Kid-friendly Donut-y Apricot-Filled Mug Cake+Apricot Breakfast Pudding+Cinnamon Apricot Milk Recipe - Sticky Fingers Cooking
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Family Meal Plan: Delightfully Donut-y Apricot-Filled Mug Cake + Awesome Apricot Breakfast Pudding for One + Calming Cinnamon Apricot Milk for One + Rainbow “Crudités” Veggie Sticks + Rad Ranch Dip for One

Family Meal Plan: Donut-y Apricot-Filled Mug Cake+Apricot Breakfast Pudding+Cinnamon Apricot Milk

Delightfully Donut-y Apricot-Filled Mug Cake + Awesome Apricot Breakfast Pudding for One + Calming Cinnamon Apricot Milk for One + Rainbow “Crudités” Veggie Sticks + Rad Ranch Dip for One

by Jacy Shoener, Erin Fletter
Photo by NataliaPopova/Shutterstock.com
prep time
27 minutes
cook time
5 minutes
makes
1-2 servings

Fun Food Story

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Delightfully Donut-y Apricot-Filled Mug Cake

What do you do when you feel like a donut but want something healthy to eat? Make this quick donut-y mug cake. Pair it with Awesome Apricot Breakfast Pudding that tastes like dessert and some Calming Cinnamon Apricot Milk, and you have a quick and nutritious breakfast for one that satisfies!

Happy & Healthy Cooking,

Chef Erin, Food-Geek-in-Chief
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Shopping List

  • FRESH
  • 1 lemon
  • 1 pinch fresh chopped parsley (or dried parsley/dried dill)
  • Kid Chefs' Choice for “Crudités:”
  • 4 to 5 baby carrots or carrot chips
  • 1 to 2 celery stalks
  • 1 mini cucumber or 1/4 large cucumber
  • 3 to 5 cherry tomatoes **(see allergy subs below)**
  • 1 to 2 red radishes
  • 2 to 3 jicama sticks
  • 1/2 red, orange, or yellow bell pepper **(see allergy subs below)**
  • 3 to 5 mini sweet peppers **(see allergy subs below)**
  • DAIRY AND EGGS
  • 1 egg **(see allergy subs below)**
  • 2 T full-fat plain Greek yogurt **(see allergy subs below)**
  • 2 T butter **(see allergy subs below)**
  • 1 1/3 C milk **(see allergy subs below)**
  • 1 1/2 T heavy cream **(see allergy subs below)**
  • PANTRY
  • 1 pinch garlic powder
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 pinch ground black pepper
  • 2 1/2 T granulated sugar
  • 4 T all-purpose flour **(see allergy subs below)**
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 3/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 1/2 T apricot preserves
  • 1/4 tsp powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp cornstarch
  • HAVE ON HAND
  • 1 tsp water

Fun-Da-Mentals Kitchen Skills

  • dip :

    to briefly put a solid food, such as chips, fries, battered fried fish, hot sandwich (French dip), or veggie slices, into a liquid, like beef broth or a thicker sauce, like ketchup, dressing, or a dip to impart moisture and extra flavor to the solid food.

  • juice :

    to extract or squeeze out the juice of a fruit or vegetable, like a lemon, orange, or carrot, often cutting open or peeling the fruit or veggie first to access its flesh.

  • measure :

    to calculate the specific amount of an ingredient required using a measuring tool (like measuring cups or spoons).

  • melt :

    to heat a solid food so it becomes liquid, like butter or chocolate.

  • microwave :

    to heat or cook food or liquid quickly in a microwave oven, which uses high-frequency electromagnetic waves to generate heat in the food's water molecules.

  • mix :

    to thoroughly combine two or more ingredients until uniform in texture.

  • separate eggs :

    to remove the egg yolk from the egg white by cracking an egg in the middle and using the shell halves, the palm of the hand, or a device to keep the egg yolk in place while the egg white falls into a separate bowl.

  • slice :

    to cut into thin pieces using a sawing motion with your knife.

  • sprinkle :

    to scatter small drops or particles of an ingredient evenly or randomly over food. 

  • tear :

    to pull or rip apart a food, like basil leaves, into pieces instead of cutting with a knife; cutting breaks cell walls more, so herbs can discolor faster.

