place a marshmallow in the middle of each dough triangle, then roll the dough tightly around the marshmallow, pinching to close all of the seams.
- Place the rolls on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10-14 minutes, or until golden brown.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Don’t let the marshmallow leak out and “burn Jesus up in the oven” like I did when my granddau%her was 4yrs old. She is 17 now but still refers to these rolls as the “burned Jesus rolls”.
I’m adding to our list! So easy and turned out delicious! Thank you for helping me teach the kid with this! Such a brilliant idea!