Resurrection Rolls

It is a tradition in our family to bake these Resurrection Rolls for Easter morning. I love them because there is so much symbolism in the process of making the rolls and children really remember this as it is a fun and delicious treat!

Resurrection Roll Symbolism

The pure white marshmallow represents Jesus in His sinless purity and perfection – The Lamb of God. The butter and cinnamon represent the oils and spices which were used to anoint the Body of Christ after His suffering and death on the Cross for you. The sugar in the first spice mixture represents the love of those who cared for His Body when He was taken down from the Cross. The first crescent triangle of dough represents the linen cloth Jesus was wrapped in for His burial in the tomb. The final coating of cinnamon & sugar represents the bitterness and love that Jesus saw from the Cross, before He gave up His Spirit and died. When the rolls are baked they become what Mary Magdalene, and Saints Peter and John discovered on Easter morning, an empty tomb! Jesus defeated death and Resurrected! There is an empty tomb in Jerusalem! Jesus is Lord! He Is Risen!

*See Scriptural explanation at end of recipe

Homemade Dough Ingredients

This dough is not difficult and makes 16 Resurrection Rolls. It is way healthier than soybean oil laden store bought roll dough. This dough is Non GMO, Organic and Pure and so much better for you because is does not contain soybean oil or high fructose corn syrup. Make this recipe on Holy Thursday, wrap tightly in plastic, refrigerate and you are all ready to make these with your children on Holy Saturday to enjoy Easter morning!

Ingredients

2 t. Sugar

¼ c. Hot tap water

2 ¼ t. Yeast (one packet)

¾ c. Hormone Free Vitamin D Milk, warm

1 large Egg, Cage Free Hormone Free

1 T. Organic Butter, melted

1 t. Sea Salt

3 c. Non GMO Flour, additional for rolling

8 T. (one stick) Organic Butter, softened

In a large mixing bowl, add the 2 t. sugar and ¼ c. hot tap water. Sprinkle the 2 ¼ t. yeast over top and whisk to combine. Allow to stand seven minutes. Mixture should be frothy.

While the yeast proofs, heat 1 T. organic butter in a small sauce pan. Add ¾ c. milk and heat until warm and the butter has melted (do not boil).

When the yeast is frothy, add warmed butter & milk. Beat egg lightly in same sauce pan and add. Add 1 t. sea salt and 3 c. Non GMO flour in stages. Stir until combined. (If using a dough hook, knead on med hi for 5 minutes.) If kneading by hand – turn dough out on a lightly floured surface. Sprinkle with a small amount of flour and begin kneading for several minutes, add flour as needed, until the dough is elastic and smooth like a baby’s bottom. Shape into a ball.

Lightly organic butter a clean mixing bowl and place dough ball in bowl, turning to coat. Turn dough to coat. Cover bowl in plastic wrap and put in refrigerator for 30 minutes.

After thirty minutes, turn dough out onto a floured work surface.

Form into a rectangle and roll out to ¼ inch thickness. Spread with the 8 T. softened stick of organic butter, leaving an inch border all around without butter.

Fold up like a letter in thirds from the sides - one half of the side of the rectangle towards the center. Then fold the other half side over this, so you have three dough layers like a business letter. Cover with plastic wrap and place in freezer for 10 minutes. (1st Freeze.)

Remove and gently roll out dough again to a long rectangle. Fold the dough again as before like a business letter. Wrap again in plastic and place back in freezer for 10 more minutes. (2nd Freeze)

Remove and gently roll out dough again to a long rectangle. Fold the dough again as before like a business letter. Wrap again in plastic and place back in freezer for 10 more minutes. (3rd Freeze)

Now – you may either proceed with the Resurrection Rolls or wrap the dough twice tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to three days.

Resurrection Rolls Ingredients w/ Homemade Dough

Resurrection Rolls Ingredients w/out Homemade Dough

Homemade dough recipe makes 16 rolls – 2 cans of crescents makes 8 rolls

Oven Temp: 400 degrees (*375 degrees for canned crescent rolls)

You will need a parchment paper lined jellyroll pan or organic buttered jellyroll pan.

Ingredients

1 recipe Resurrection Roll Dough (above) or two cans of crescent roll dough.

½ c. Organic Butter, melted

16 large Organic Marshmallows or regular marshmallows

Spice Mixture One - 2 T. Cinnamon & 2 T. Sugar, combined

Spice Mixture Two - 1/3 c. Sugar & 2 t. Cinnamon, combined

If using homemade dough –

Turn dough out on a lightly floured work surface.

Cut dough in half.

Roll dough half out into a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick (14” wide x 10” high).

Using a pizza cutter or knife - Cut in half lengthwise.

Cut in half from top to bottom.

Cut halves again from top to bottom. You now have 8 squares.

Cut squares into triangles. *Use 2 triangles per marshmallow.

Prepare three mixtures: Melted Butter, Spice Mixture 1 and Spice Mixture 2.

Roll a marshmallow in the melted butter to coat. Then roll the buttered marshmallow in Spice Mixture 1.

Place the marshmallow in the square of the crescent roll dough and roll up, sealing edges.

Then place the marshmallow crescent roll on another piece of crescent dough and roll up, making sure all edges are sealed.

Now roll the crescent ball in the melted butter.

Then roll in Spice Mixture 2.

Place your little tombs on a parchment paper lined jelly roll pan (or lightly organic buttered) and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden brown and fully baked.

Remove from the cookie sheet to a wire rack and allow the rolls to cool slightly before eating.

The Story with Scriptures for each step:

1 Peter 1:18-20,“You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was destined before the foundation of the world but was made manifest at the end of the times for your sake.”

The pure white marshmallow represents Jesus in His sinless purity and perfection – The Lamb of God.

John 19:38-39, “After this Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him leave [gave permission]. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who had first come to him [Jesus] by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight.”

The butter and cinnamon represent the oils and spices which were used to anoint the Body of Christ after His suffering and death on the Cross for you. The sugar in the first spice mixture represents the love of those who cared for His Body when He was taken down from the Cross.

John 19:40, “They took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen clothes with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.”

The first crescent triangle of dough represents the linen cloth Jesus was wrapped in for His burial in the tomb.

John 19:41, “ Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb where no one had ever been laid.”

The second crescent triangle represents the tomb itself.

Luke 23:34-38, “And Jesus said ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.’ And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching; but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, ‘He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!’ The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him vinegar, and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’ There was also an inscription over him, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’’’

John 19:24-26, “so they said to one another, ‘Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to see whose it shall be.’ This was to fulfill the scripture, ‘They parted my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.’ [Psalm 22:18] So the soldiers did this. But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold your son!”

The final coating of cinnamon & sugar represents the bitterness and love that Jesus saw from the Cross, before He gave up His Spirit and died.

Matthew 28:1-7, “Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the sepulchre. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid; for I know that you see Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. Lo I have told you.’”

When the rolls are baked they become what Mary Magdalene, and Saints Peter and John discovered on Easter morning, an empty tomb! Jesus defeated death and Resurrected! There is an empty tomb in Jerusalem! Jesus is Lord! He Is Risen!

Copyright 2015 Suanne Fowler