Super Sticky Sweet-Sour Cupcakes + Honeyed Apple Cider Vinegar Sodas
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Super Sticky Sweet-Sour Cupcakes
The superstar of these Super Sticky Sweet-Sour Cupcakes is the apple cider vinegar. It’s true that vinegar isn’t a typical ingredient in a basic cupcake recipe, but it’s got a lot of responsibility in this recipe. For starters, it balances the sweetness of the sugar or honey with a subtle tang. So, it’s a good opportunity to teach kids that flavor is all about contrast, and they can experiment with the sour-sweet ratio to create new, exciting tastes.
The vinegar here also offers a fun science lesson. The acidity of the vinegar interacts with the baking powder, enhancing the release of carbon dioxide gas, which causes bubbles in the batter and helps it rise and fluff up. It’s an exciting chance to showcase chemistry in action in the kitchen—and follow it up with eating the delicious result!
I recommend serving them with Honeyed Apple Cider Vinegar Sodas since you’ll already have the main ingredients on hand!
Happy & Healthy Cooking,
Shopping List
- DAIRY AND EGGS
- 1 C milk **(see allergy subs below)**
- 2 eggs **(see allergy subs below)**
- PANTRY
- 1 1/2 C all-purpose flour **(see allergy subs below)**
- 3/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract **(see allergy subs below)**
- 1/2 C vegetable oil **
- 1 C granulated sugar/honey/brown sugar
- 3/4 C apple cider vinegar
- 1 C honey + extra for drizzling
- 3 C sparkling water
- HAVE ON HAND
- Paper cupcake liners
- 1/2 C water
- ice, optional
Fun-Da-Mentals Kitchen Skills
- bake :
to cook food with dry heat, as in an oven.
- measure :
to calculate the specific amount of an ingredient required using a measuring tool (like measuring cups or spoons).
- pour :
to cause liquid, granules, or powder to stream from one container into another.
- simmer :
to cook a food gently, usually in a liquid, until softened.
- whisk :
to beat or stir ingredients vigorously with a fork or whisk to mix, blend, or incorporate air.
Equipment Checklist
- Medium pot
- Liquid measuring cup
- Wooden spoon
- Pitcher
- Oven
- Muffin pan
- Paper cupcake liners
- Large mixing bowls (2)
- Dry measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Whisk
- Rubber spatula
- Knife or toothpick to check for doneness
Ingredients
Super Sticky Sweet-Sour Cupcakes
- 1 1/2 C all-purpose flour **(for GLUTEN ALLERGY sub gluten-free/nut-free all-purpose flour)**
- 3/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 C granulated sugar/honey/brown sugar
- 1 C milk **(for DAIRY ALLERGY sub dairy-free/nut-free milk)**
- 2 eggs **(for EGG ALLERGY sub 1/2 C applesauce)**
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract **(for GLUTEN ALLERGY use certified gluten-free pure vanilla extract, not imitation vanilla flavor—check label)**
- 1/2 C vegetable oil **
- 1/8 C apple cider vinegar
- honey for drizzling
Honeyed Apple Cider Vinegar Sodas
- 1 C honey
- 1/2 C apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 C water
- 3 C sparkling water
- ice, optional
Food Allergen Substitutions
Super Sticky Sweet-Sour Cupcakes
- Gluten/Wheat: Substitute gluten-free/nut-free all-purpose flour. Use certified gluten-free pure vanilla extract, not imitation vanilla flavor.
- Dairy: Substitute dairy-free/nut-free milk.
- Egg: For 1 egg, substitute 1/2 C applesauce.
- Soy: Substitute canola oil or other nut-free oil for vegetable oil.
Instructions
Super Sticky Sweet-Sour Cupcakes
intro
Get ready for a yummy treat with our sweet-and-sour cupcakes! They are super fun because you get a tasty zing from the sour and a big smile from the sweet. Topped with tasty frosting, these cupcakes are perfect for kids who love a little mix of flavors!
measure + mix
In a large mixing bowl, measure 1 1/2 cups flour, 3/4 teaspoon baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Whisk to combine. In a separate bowl, measure 1 cup sugar, honey, or brown sugar, 1 cup milk, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/2 cup vegetable oil, and 1/8 cup apple cider vinegar. Whisk to combine. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Whisk until you can’t see any lumps.
preheat + pour
Preheat your oven to 350 F. Place cupcake liners in each well of a muffin pan. Then, fill each well of the lined muffin pan with 1/4 cup scoop of batter.
bake + cool
Slide the muffin pan into the oven and bake the cupcakes for 12 minutes, or until a knife can be inserted and removed clean. Cool the cakes for a few minutes before serving.
drizzle + serve
Serve each cooled cupcake with a drizzle of honey. Bon appetit! Enjoy!
