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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Cinnamon Maple Latte

Cinnamon Maple Latte

drinks· Fall Flavors
October 3, 2017

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DunkinCreamers #CollectiveBias Cinnamon…
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Tropical Red Bull Margaritas

Tropical Red Bull Margaritas

drinks· Summertime Favorites
September 27, 2017

This post has been sponsored by The Kroger Co. Family of Stores in celebration of #HispanicHeritageMonth. As always, all opinions are…
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Electric Orange Pisco Sour

Electric Orange Pisco Sour

drinks
September 22, 2017

Electric Orange Pisco Sour – The traditional Peruvian drink is given a modern makeover with the addition of Red Bull Energy…
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Blackberry Lemon Vodka Punch

Blackberry Lemon Vodka Punch

drinks
August 7, 2017

Blackberry Lemon Vodka Punch – A refreshing spiked punch made with fresh lemon juice, muddled blackberries, and a homemade blackberry &…
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The Ultimate Cookies & Cream Milkshake

The Ultimate Cookies & Cream Milkshake

dessert· drinks· ice cream· National Ice Cream Month· Summertime Favorites· Valentine's Day
July 27, 2017

The Ultimate Cookies & Cream Milkshake – Your classic cookies & cream milkshake is taken up a notch with the…
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Watermelon Margaritas

Watermelon Margaritas

drinks· Popular Recipes· Summertime Favorites
June 19, 2017

Watermelon Margaritas – A refreshing margarita that is made with fresh watermelon juice, triple sec, fresh lime juice, and silver tequila….
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Red, White, & Blue Sangria

Red, White, & Blue Sangria

drinks· Summertime Favorites
May 15, 2017

Red, White, & Blue Sangria – A refreshing white sangria made with dry white wine, brandy, and tons of strawberries…
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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

a plate of pie crust chips with a bowl of Salted Caramel Apple Pie Dip on it and a jar of caramel behind it, shot from a side angle

Salted Caramel Apple Pie Dip with Pie Crust Chips

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

Butterscotch Pear Turnovers on a baking sheet with parchment paper, shot from overhead

Butterscotch Pear Turnovers

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

Potato Dinner Rolls

photo of cinnamon apple kolaches with granny smith apples in the background

Cinnamon Apple Kolaches

close up of a serving bowl with sage and brown butter mashed sweet potatoes

Sage & Brown Butter Mashed Sweet Potatoes

ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK NOW!

photo of entertaining made easy cookbook available for preorder now

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holiday favorite

Peach & Goat Cheese Crostini on a platter topped with basil and balsamic vinaigrette, shot from a side angle

Peach & Goat Cheese Crostini (+wine pairing)

front shot of sweet potato cornbread in a cast iron skillet

Sweet Potato Cornbread

overhead shot of finish amaretto baba cake before slicing

Amaretto Baba Cake

bailey cheesecake brownie bites on a dessert plate with one missing a bite to expose the creamy center

Baileys Cheesecake Brownie Bites

two stemmed glasses of Cranberry Orange Aperol Spritz with orange slices and rosemary sprigs with cramberries rosemary and half an orange on the table underneath, shot from the front

Cranberry Orange Aperol Spritz

 

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
The first time I tasted chocolate raspberry mousse The first time I tasted chocolate raspberry mousse, I was at a small café on a rainy afternoon overseas. A spoonful felt like velvet, silky chocolate dancing with tart raspberry, so light it dissolved in your mouth. That memory haunted me until I made it myself.

This Chocolate Raspberry Mousse is my tribute to that moment. Rich dark chocolate, whipped light as air, with a swirl of bright raspberries cutting through the sweetness. Elegant, indulgent, yet surprisingly approachable.

It’s the kind of dessert that feels special, but doesn’t require hours or dozens of ingredients. Sometimes, the most unforgettable dishes are the simplest.

Would you dig into it plain or top it with fresh raspberries & whipped cream?

Comment or DM with a “MOUSSE” and I'll send you a recipe.
#easydesserteasydessert
#chocolateraspberrymousse #raspberrymousse #chocolatemousse #dessertrecipe #easydessert
It all started on a cozy fall evening. I was cravi It all started on a cozy fall evening. I was craving pie + cheesecake, and I couldn’t decide which to make. So I thought: Why not both?

That’s how these Chocolate Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars came to be. A buttery pecan pie layer rich with toasted pecans and deep caramel, sandwiched over creamy cheesecake, drizzled with chocolate, all baked into a bar you can slice and serve.

Every bite hits: the nutty crunch, the silky cheesecake center, the chocolate swirl that ties it all together. It’s indulgence without the fuss of flipping pies or cutting perfect slices.

Comment “BARS”  and I sent you the link to the recipe. 

#chocolatepecan #piecheesecakebars #dessertbars #pecanpie #cheesecakelove

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