Equipment Checklist

  • Microwave
  • Microwave-safe mug
  • Potholder
  • Paper towels
  • Small bowl
  • Butter knife
  • Measuring spoons
  • Fork for mixing
  • Microwave-safe mug or bowl
  • Measuring cups
  • Small whisk
  • Soap for cleaning hands
  • Cutting board
  • Kid-safe knife (a butter knife works great)
  • Citrus zester or box grater with small zesting holes
  • Citrus juicer (optional, but encouraged)
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Ingredients

Delightfully Donut-y Apricot-Filled Mug Cake

  • 2 T butter **(for DAIRY ALLERGY sub coconut oil or dairy-free/nut-free butter, like Earth Balance)**
  • 2 T granulated sugar
  • 4 T all-purpose flour **(for GLUTEN ALLERGY sub gluten-free/nut-free all-purpose flour)**
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 egg yolk **(for EGG ALLERGY sub 1 tsp ground flaxseeds + 3 T apple cider—more info below)**
  • 1 T milk **(for DAIRY ALLERGY sub dairy-free/nut-free milk)**
  • 1 T apricot preserves
  • 1/4 tsp powdered sugar

Awesome Apricot Breakfast Pudding for One

  • 1 egg white **(for EGG ALLERGY sub 3 T aquafaba OR 1 T flaxseeds + 3 T of warm water—more info below)**
  • 1 T apricot preserves
  • 1 1/2 T heavy cream **(for DAIRY ALLERGY sub dairy-free/nut-free heavy cream OR coconut cream)**
  • 1/4 C milk **(for DAIRY ALLERGY sub dairy-free/nut-free milk)**
  • 1 tsp cornstarch
  • ground cinnamon, to taste

Calming Cinnamon Apricot Milk for One

  • 1 C milk **(for DAIRY ALLERGY sub dairy-free/nut-free milk)**
  • 1/2 T apricot preserves
  • 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

Rainbow “Crudités” Veggie Sticks + Rad Ranch Dip for One

  • Kid chefs' choice for “Crudités:”:
  • 4 to 5 baby carrots or carrot chips
  • 1 to 2 celery stalks
  • 1 mini cucumber or 1/4 large cucumber
  • 3 to 5 cherry tomatoes **(Omit for NIGHTSHADE ALLERGY)**
  • 1 to 2 red radishes
  • 2 to 3 jicama sticks
  • 1/2 red, orange, or yellow bell pepper **(Omit for NIGHTSHADE ALLERGY)**
  • 3 to 5 mini sweet peppers **(Omit for NIGHTSHADE ALLERGY)**
  • Ranch Dip:
  • 1 pinch fresh chopped parsley (or dried parsley/dried dill)
  • 1/2 lemon
  • 2 T full-fat plain Greek yogurt **(for DAIRY ALLERGY sub dairy-free/nut-free plain Greek yogurt)**
  • 1 pinch garlic powder
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 pinch ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp water
  • 1 pinch granulated sugar, optional

Food Allergen Substitutions

Delightfully Donut-y Apricot-Filled Mug Cake

  • Dairy: Substitute dairy-free/nut-free butter, like Earth Balance, or nut-free oil for butter. Substitute dairy-free/nut-free milk. 
  • Gluten/Wheat: Substitute gluten-free/nut-free all-purpose flour.
  • Egg: For 1 egg yolk, substitute 1 tsp ground flaxseeds + 3 T apple cider. Mix and let stand for 2 minutes.

Awesome Apricot Breakfast Pudding for One

  • Egg: For 1 egg white, substitute 3 T aquafaba (juice from a can of chickpeas, if no legume allergy) OR 2 T flaxseeds + 3 T of warm water. If using flaxseeds, stir and soak flaxseeds in warm water for 5 minutes or until fully absorbed and thickened.
  • Dairy: Substitute dairy-free/nut-free heavy cream OR coconut cream. Substitute dairy-free/nut-free milk.

Calming Cinnamon Apricot Milk for One

  • Dairy: Substitute dairy-free/nut-free milk.

Rainbow “Crudités” Veggie Sticks + Rad Ranch Dip for One

  • Nightshade: Omit optional cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, and sweet peppers.
  • Dairy: Substitute dairy-free/nut-free plain Greek yogurt.

Instructions

Delightfully Donut-y Apricot-Filled Mug Cake

1.
separate eggs

If not already separated, crack 1 egg and separate the white from the yolk, setting both aside.

2.
microwave + melt

Measure 2 tablespoons of butter into a microwave-safe mug. Cover with a damp paper towel and cook on high for 20 seconds. Stir with a butter knife until the butter is fully melted. Carefully remove using a potholder.

3.
measure + mix

Measure and add to the mug 2 tablespoons sugar, 4 tablespoons flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 egg yolk, and 1 tablespoon milk. Mix well with a fork until just combined.

