Bama Gramma Tells the Nativity Story with a Cookie Recipe

Bama Gramma Tells the Nativity Story with a Cookie Recipe

Yet another Christmas Skit:

I have an alter ego: Bama Gramma. She shows up at Christmas celebrations to share the story of the birth of Jesus with students. She is old-fashioned, wears her hair in a gray beehive, and speaks with a slow, deep-Southern drawl. Adding her own brand of “old folks'” humor, Bama Gramma is loved by those who meet her.

This year she is going to tell the story of the birth of Jesus with one of the things she does best: baking cookies. Two bowls, mixing spoons, a greased cookie sheet, and pre-measured ingredients should be sitting on a table and ready. A batch of prebaked cookies should be ready to pass out to the audience afterward. There are no nuts in this cookie recipe in case there are students with allergies.

Bama Gramma will tell the rest:

“I love to bake cookies for you, and I love to tell stories. Today my story begins a long time ago when “the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.

“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’)

“When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife (Matthew 1:18-24).”

“Let’s start out with 1 cup of plain ol’ flour in the bowl to symbolize Mary and Joseph–two plain, humble, ordinary people who God Himself had chosen for an extraordinary purpose.

“In those days Caesar Augustus ordered a census, and everyone went to their own town to register. ‘So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child’ (Luke 2:1-5).

“It took a whole lot of faith for Mary and Joseph to do that, but God was there to raise up their hope and faith, just like this ½ teaspoon of baking soda causes dough to raise up our cookies! [Add baking soda.]

“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them” (Luke 2:6-7).

“This egg represents new life–the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior. That really stirred things up in the world! [Crack the egg into a second bowl and beat it].

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’ [Add the teaspoon of vanilla to the bowl with the egg.] The vanilla is the place where flavor rests–haha! Yes, sir, this is a good cookie recipe.

“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’

“So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger” (Luke 2:8-16).

“We’re gonna add ¼ cup of oats to represent the shepherds–humble, simple, earthy, people, but chosen by God to be witnesses to a miracle. [Add the oats to the bowl of dry ingredients.]

“And they wouldn’t have known about that miracle if it were not for those beautiful, sweet, sparkly, white angels. Guess what represents the angels. Sugar, sugar! [Add ½ cup of sugar to the beaten egg and vanilla.]

“Well, all this was amazing, but God wasn’t finished yet. He made a beautiful star that shone with bright, yellow light–yellow, just like butter. And three very wise men from the East saw that star and decided to follow it. [Add ½ cup of softened butter to the egg and sugar and cream them together.] [Gradually add the dry ingredients to the moist ingredients and stir.]

“It’s kinda hard to stir this up, just like the journey was long and hard for Mary and Joseph and for the wise men.

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.’

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold [add white chocolate chips], frankincense [add dried cranberries], and myrrh [cinnamon]” (from Matthew 2).

“You see, God sent his Son to Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, and the wise men, and all the people of Israel. He even sent Him to all the people of the world, then and now. Even to you and me. [Bring out a batch already baked and offer one to each student.] He’s always around us, like the smell of these cookies. He wants to live inside us as well.”

“For as many as received Him, to them He gave the power to become sons of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).

“God bless you all, and may you all partake with joy in this sweet season.”

Here’s the cookie recipe one more time:

– *1 cup flour*

– *1/2 cup sugar*

– *1/2 cup butter, softened*

– *1 egg*

– *1/2 tsp baking soda*

– *1 tsp vanilla extract*

– *1 tsp cinnamon*

– *1/2 cup white chocolate chips*

– *1/4 cup dried cranberries*

– *1/4 cup oats*

*Instructions:*

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. In a mixing bowl, beat one egg

3. Cream together the butter, sugar, with the egg

4. Gradually mix in the flour, baking soda, oats, cinnamon, vanilla, and chocolate chips. Stir until combined.

6. Drop spoonfuls of dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

7. Bake for 10–12 minutes, until the cookies are golden brown

This cookie recipe can be tweaked to suit your needs. Just make sure it stays with the narrative.

Have fun and enjoy!