Kid-friendly Scrumptious Strawberry Pancake with Quickest Strawberry Syrup + Sweet Strawberry Milk Recipe - Sticky Fingers Cooking
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Family Meal Plan: Scrumptious Strawberry Pancake in a Bowl with Quickest Strawberry Syrup + Sweet Strawberry Milk for One + Rainbow “Crudités” Veggie Sticks + Cool Ranch Dip for One

Family Meal Plan: Scrumptious Strawberry Pancake with Quickest Strawberry Syrup + Sweet Strawberry Milk

Scrumptious Strawberry Pancake in a Bowl with Quickest Strawberry Syrup + Sweet Strawberry Milk for One + Rainbow “Crudités” Veggie Sticks + Cool Ranch Dip for One

by Erin Fletter
Photo by Natasha McCone and Kate Bezak
prep time
17 minutes
cook time
2 minutes
makes
1-1 servings

Fun Food Story

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Scrumptious Strawberry Pancake in a Bowl with Quickest Strawberry Syrup

This microwave pancake breaks all the normal rules for pancake making, but it tastes just as good and can be made quickly. You can even prepare everything the night before and cook it in the morning for a quick hot breakfast. What’s not to love?

Happy & Healthy Cooking,

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

  • FRESH OR FROZEN
  • 3 to 5 fresh or frozen medium strawberries **(see allergy subs below)**
  • 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)**
  • 1 1/8 C milk **(see allergy subs below)**
  • 2 T full-fat plain Greek yogurt **(see allergy subs below)**
  • PANTRY
  • 2 1/2 T granulated sugar
  • 3 T all-purpose flour **(see allergy subs below)**
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp vegetable oil **
  • 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract **(see allergy subs below)**
  • 1 pinch garlic powder
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 1 pinch of ground black pepper
  • HAVE ON HAND
  • 1 tsp water

Fun-Da-Mentals Kitchen Skills

  • beat :

    to vigorously mix ingredients with a whisk, spoon, fork, or mixer.

  • chop :

    to cut something into small, rough pieces using a blade.

  • 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.

  • drizzle :

    to trickle a thin stream of a liquid ingredient, like icing or sauce, over 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.

  • knife skills :

    Bear Claw (growl), Pinch, Plank, and Bridge (look out for trolls)

  • mash :

    to reduce food, like potatoes or bananas, to a soft, pulpy state by beating or pressure.

  • measure :

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

  • 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.

  • slice :

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

  • 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
  • Microwave-safe bowl (wide is best)
  • Microwave-safe plate (to cover bowl)
  • Potholder
  • Cutting board
  • Kid-safe knife (butter knife works great)
  • Metal fork to mash + beat
  • Metal spoon to stir
  • Paper towel
  • Medium bowl
  • Measuring spoons
  • Liquid measuring cup
  • Metal spoon
  • Soap for cleaning hands
  • Kid-safe knife (a butter knife works great)
  • Small bowl
  • Citrus zester or box grater with small zesting holes
  • Citrus juicer (optional, but encouraged)
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Ingredients

Scrumptious Strawberry Pancake in a Bowl with Quickest Strawberry Syrup

  • Syrup:
  • 2 to 3 fresh or frozen (and thawed) strawberries **(for STRAWBERRY ALLERGY sub other berries or peach slices)**
  • 2 T granulated sugar
  • Pancake:
  • 1 egg **(for EGG ALLERGY sub 2 T applesauce)**
  • 3 T all-purpose flour **(for GLUTEN ALLERGY sub gluten-free/nut-free all-purpose flour)**
  • 1 tsp granulated sugar
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp vegetable oil **
  • 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract **(for GLUTEN ALLERGY use certified gluten-free pure vanilla extract, not imitation vanilla flavor—check label)**
  • 1 T milk **(for DAIRY ALLERGY sub dairy-free/nut-free milk)**
  • 1 to 2 fresh or frozen (and thawed) strawberries **(for STRAWBERRY ALLERGY sub other berries or peach slices)**

