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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Contact Me

If you have any questions about the blog or a specific request for a recipe or anything at all, just shoot me a message using the form below. I will respond within 24 hours. Or you can send me a direct message using the email address in my About Me page. Thanks for stopping by!

 





    Hi, my name is Sharon. I’m an accountant by day, risk-taking baker and food enthusiast by night. Come join me as I share my favorite recipes and test out new ones along the way!

    fall flavors

    picture of apple pecan farro salad served on a white plate

    Apple Pecan Farro Salad

    Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes

    staged shot of pumpkin cinnamon crunch muffins with sprinkled pecans and pumpkins in the background, shot from a side angle

    Pumpkin Cinnamon Crunch Muffins

    plate of pecan sticky bun

    Pecan Sticky Buns

    Cinnamon Latte Whoopie Pies

    a plate with a slice of stone fruit tart and slices of fruit in the background, shot from the front

    Stone Fruit Tart

    ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK NOW!

    photo of entertaining made easy cookbook available for preorder now

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    holiday favorite

    front shot of sweet potato cornbread in a cast iron skillet

    Sweet Potato Cornbread

    overhead shot of fig and goat cheese crostini on a serving platter

    Fig & Goat Cheese Crostini

    mallorca sweet buns on a wire rack over a sheet pan

    Mallorca Sweet Bread

    Berry Mimosas in flutes pictured with champagne and bowl of berries

    Berry Mimosas

    zoomed in shot of Mint Brownie Truffles

    Mint Brownie Truffles

     

    Some of the best meals come from desperation—and Some of the best meals come from desperation—and this Chili Mac & Cheese was born on one of those nights. I had leftover chili and boxes of pasta, and I thought “why not combine them?”

What came out was something magical: creamy cheese sauce folding into hearty chili, elbow macaroni soaking up every bit of flavor, topped with melty cheese and baked to a golden crust. It’s comfort food squared.

This is my go-to when I want something filling, nostalgic, and totally satisfying.

Comment “MAC” and I'll send you a recipe.

#chilimacandcheese #comfortfood #onepotmeals #macandcheese #chilirecipe
    There’s just something about warm, soft pretzels There’s just something about warm, soft pretzels that feels like pure comfort, especially when there’s beer cheese involved.

I still remember the first time I made homemade pretzel bites. The smell that filled my kitchen was unreal, buttery, toasty, and a little sweet. Then came the beer cheese dip… creamy, tangy, with just the right amount of sharp cheddar bite.

It instantly took me back to lazy weekend afternoons spent at my favorite pub, where every appetizer came with a story and a side of laughter.

If you’ve never made pretzel bites at home before, don’t worry, they’re easier than you think, and the results are so worth it. 

Warm, golden bites + rich beer cheese = the snack you’ll want on repeat all fall long. 🍂

Comment “PRETZEL” and I'll send you a recipe.

#pretzelbites #beercheesedip #appetizerrecipes #homemadepretzels #snackideas
    There’s something whimsical about a dessert that There’s something whimsical about a dessert that looks like you’ve painted it in black and white, classic, bold, but full of surprises.

When I first created these Black & White Cake Pops, I was playing around with leftover cake crumbs and two glazes (dark chocolate + white chocolate). 

The result? Elegant, crunchy on the outside, cake-soaked inside, with that satisfying first bite where the two tones meet.

They’re the perfect party treat, a nostalgic twist, or just a fun way to make ordinary cake pops feel extraordinary.

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/black-white-cake-pops/
    Some of my favorite memories start with the smell Some of my favorite memories start with the smell of coffee swirling through a chilly morning. This Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew was born from one of those mornings, when I had leftover pumpkin cream and too much cold brew not to pair them together.

This isn’t just a seasonal drink, it’s that edgy, cozy twist you crave when autumn meets caffeine: chilled cold brew topped with airy pumpkin-spiced cream that slowly melts in and mingles with every sip. It’s smooth, spiced, and addictive in the best way.

Would you take yours extra creamy or light and dreamy?

Comment COLD BREW and I'll send you  a recipe

#pumpkincreamcoldbrew #coldbrewroutine #pumpkincoffee #fallcoffee #creamycoldbrew
    I’ll never forget the first time I bit into a ca I’ll never forget the first time I bit into a cake that tasted like summer itself: the sun-warmed sweetness of strawberries, carried into every crumb. That memory stayed with me until I decided to capture it in cake form.

This Roasted Strawberry Bundt Cake starts with macerating strawberries so their juices deepen, roasting them to intensify flavor, then folding them into a tender, buttery bundt cake that’s bursting with berry brightness. Every slice is soft, moist, and dotted with those roasted ruby surprises.

Comment STRAWBERRY and i'll send you a recipe?

#berrybundtcake 
#roastedstrawberrycake #bundtcakerecipe #summerberries #strawberrydessert #berrybundtcake

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