4.
measure + add

Gently place 1 tablespoon of apricot preserves on top of the batter. The easiest way to do this is by pushing the preserves out of the measuring spoon with a butter knife. The preserves will sink, but a small amount will show through.

5.
microwave + cool

Cook on high for 75 seconds until the cake is firm on top. Cool for at least 5 minutes in the microwave. This will allow the batter to finish cooking.

6.
sprinkle + serve

Sprinkle the mug cake with 1/4 teaspoon powdered sugar and enjoy!

Awesome Apricot Breakfast Pudding for One

1.
separate eggs

If not already separated, crack 1 egg and separate the white from the yolk, letting the white drop into a microwave-safe mug or bowl and the yolk in a small bowl to set aside for the Delightfully Donut-y Apricot-Filled Mug Cake if making.

2.
measure + whisk

Measure and add 1 tablespoon of apricot preserves to the mug or bowl and whisk until the clumps of preserves are broken up and the egg whites are frothy.

3.
measure + add

Measure and add 1 1/2 tablespoons heavy cream, 1/4 cup milk, and 1 teaspoon cornstarch to the mug or bowl and whisk again.

4.
microwave + whisk

Microwave on high for 90 seconds. Carefully remove using a potholder. Whisk until the mixture is somewhat smooth. It will remain slightly lumpy, and that’s okay!

5.
sprinkle + cool

Sprinkle with cinnamon, to taste, and cool in the refrigerator while you make the Delightfully Donut-y Apricot Filled Mug Cake.

Calming Cinnamon Apricot Milk for One

1.
measure + whisk

Measure and pour 1 cup milk, 1/2 tablespoon apricot preserves, and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon into a microwave-safe mug. Whisk to break up any clumps of preserves.

2.
microwave

Cook on high for 60 to 75 seconds to desired warmth. Enjoy!

Rainbow “Crudités” Veggie Sticks + Rad Ranch Dip for One

1.
intro

Each of our SFC Sweet Mug Recipes will include this recipe, so kids can snack on healthy raw veggies and dip while they cook.. All veggies are good for the brain! The purpose is to reinforce and encourage kids to eat veggies and have them learn a little about what each vegetable does for the body! Kids will show which veggie(s) they’ve chosen and share the benefit below. Snack on veggies and encourage kids to eat at least 3 pieces to power up their brains before making the mug cake! Green veggies help keep you from catching a cold! White veggies give you energy! Yellow veggies help make your bones strong! Orange veggies are good for your heart! Blue and Purple veggies are good for your memory! Red veggies are good for your blood!

2.
tear + zest + juice

To make the dip, tear 1 pinch of parsley leaves into tiny bits! Add the parsley to a small bowl. Zest 1 lemon and add a pinch of zest to the parsley. Slice the lemon in half and add a squeeze of juice. Watch for seeds!

3.
measure + mix

Measure and add 2 tablespoons of Greek yogurt, 1 pinch of garlic powder, 1 pinch of salt, 1 pinch of black pepper, and 1 teaspoon of water to the bowl with the parsley and lemon. Use a spoon to mix! Taste! What does it need? Add more lemon, salt, pepper, or garlic powder a little at a time until your dip tastes great to you. Add 1 pinch of sugar to balance flavors if you wish.

4.
slice + dip

Have kid chefs slice up their raw vegetables of choice into sticks or bite-sized pieces, and then dip their Rainbow “Crudités” Veggie Sticks in the Rad Ranch Dip! Delightful!

Surprise Ingredient: Apricots!

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Photo by Emre Akkoyun/Shutterstock.com

Hi! I'm Apricot!

"I'm from the same family as the peach and kind of look like one, but I'm smaller with more velvety than fuzzy skin. I'm also a little less sweet and more tart, but when you cook apricots, that's where we shine!"

History & Etymology

  • The most common apricot cultivar was thought to have originated in ancient Armenia, where its scientific name, Prunus armeniaca, came from. However, genetic studies have found it was first domesticated in Central Asia and China. It then spread to South Asia, West Asia (including Armenia), Europe, North Africa, and Japan.  
  • Turkey is the largest producer of apricots worldwide, at over 850,000 tons per year. The United States, in comparison, produces a little over 40,000 tons, with almost 75 percent grown in California.
  • Apricots are the national fruit of Armenia, grown primarily in the Ararat plain, which is shared with Turkey. 
  • US astronauts ate dried apricots on the Apollo 15 and 17 moon missions.
  • The word "apricot" comes from the mid-16th century French "abricot," from the Spanish "albaricoque," from the Spanish Arabic "al + barquq" ("the plums").