Sweet Strawberry Milk for One

  • 1 C milk **(for DAIRY ALLERGY sub dairy-free/nut-free milk)**
  • strawberry syrup remaining from Scrumptious Strawberry Pancake in a Bowl recipe—see recipe **(for STRAWBERRY ALLERGY sub syrup made from other berries or peach slices)**

Rainbow “Crudités” Veggie Sticks + Cool 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 sugar, optional

Food Allergen Substitutions

Scrumptious Strawberry Pancake in a Bowl with Quickest Strawberry Syrup

  • Strawberries: Substitute other berries or peach slices.
  • Egg: For 1 egg, substitute 2 T applesauce.
  • Gluten/Wheat: Substitute gluten-free/nut-free all-purpose flour. Use certified gluten-free pure vanilla extract, not imitation vanilla flavor. 
  • Soy: Substitute canola oil or other nut-free oil for vegetable oil.
  • Dairy: Substitute dairy-free/nut-free milk.

Sweet Strawberry Milk for One

  • Strawberries: Substitute syrup made from other berries or peach slices.
  • Dairy: Substitute dairy-free/nut-free milk.

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

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

Instructions

Scrumptious Strawberry Pancake in a Bowl with Quickest Strawberry Syrup

1.
chop + mash

We will start with the syrup. Chop 2 to 3 strawberries into very small pieces, then mash completely with a fork. Transfer the strawberries into a microwave-safe mug.

2.
measure + mix + microwave

Measure and add 2 tablespoons of sugar to the mug and mix thoroughly. Cover with a damp paper towel. Microwave on high for 30 seconds. Remove carefully with a potholder and set aside.

3.
crack + beat

Next, we will make the pancake. Crack 1 egg into a medium bowl and beat it with a fork.

4.
measure + mix

Measure and add 3 tablespoons flour, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon vegetable oil, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1 tablespoon milk to the bowl with the egg and mix thoroughly.

5.
chop + top + microwave

Chop 1 to 2 strawberries into very small pieces and place them on top of the pancake batter. Cover the bowl with a microwave-safe plate and microwave on high for 90 seconds. The top should be firm when done. Carefully remove the plate, then the bowl with a potholder.

6.
drizzle + serve

Drizzle the pancake with 1 tablespoon of the strawberry syrup. If also making Sweet Strawberry Milk, reserve the remaining syrup in the mug for the milk.

Sweet Strawberry Milk for One

1.
measure + mix

Measure and add 1 cup of milk to the mug with the remaining strawberry syrup from the Scrumptious Strawberry Pancake in a Bowl with Quickest Strawberry Syrup recipe (or make the syrup now and let it cool). Mix thoroughly and enjoy!

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

1.
intro

Each of our SFC Sweet Mug Recipes also include this section of the lesson, where kids snack on raw veggies and dip. 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 Cool Ranch Dip! Delightful!}

Surprise Ingredient: Strawberry!

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Photo by FamVeld/Shutterstock.com

Hi! I’m Strawberry!

"Hello! I want to introduce myself. I'm Strawberry—and I have my very own month—May! I'm great in desserts, breakfast foods, snacks, salads, and fragrances. I like to be a part of picnics and holiday celebrations. So combine me with blueberries and bananas (or whipped cream, vanilla pudding, or white cake) for a red, white, and blue dessert for Independence Day in the United States or Bastille Day in France."

History

  • The garden strawberry as we know it was first bred and cultivated in France in the 1750s. It was a cross between a Virginian strawberry and a Chilean strawberry. 
  • The ancient Romans believed strawberries had medicinal powers. So they used them to treat everything from depression to fainting to fever, kidney stones, bad breath, and sore throats.
  • Native Americans made cornbread with crushed strawberries and cornmeal; this is how strawberries were introduced to Colonists and served as an inspiration for the invention of strawberry shortcake.
  • In some parts of Europe, people once believed elves could control how much milk cows produced and that the elves loved strawberries. So farmers tied baskets of strawberries to their cows' horns as an offering to the elves.
  • California produces about 80 percent of the strawberries in the United States. Strawberries have been grown in California since the early 1900s.
  • Americans eat an average of three and one-half pounds of fresh strawberries per year. In one study, more than half of seven to nine-year-olds picked strawberries as their favorite fruit. They're nature's candy!

