• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • Work With Me
  • Contact

CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

About Me

As Featured In:

Welcome to Certified Pastry Aficionado, or CPA for short. Thanks for stopping by! My name is Sharon and I am, yes, you guessed it…a CPA. That stands for Certified Public Accountant. I spent a few years as a public accountant, and now I currently work as a regional controller at a large paper company in Atlanta, GA. I live with my husband, Tyson, and my two children, who are my favorite taste testers. We have the sweetest little kitties, Autumn and Dorito. I take way too many pictures of them, but, in my defense, they are cute wayyyy too many times.

Sharon And Her Husband Tyson, Next To Her Two Kittens.

About the Blog

I’ve been baking since I can remember. I actually still have the first cookbook I ever received when I was about 10 years old. Ever since then, I’ve been the happiest in the kitchen. I’d use any opportunity to make things for friends and family – Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, birthdays, and even to impress my coworkers at a new job.

When I first starting working at a public accounting firm after college, I would bring in treats for all my coworkers to munch on. Being a single girl in the city, it gave me a reason to bake tons of stuff without gaining thousands of pounds, plus baking was the best stress-reliever. A coworker suggested that I blog about the things I make and give tips to bakers just like me. And, alas, the blog was born!

On the blog, you can find anything and everything that I love to eat. I never post a recipe that I am not whole-heartedly obsessed with. Therefore, most of the recipes you’ll find are indulgent and rich and even sinful. This includes: yummy pasta dishes, comforting soups, all things sweet, boozy drinks, and, most of all, carbs. This doesn’t mean I don’t post healthy food, but flavor comes first. If it ain’t yummy, I ain’t sharing it.

I make a mixture of easy and challenging recipes. But I pride myself on the helpful tips I give at the end of every post to encourage cooks and bakers of all strengths to give these recipes a try. No one should ever feel that they’re not experienced enough to make the food they crave. So my goal with each post is to empower people to give the recipe a try.

And don’t worry; not everything I make will test your baking limits. My husband’s favorite things are chocolate chip cookies and cinnamon anything so I will be working on the classics just as much : )

I also love taking suggestions! I’ll bake anything and everything. So please…send me any recipes you’d like to see me make and I’ll document every step of the way!

More About Me

I’m a graduate of the University of Florida (Go Gators!). I moved to Atlanta after graduation for work from sunny ole Florida I met my amazing husband shortly after and we were married in 2015. We are two goofballs in love and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I probably use more exclamation points and emoticons than a teenage girl, I spend way too much time stalking food pics on Instagram, I love to spend time on the couch, binge-watching Netflix, and I have the compulsive-need to walk down every aisle of the grocery store.

38941_10100475981256561_3294228_n

Here are some pictures from our wedding (taken by Carrie Joy Photography):

IMG_4225

IMG_4217 edited

IMG_4277 dited

Atlanta is a mecca for Southern food. I was so pleasantly surprised to find some of the best food that I’ve ever had right here in Atlanta. You’ll find me document a lot of my food journeys on my Instagram, as well posts about my baking journeys. Check me out!

You can also follow me on:

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Foodgawker

Or shoot me an email: [email protected]

Favorite foods: rustic pizza, s’mores, macarons (especially pistachio), blackberries, almond croissants, salted caramel, hazelnuts, a good steak, anything with vinegar, goat cheese, coffee, chocolate chip cookies, most types of cobbler, Oreos (NOT double stuff).

Least favorite foods (and even foods I despise!): fennel, olives, artichoke hearts, black licorice, cooked broccoli, canned green beans, chocolate and orange paired together, tea, cardamom, desserts made with florals (sorry rosewater).

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

slices of Pumpkin Banana Bread on a cotton napkin with walnuts sprinkled around and bananas in the background, shot from a side angle

Pumpkin Banana Bread

close up of a slice of pumpkin crumb cake separated from the rest of the cake but not on a plate yet

Pumpkin Crumb Cake

close up of potato dinner rolls on a wooden round serving platter

Potato Dinner Rolls

portion of sweet potato gratin being removed from casserole dish, revealing gooey center

Sweet Potato Gratin

Cinnamon Latte Whoopie Pies

Candied Pecans

ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK NOW!

photo of entertaining made easy cookbook available for preorder now

Breakfast
Appetizers
Entrees
Salads
Sides
Drinks
Desserts
Roundups
Holidays

Browse by Date

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Contact Me
  • Privacy Policy

holiday favorite

zoomed in shot of min fruit tarts, shot from a side angle

Classic Fruit Tarts

zoomed in shot of a Rum Cake surrounded with raspberries on top of a cloth napkin, shot from the front

Rum Cake

Berry Mimosas in flutes pictured with champagne and bowl of berries

Berry Mimosas

a plate of Peanut Butter Blossoms and a wrapped hershey kiss next to them and a pan of more cookies and hershey kisses in the background, shot from a side angle

Peanut Butter Blossoms

zoomed in shot of a piece of Vanilla Bean Cheesecake with a bite taken out of it with a plate of more cheesecake in the background, shot from the front

Vanilla Bean Cheesecake

 

Berry Crumble Pie – homemade pie crust filled wi Berry Crumble Pie – homemade pie crust filled with four kinds of berries and baked with a brown sugar cinnamon crumble topping!