Honeyed Apple Cider Vinegar Sodas
intro
Introducing our Honey Apple Cider Vinegar Soda, bursting with fun flavors! It is very similar to a shrub drink or a drink made with vinegar. It's a fizzy, tangy drink that mixes sweet honey with a little zing, making it super refreshing. Perfect for kids, this bubbly beverage is like a party in a cup that will make you smile with every sip!
measure + simmer
In a medium pot, measure 1 cup honey, 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, and 1/2 cup water. Stir the mixture a few times, then turn the heat to medium, and bring to a simmer. The mixture will simmer for roughly 5 minutes or until reduced by about half.
cool + stir
Pour the mixture into a pitcher to cool for about 5 minutes. Then, add 3 cups of sparkling water and stir. Finally, add ice if you would like.
pour + cheers
Pour the drink into cups and celebrate another successful recipe with a big “Cheers!”
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Hi! I'm Apple Cider Vinegar!
"I have a sour taste, not a sour temperament! I'm similar to other vinegars, but I have a slight apple flavor."
- Apple cider vinegar is a vinegar made from apple cider. Apples are pressed to express their juice and then fermented with yeast. Bacteria (the mother) is added to the fermented juice, creating acetic acid, and then the juice is clarified, removing the solids to halt the fermentation process. Some raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegars are labeled "with the mother."
- Apple cider vinegar is used in marinades, pickles, salad dressings, vinaigrettes, and drinks, like a shrub. It can be added to foods to give them a sour flavor.
- It can also be used as a leavening agent in baking when mixed with baking soda or baking powder. The combination creates CO2. Baking soda, mixed with an acid like vinegar, creates more of a reaction than baking powder because baking powder already contains a weak acid like cream of tartar.
- Apple cider vinegar is 95 percent water. It is 5 percent acetic acid, which gives vinegar its sour taste, along with the trace amounts of malic acid in apple juice. It has an insignificant amount of micronutrients and is low-calorie.
- Health claims have been made that apple cider vinegar contributes to weight loss and prevents skin infections; however, no evidence supports these claims. Some research indicates it may help support your body's healthy microbiome due to the probiotics present in the vinegar. It is acidic, so it should be diluted before drinking it.
- Apple cider vinegar can be used for cleaning, although white vinegar is generally used. Vinegar should never be mixed with bleach or ammonia, as this would create dangerous chlorine gas and toxic vapors!
History of Cupcakes!
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- The earliest recipe for what would be later called a "cupcake" can be found in a cookbook, American Cookery, by Amelia Simmons, written in 1796. In it, she described "a light cake to bake in small cups."
- The earliest written record of the word "cupcake" was from an 1828 cookbook, Seventy-Five Receipts [Recipes] for Pastry, Cakes, and Sweetmeats, by Eliza Leslie.
- We can conclude from both of these facts that the cupcake is an American creation. Before there were cupcake or muffin pans, bakers used pottery cups to make these small, round, individual cakes. Hence, the name "cupcake!"
- Baked cupcakes can be decorated just like a full-size cake, with frosting type, fruit, sprinkles, and more. In addition, they are sometimes filled with fruit curd, jam, nut or fruit pie filling, or chocolate ganache after baking. To fill a cupcake, after it has completely cooled, scoop out a bit of the cake in the middle, using a paring knife, apple corer, or melon baller. Then, fill the cupcake using a spoon or filled pastry bag.
- Cupcakes can be eaten like a sandwich, a method that allows for frosting in every bite. Pull apart or slice the cake horizontally in the middle, put the bottom half on top of the frosting, then eat it like a sandwich!
- Cupcakes are popular birthday and school party treats. Some weddings have also featured an elaborate tiered cupcake display instead of, or in addition to, the traditional wedding cake!
Let's Learn About the United States!
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- 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!