These Resurrection Rolls are sweet, sticky and delicious rolls, but they’re also a perfect illustration for the true meaning of Easter and the resurrection of Jesus. Make them a new part of your favorite Easter tradition to share with your kids or grandchildren and they will always remember the story behind them.

baked rolls with hollow center and marshmallows in background

Easter time is always a favorite holiday, especially for younger kids. Between the pretty Easter clothes for church, chocolate candy filled Easter baskets that the Easter bunny delivers, to hunting all the pretty dyed Easter eggs, it’s easy to see why they love this time of year so much. With all your other Easter traditions, you can add a new one that is wonderful way to not only have fun making a delicious treat but also share the Easter story at the same time, so they understand the real meaning of the holiday.

These homemade rolls, also called Empty Tomb Rolls, taste a lot like a sticky cinnamon roll and are the perfect Easter morning breakfast, but because they are SO delicious, they’re always a huge hit any time of year.

As you read through the recipe, there will suggestions and bible verses of how to explain each ingredient or different steps as they relate to the real meaning of Easter.

What’s Needed to Make This Empty Tomb Easter Rolls Recipe

ingredients on white counter: half stick of butter, sugar and cinnamon, large marshmallows, crescent roll dough

Cresent rolls- The dough wraps the marshmallows just as the wrapping of Jesus in shroud
Marshmallows-White marshmallow depicts the body of sinless Jesus
Cinnamon and sugar-Used to illustrate the spices used to prepare Jesus for burial
Melted butter-Represents to oil used to anoint Him

You will also want your bible so you can show the verses that help with this Easter lesson.

How to Make Homemade Resurrection Rolls

Preheat oven to 375 degrees
In small bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.

two triangle crescent rolls on parchment with sugar coated marshmallows on top

Open crescent dough rolls and separate into individual triangles. As you are doing this, read John 19:40 and explain how they used white linen to wrap Jesus in.
Next hand each child one of the big marshmallows. Explain how you’ll be using it to represent the body Jesus.
Then, roll marshmallow in melted butter to represent how they anointed His body with oil.
Roll the coated marshmallow in the cinnamon sugar mixture until it’s fully coated. This depicts how they used spices to prepare His body before being placed in the tomb.
Put the coated marshmallow, in the center of a crescent roll dough triangle on the larger end and wrap. Pinch the edges of the dough to seal which will show them how they wrapped Jesus’ body.

crescent rolls closed into round rolls on baking sheet

Place the Easter crescent rolls on baking sheet and repeat until all rolls are complete.
Place rolls in the oven and seal the door with a piece of tape- to represent the sealing of the tomb.
While the rolls are baking, read John 20:1-18 of how Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.
Bake 9-12 minutes or until golden brown.
Open the oven and remove the rolls. Let them know that opening the oven represents opening the tomb.
Remove the rolls from the cookie sheet to finish cooling enough to handle.
Once the rolls have cooled let all the young children break open a roll to see how the disappearing marshmallow and the empty roll is just how on the third day, Jesus rose and how he disappeared from the tomb.

Can I Make these Rolls in Advance?

You sure can! Just prep the rolls the night before, stick in them in fridge. Before you are ready to bake them, take them out of the fridge and let them come to room temperature. Then all you have to do is pop them in the oven and bake them!

Can You Add a Glaze to this Resurrection Rolls Recipe?

These rolls are sweet enough without a glaze. But if want to add a little more sweetness, you can make a simple glaze. Combine powdered sugar, a little milk, lemon juice or orange juice for an easy glaze.

inside of an Easter resurrection rolls with an open bible

Best Empty Tomb Rolls Variations and Tips

These rolls are best when freshly baked but you can reheat them. To do so, start by reheating them on half power in the microwave just until they are slightly warmed through.

If you want to use another type of dough, you can use Rhode’s Rolls or even canned biscuits. Puff pastry doesn’t work quite as well as other doughs.

You can add any of your favorite spices to the sugar and cinnamon mixture. A little sprinkle of nutmeg and allspice is always a good combination.

If you are making these rolls for other occasions, you can add a few chocolate chips to the inside of the rolls.

If you want to use a little less sugar, you can certainly just omit some or all of it and use just the cinnamon or other spices.

Want More Favorite Easter Recipes?

Easter Resurrection Rolls

Author Alicia

Course Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 13

Total Time 23

Easter resurrection rolls are a simple and delicious Easter treat.

Equipment

Bible

Ingredients

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375
In small mixing bowl, combine cinnamon and sugar. Set aside.
½ tsp cinnamon, ¼ cup granulated sugar
Open crescent rolls and separate into individual triangles. Explain this is like when they wrapped Jesus in a cloth.
1 package refrigerated crescent rolls
Give you child a marshmallow and explain this represents Jesus. It’s white and pure because Jesus was without sin.
Roll marshmallow in melted butter. This represents the embalming oils they used on Jesus.
8 marshmallows, 3 Tbsp melted butter
Roll the marshmallow in the cinnamon sugar mixture until it’s fully coated. This is like the spices that were used to prepare Jesus’ body for burial.
Place marshmallow on the large end of the triangle and wrap, pinch edges to seal. This represents how they wrapped Jesus’ body.
Place crescent roll on baking sheet and repeat until all rolls are complete.
Place rolls in the oven and seal the door with a piece of tape. This represents the tomb.
While the rolls are baking, read John 20:1-18.
Bake 9-12 minutes or until golden brown.
Open the oven and remove the rolls. This represents opening the tomb. Have your kids break open a roll to see it’s empty. Explain how the tomb was empty and Jesus is risen.