Anatomy

  • The strawberry isn't a true berry but is called an accessory fruit. Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds outside their skin, about 200 on each berry. And, to be super technical, each seed on a strawberry is considered by botanists to be its own separate fruit!
  • The strawberry plant is a perennial and can last for a few years, producing fruit each year.

How to Pick, Buy, & Eat

  • Some varieties of strawberries are easier to harvest than others. To pick a strawberry from its plant, grasp the stem just above the berry between your pointer finger and thumbnail and pull with a slight twisting motion.
  • To store fresh strawberries, place them whole and unwashed in one layer in a plastic or glass storage container and put them in the refrigerator. Wait to clean them until you are ready to eat them, as rinsing them quickens their spoiling.
  • Strawberries can be pickled! Especially when you pick them green or unripe. If your berries are overripe, make jam!
  • Strawberries can be puréed into smoothies or milkshakes and baked into tarts, pies, cakes, and tortes. Or, roast them and serve over ice cream and berries. You can also dehydrate and mix them into granola or purée raw strawberries and freeze them into yogurt pops. Dip them in chocolate or drizzle them with cream. Strawberries are incredibly versatile—the fruit we wait all year to enjoy once summer weather hits!

Nutrition

  • Strawberries are a HUGE source of vitamin C, especially when eaten raw! One cup of strawberries contains 113 percent of our daily recommended value. Vitamin C is excellent for the heart, bones, and teeth. When we cut ourselves or break a bone, vitamin C comes to the rescue to help repair our tissues. 
  • Strawberries contain natural fruit sugar, called fructose. However, fructose is better than table sugar (white sugar) because it comes packaged with other vitamins, nutrients, and fiber from the rest of the fruit. Plus, the fiber in fruit helps slow down the effects of sugar in our blood.

 

History of Pancakes!

Photo by Ahturner/Shutterstock.com
  • Archaeological evidence suggests that pancake varieties are probably the earliest and most widespread foods made from cereal grains. Prehistoric societies mixed dry, carbohydrate-rich seed flours with available protein-rich liquids, usually milk and eggs, and baked the resulting batters on hot stones or in shallow earthenware pots over an open fire. These early pancakes formed a nutritious and highly palatable foodstuff.  
  • Pancakes are a universal food found in some variations from Africa to Asia to Europe and South America. 
  • Globally, there are at least 100 types of pancakes. To name a few, they include crepes, blinis, latkes (potato pancakes), pajeon, æbleskiver, crumpets, galettes, okonomiyaki, milcao, and Dutch baby pancakes.
  • A pancake is usually a flat, round cake prepared from a batter and cooked on a hot griddle or frying pan. In some countries, it's thinner, more like a crepe, and in the United States, it's usually thicker and more fluffy. 
  • Most pancakes are quick breads; however, some use a yeast-raised or fermented batter.  
  • Pancakes can be sweet or savory. Depending on the region, pancakes may be served at any time, with various toppings or fillings, including jam, chocolate chips, fruit, syrup, or meat. 
  • In different parts of the US, pancakes may be called flapjacks, griddle cakes, hotcakes, or slapjacks. 
  • One man (and giant pancake fan!) ran a marathon while tossing a pancake every 2 seconds for a continuous 3 hours, 2 minutes, and 27 seconds!

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, 1976, 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!

The Yolk's On You

Why were the little strawberries upset? 

Because their parents were in a jam!

Lettuce Joke Around

What's the best pancake topping? 

More pancakes!

That's Berry Funny

How do you make a pancake smile? 

Butter him up!

THYME for a Laugh

What is a scarecrow’s favorite fruit? 

Straw-berries!

Lettuce Joke Around

What do you call strawberries playing the guitar? 

A jam session!

The Yolk's On You

Did you hear about the angry pancake?

He just flipped.

That's Berry Funny

What dinosaur loves pancakes? 

A tri-syrup-tops!

That's Berry Funny

How did the gardener mend his trousers? 

With a vegetable patch!

Lettuce Joke Around

What do you call a cow that doesn’t give milk?

A milk dud!

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