Anatomy

  • Apricot trees (Prunus armeniaca) are from the Rosaceae family, including roses, apples, peaches, pears, plums, cherries, raspberries, and strawberries.
  • The trees grow from 26 to 39 feet tall. The fruit is orange and is one-half to one inch in diameter. Its appearance resembles a small peach, and its skin may be smooth or velvety.
  • The fruit of the apricot tree is a drupe or stone fruit, like almonds, cherries, nectarines, olives, and peaches. A drupe has an outer fleshy part with a thin skin and a stone (also called pip or shell) in the center surrounding the seed or kernel. 
  • A positive consequence of the hard stones in apricots is to protect people from ingesting the toxic kernel inside.

How to Pick, Buy, & Eat

  • Depending on the variety, apricots are picked when fully ripe, between June and August. After they are harvested, they can be stored in a cool place for one to three weeks. 
  • Commercially processed apricots are mostly canned, dried, frozen, or made into jams, jellies, and preserves. 
  • Store ripe apricots in your refrigerator's crisper bin for one to two days. To ripen firm apricots, place them in a closed paper bag at room temperature.
  • Fresh apricots can be eaten as a snack or cooked and made into jams and preserves. Fresh apricots and preserves are added to cookies, pies, cakes, and other desserts.
  • Dried apricots retain many nutrients and are a sweet and tasty snack.

Nutrition

  • Raw, fresh apricots are a moderate source of vitamin A, beta-carotene, and vitamin C. 
  • Vitamin A helps you see in the dark and makes your skin healthy. The deeper the color, the more beta-carotene apricots have and the better they are for you. Vitamin C helps boost the immune system.
  • Due to the concentration of nutrients, dried apricots are rich sources of vitamins A and C and potassium. However, dried apricots contain more than five times more sugar than fresh apricots.

History of Doughnuts!

Photo by The Image Party/Shutterstock.com
  • Although other cultures may have deep-fried dough over the centuries, Dutch immigrants to 17th-century New York (New Netherland) are primarily linked to the modern doughnut's origin. They made a fried sweet dough called "oliekoeken" or "oil cakes." They would put fruit or nuts in the middle of the dough balls to prevent the center from being undercooked.
  • The name "doughnut" might refer to the nuts put in the middle of the dough ball to help cook the center, or it could come from "dough knots," a popular shape for Dutch oily cakes, sweet dough balls fried in pork fat. Today, "doughnut" and "donut" are used interchangeably.
  • Three stories claim to tell how ring doughnuts came about, with a hole in their center, and the doughnut hole inventor in each story is the same. 
  • Story 1: In 1847, Elizabeth Gregory was known for making a unique oily cake with a hint of nutmeg and a filling of nuts. This story says that on June 22, 1847, her son, Hanson Crockett Gregory, was captaining a ship that hit a sudden storm. He impaled his mother's cake that he was eating on a spoke of the ship's wheel to free his hands. The spoke put a hole through the middle of the donut. The captain preferred the cake that way, and the doughnut hole was born.
  • Story 2: Captain Gregory didn't like nuts, so he poked them out and demanded that the ship's cook remove the nutty centers from all future doughnuts. 
  • Story 3: Around the turn of the century, Captain Gregory told the third version in a Boston Post interview. The captain didn't like the greasiness of doughnuts twisted into various shapes or the raw center of regular doughnuts. So he got the idea to punch a hole in a doughnut with the ship's tin pepper box. 
  • Large chains like Krispy Kreme and Dunkin' Donuts have dominated the donut world for the past few decades, but as the "boutique foods" trend continues to grow, donuts are not being left behind.
  • Specialty shops making donuts with unique flavors and toppings are cropping up in major cities across America. Maple and bacon donuts, donut ice cream sandwiches, and even hamburgers on donuts instead of buns; it's clear that donuts aren't just for dunking anymore.

Let's Learn About the United States!

