Sugarplums Update Healthy Sweets for Kids


pomegranate arils and kiwi fruit Dry cereal, such as Rice Chex, and flaked coconut for decoration Pecan halves for roof shingles


Vegan Maple Caramel “Glue”: 1 cup canned coconut milk (shake the can well before opening and measuring) 3 Tbsp maple syrup 1 tsp vanilla extract Pinch sea salt


Apricot Gelt Yields: 12 servings (6 pieces per person)


11 /2 lb dried apricots


1 lb dark chocolate chips 1 Tbsp coarse sea salt


Using a heavy skillet or mallet, flatten apricots to ¼-inch thickness and set aside.


Place chocolate in the top of a double- boiler over simmering water and stir until the chocolate has melted.


Dip each apricot in chocolate, coating ½ to ¾ of the apricot. Place on wire racks set over parchment or wax paper and sprinkle with sea salt. Let stand until set.


Transfer apricots to baking sheets lined with parchment or wax paper and refrigerate until firm. The gelt may be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to three days.


Adapted from a recipe by Abbie Gellman, SPECertified.com/blog/view/ apricot-gelt-recipe.


Rudolph the


Reindeer’s Stable Yields: 1 stable


Graham crackers Small paintbrushes


Assorted fresh and dried fruits for decoration, such as blackberries,


natural awakenings December 2016 15


For the vegan maple caramel, place all ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir until the mixture comes to a boil. Keep cooking until the caramel thickens and darkens to a caramel color, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.


Remove from the heat and let cool until just warm to the touch, then use for glue. If you like, make the caramel


mixture ahead, store in the refrigerator and then microwave until just warm.


Dab the bottom of 1 double graham cracker with the maple caramel glue; then attach it to a dinner plate to make the stable floor. Glue on three walls, a fence and a roof. When the structure is solid, use more warm caramel mix to attach the desired decorations on the stable, fence and perhaps a courtyard out front. If necessary, reheat the ed- ible glue in the microwave. Let dry for 1 hour.


Courtesy of Jacquie Fisher, KCEdventures.com/blog/healthy- gingerbread-house-ideas.


iuliia_n/Shutterstock.com


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