My husband said this might be his NEW favorite pie, you guys – and apple has ALWAYS been his #1! What he loves? The sweet and tart flavors balancing each other perfectly, plus that crispy (not crunchy!) cinnamon crumble! 

The secret? Starting with a blueberry sauce creates a thick base so the filling doesn't get watery!

Pro tip: Don't cut into this pie until it's completely cooled (3 hours!) or it will fall apart everywhere!

Perfect for Thanksgiving, holidays, or anytime you want an incredible berry pie!

💬 Comment "BERRYPIE" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for pie season
📤 SHARE with someone who loves pie!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/berry-crumble-pie/
Caesar Pasta Salad – penne pasta tossed with all Caesar Pasta Salad – penne pasta tossed with all your favorite Caesar salad ingredients! 🥗

I'm not usually a huge creamy pasta salad fan, you guys, but this one BLEW ME AWAY! The homemade Caesar dressing adds SO much bold flavor and only gets better as time goes by! 

The combo of crispy romaine, perfectly al dente pasta, juicy tomatoes, and that incredible dressing? Perfection!

Pro tip: Shred your own Parmesan cheese! Pre-shredded is too thick – freshly shredded blends into the salad SO much better!

Perfect for summer BBQs, potlucks, picnics, or anytime you need an amazing pasta salad! ☀️

💬 Comment "CAESAR" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for summer entertaining
📤 SHARE with someone who loves Caesar salad!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/caesar-pasta-salad
#PastaSalad #CaesarSalad #SummerSalad #PastaSaladRecipe #SummerSide #SummerRecipes #EasySalad #HomemadeDressing #PastaSalads #SummerFood
Grilled Bang Bang Shrimp Skewers – grilled shrim Grilled Bang Bang Shrimp Skewers – grilled shrimp covered in a spicy, creamy, sweet chili sauce!

Grilling is my FAVORITE, you guys! Those charred grill marks add SO much flavor! This is my grilled twist on the classic fried Bang Bang Shrimp from that upscale seafood restaurant – healthier and just as delicious! 

The sauce is simply mayo + sweet chili sauce + sriracha. SO easy!

Pro tip: Taste your sauce first and add more sriracha if needed – mine was too mild so I kept adding more! And soak those wooden skewers for 30 minutes so they don't catch fire!

Perfect for summer BBQs, pool parties, or anytime you want easy grilled appetizers! 

💬 Comment "BANGBANG" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for grilling season
📤 SHARE with someone who loves shrimp!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/grilled-bang-bang-shrimp-skewers

#BangBangShrimp #GrilledShrimp #ShrimpSkewers #BBQRecipes #GrilledSeafood #ShrimpRecipes #PoolPartyFood #OutdoorCooking #SummerFood
Carrot Snack Cake – a single-layer carrot cake t Carrot Snack Cake – a single-layer carrot cake topped with homemade cream cheese frosting and sprinkled with chopped pecans!

Easter isn't the same without carrot cake, but who has time for a three-layer version anymore? Not me! This snack cake has ALL the classic flavors – cinnamon, carrot, nutmeg, brown sugar, pecans – with HALF the effort! 

Made in a 9x9 pan and you can even frost it right in the pan for extra simplicity!
Pro tip: Freshly shred your carrots – they're softer and taste SO much better than pre-shredded matchstick carrots!

Perfect for Easter, spring gatherings, potlucks, or anytime you want carrot cake without the fuss! 

💬 Comment "CARROTCAKE" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for easy baking
📤 SHARE with someone who loves carrot cake!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/carrot-snack-cake/
#CarrotCake #CarrotSnackCake #EasterDessert #SpringDesserts #EasyCake #CakeRecipes #HomemadeCake #SpringBaking #EasyDessert #SheetCake
Mixed Berry Fool – a no-bake British dessert mad Mixed Berry Fool – a no-bake British dessert made from sweetened smashed berries folded into fresh whipped cream!

I learned about this from my Great British Baking Show binges, you guys! A "fool" is just crushed fruit folded into whipped cream – SO simple! This version uses strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries for the perfect spring treat!

Everyone in my family loved this! Creamy, light, tart, and sweet all at once!
Pro tip: Chill the berries for 15 minutes but DON'T let them freeze – stir occasionally to prevent ice crystals!

Perfect for Easter, Valentine's Day, spring brunches, or anytime you need an elegant no-bake dessert! 🌸

💬 Comment "BERRYFOOL" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for spring entertaining
📤 SHARE with someone who loves berries

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/mixed-berry-fool

#MixedBerryFool #BerryFool #NoBakeDessert #SpringDesserts #BritishDessert #EasterDessert #BerryDessert #FreshBerries #SummerDessert #BrunchDessert

Copyright © 2026 Certified Pastry Aficionado · Web Design by Viva la Violet