Photo by JeniFoto/Shutterstock.com (July 4th Picnic)
  • Most of the United States of America (USA) is in North America. It shares its northern border with Canada and its southern border with Mexico. It consists of 50 states, 1 federal district, 5 territories, 9 Minor Outlying Islands, and 326 Indian reservations. 
  • The country's total area is 3,796,742 square miles, globally the third largest after Russia and Canada. The US population is over 333 million, making it the third most populous country in the world, after China and India.
  • The United States of America declared itself an independent nation from Great Britain on July 4, 1776, by issuing the Declaration of Independence.
  • The Revolutionary War between the US and Great Britain was fought from 1775-1783. We only had 13 colonies at that time! On September 9, 1776, the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia and declared that the new nation would be called the United States. 
  • The 13 colonies became states after each ratified the constitution of the new United States, with Delaware being the first on December 7, 1787.  
  • The 13 stripes on the US flag represent those first 13 colonies, and the 50 stars represent our 50 states. The red color of the flag symbolizes hardiness and valor, white symbolizes innocence and purity, and blue symbolizes vigilance and justice.
  • Before settling in Washington DC, a federal district, the nation's capital resided in New York City and then Philadelphia for a short time. New York City is the largest city in the US and is considered its financial center. 
  • The US does not have a recognized official language! However, English is effectively the national language. 
  • The American dollar is the national currency. The nickname for a dollar, "buck," comes from colonial times when people traded goods for buckskins!
  • Because the United States is so large, there is a wide variety of climates and types of geography. The Mississippi/Missouri River, running primarily north to south, is the fourth-longest river system in the world. On the east side of the Mississippi are the Appalachian Mountains, the Adirondack Mountains, and the East Coast, next to the Atlantic Ocean. 
  • On the west side of the Mississippi are the flat Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains (or Rockies), and the West Coast, next to the Pacific Ocean, with several more mountain ranges in coastal states, such as the Sierras and the Cascades. Between the coasts and the north and south borders are several forests, lakes (including the Great Lakes), rivers, swamps, deserts, and volcanos. 
  • Several animals are unique to the US, such as the American bison (or American buffalo), the bald eagle, the California condor, the American black bear, the groundhog, the American alligator, and the pronghorn (or American antelope). 
  • The US has 63 national parks. The Great Smoky Mountains, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Zion, and the Grand Canyon, with the Colorado River flowing through it, are among the most well-known and visited.
  • Cuisine in the US was influenced early on by the indigenous people of North America who lived there before Europeans arrived. They introduced beans, corn, potatoes, squash, berries, fish, turkey, venison, dried meats, and more to the new settlers. Other influences include the widely varied foods and dishes of enslaved people from Africa and immigrants from Asia, Europe, Central and South America, and the Pacific Islands. 

What's It Like to Be a Kid in the United States?

  • Education is compulsory in the US, and kids may go to a public or private school or be home-schooled. Most schools do not require students to wear uniforms, but some private schools do. The school year runs from mid-August or the beginning of September to the end of May or the middle of June.
  • Kids generally start school at about five years old in kindergarten or earlier in preschool and continue through 12th grade in high school. After that, many go on to university, community college, or technical school. 
  • Spanish, French, and German are the most popular foreign languages kids learn in US schools. 
  • Kids may participate in many different school and after-school sports, including baseball, soccer, American football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, swimming, and track and field. In grade school, kids may join in playground games like hopscotch, four-square, kickball, tetherball, jump rope, or tag.
  • There are several fun activities that American kids enjoy doing with their friends and families, such as picnicking, hiking, going to the beach or swimming, or going to children's and natural history museums, zoos and wild animal parks, amusement parks, water parks, state parks, or national parks. Popular amusement parks include Disneyland, Disney World, Legoland, Six Flags, and Universal Studios.
  • On Independence Day or the 4th of July, kids enjoy a day off from school, picnicking, and watching fireworks with their families. 
  • Thanksgiving is celebrated on the last Thursday in November when students get 2 to 5 days off school. Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa are popular December holidays, and there are 2 or 3 weeks of winter vacation. Easter is celebrated in March, April, or May, and kids enjoy a week of spring recess around that time.  
  • Barbecued hot dogs or hamburgers, watermelon, apple pie, and ice cream are popular kid foods for 4th of July celebrations. Turkey, dressing, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie are traditional Thanksgiving foods. Birthday parties with cake and ice cream are very important celebrations for kids in the United States!

THYME for a Laugh

Did you hear the joke about the apricot? 

It was pit-iful.

The Yolk's On You

I named my dog Cinnamon!

He's a lot of bark!

The Yolk's On You

How did the gardener mend his trousers? 

With a vegetable patch!

The Yolk's On You

Why was the apricot late to the cooking class? 

He got stuck in a jam.

The Yolk's On You

Why did the baker stop making doughnuts?

He got fed up with the hole business!

The Yolk's On You

What is a French cat's favorite pudding?

Chocolate mousse!

Lettuce Joke Around

I accidentally ate a clock for breakfast this morning. 

It was very time consuming!

THYME for a Laugh

Why was the pudding always happy? 

It had a sweet disposition!

Lettuce Joke Around

Why did the doughnut go to the dentist?

He needed a filling!

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