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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Mocha Brownie Pie

Mocha Brownie Pie

bars and brownies· dessert· Easter· pie· Valentine's Day
February 25, 2019

Mocha Brownie Pie – Gooey chocolate pie with a hint of espresso and topped with homemade espresso whipped cream I…
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Red, White, and Blue Pie Bars

Red, White, and Blue Pie Bars

bars and brownies· pie· Summertime Favorites
June 25, 2018

Red, White, and Blue Pie Bars – Cherry and blueberry pie filling are loaded into a soft, cakey bar that…
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Salted Caramel Apple Pie Parfaits

Salted Caramel Apple Pie Parfaits

dessert· Fall Flavors· pie· Summertime Favorites
June 1, 2018

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Conagra Brands. All opinions are mine alone. #StarsofSummer #CollectiveBias Salted…
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Kentucky Derby Cookie Bars

Kentucky Derby Cookie Bars

bars and brownies· Cookies· dessert· pie· Summertime Favorites
May 3, 2018

Kentucky Derby Cookie Bars – You haven’t had derby pie like this – a chocolate chip cookie crust is topped…
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Chocolate-Covered Key Lime Pie

Chocolate-Covered Key Lime Pie

dessert· pie· Summertime Favorites· Valentine's Day
June 22, 2017

Chocolate-Covered Key Lime Pie – A rich and tangy slice of key lime pie dipped in creamy dark chocolate. It’s…
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The Ultimate Brownie Sundae Pie

The Ultimate Brownie Sundae Pie

ice cream· National Ice Cream Month· pie· Summertime Favorites
February 9, 2017

The Ultimate Brownie Sundae Pie – This brownie sundae pie is oh so decadent but worth every bite! Made with…
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Cranberry Apple Crumble

Cranberry Apple Crumble

dessert· Easter· Fall Flavors· Holiday Favorites· pie· Summertime Favorites· Valentine's Day
November 22, 2016

Cranberry Apple Crumble – A warm dessert made with seasonal flavors of cranberry and apple and topped with crunchy brown sugar…
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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

carrot raisin muffins stacked on top of each other and sitting on a purple plate

Carrot Raisin Muffins

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

zoomed in shot of a bowl of sweet potato gnocchi, shot from a side angle

Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Sage Browned Butter

plate of Pumpkin Cheesecake Macarons with a gourd in the background, shot from the front

Pumpkin Cheesecake Macarons

zoomed in shot of Smashed Sweet Potatoes with cheese being shredded over them

Smashed Sweet Potatoes with Garlic Butter

styled shot of Turkey Noodle Soup

Turkey Noodle Soup

ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK NOW!

photo of entertaining made easy cookbook available for preorder now

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holiday favorite

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

styled shot of Sweet Yeast Rolls on a plate with a bowl of Whipped Pumpkin Butter and a basket of rolls and a pumpkin in the background, shot from a side angle

Sweet Yeast Rolls with Whipped Pumpkin Butter

Pecan Pie Brownies

two powdered sugar doughnuts on a wood plate with more doughnuts in the background

Powdered Sugar Doughnuts

a plate of Slow Cooker Short Ribs with sprigs of thyme on top, shot from a side angle

Slow Cooker Short Ribs

 

Avocado Cucumber Salad – fresh avocado and crisp Avocado Cucumber Salad – fresh avocado and crispy mini cucumber slices tossed with red onion, cilantro, and a homemade avocado lime dressing! 🥑

Summer is HERE, you guys! And that means busting out the avocados! Although, let me be real – I don't need a reason to eat avocados year-round! But they ARE way more flavorful and cheaper in the summer, so I get extra excited! 

I LOVE this recipe because it's so refreshing thanks to the cucumber and the lime dressing! Plus, it's a nice break from the guacamole that tends to hog all the avocado spotlight! This salad is simple with just a few ingredients, but don't let that fool you – the flavor is INCREDIBLE!

The homemade dressing uses mashed avocado as the base, which creates a creamy texture that you just can't get from a bottled dressing!

Pro tip: Make sure you use mini cucumbers because they have way less water than traditional cucumbers! And use semi-ripe avocados so they hold their shape when tossed!

Perfect for summer entertaining, appetizers, picnics, or anytime you want a fresh, refreshing salad! 

💬 Comment "AVOCADO" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for summer entertaining
📤 SHARE with someone who loves avocados!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/avocado-cucumber-salad/
Asparagus Risotto – creamy, cheesy homemade riso Asparagus Risotto – creamy, cheesy homemade risotto loaded with crispy bright green asparagus! The perfect fancy-yet-simple spring side dish that tastes like it came straight from a fancy restaurant! 🌿

Risotto was one of the first "fancy" dishes I learned to make, you guys! I watched so much Giada De Laurentiis on Everyday Italian growing up, and she always made risotto seem intimidating yet achievable!

 So I decided to try it about 10 years ago for Mother's Day (or maybe Easter? – it was so long ago!) and made a mushroom risotto that turned out INCREDIBLE! 

Mushroom risotto is still one of my favorite variations, but asparagus is the PERFECT spring twist! The bright green color and fresh taste pairs so beautifully with that creamy, cheesy risotto!

Pro tip: The key to amazing risotto is patience! Add the broth just 2 ladles at a time and stir constantly. This slow process is what creates that luxurious, creamy texture!

Perfect for spring dinners, Easter, Mother's Day, or anytime you want an elegant yet simple dish that will impress everyone at the table! 🍽️

💬 Comment "RISOTTO" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for spring entertaining
📤 SHARE with someone who loves Italian food!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/asparagus-risotto/
Strawberry Cheesecake Milkshake – vanilla ice cr Strawberry Cheesecake Milkshake – vanilla ice cream blended with real strawberries, actual cheesecake chunks, and topped with whipped cream, graham cracker crumbs, and a fresh strawberry! 🍓

I am very picky about my milkshakes, you guys! They HAVE to be (1) thick, (2) full of flavor, and (3) loaded with texture! This milkshake checks all the boxes!

This one was inspired by my husband's obsession with the Strawberry Cheesequake Blizzard from Dairy Queen! 

He LOVES it, so I decided to recreate it at home – but better! Instead of using strawberry ice cream and cream cheese, I used REAL strawberries and a real slice of cheesecake for that authentic chunky texture!

The key to making this milkshake so thick? I only use ½ cup of milk! The juice from the fresh strawberries helps liquefy the ice cream, so you don't need much liquid at all!
Pro tip: Make sure you're using the BEST vanilla ice cream you can find! Since this recipe is so simple, the quality of the ingredients really makes all the difference!

Perfect for summer treats, date nights, hot days, or anytime you want a decadent, fruity dessert in a glass! 🥤

💬 Comment "STRAWBERRYCHEESECAKE" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for milkshake inspiration
📤 SHARE with someone who loves dessert!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/strawberry-cheesecake-milkshake/
Watermelon Basil Lemonade – homemade lemonade sw Watermelon Basil Lemonade – homemade lemonade sweetened with basil sugar and fresh watermelon juice for a complex, refreshing summer drink!

I love making my lemonade from scratch, you guys! It gives me the freedom to experiment with unique flavors like this watermelon basil combo! I've used watermelon in drinks before (hello, Watermelon Sangria and Watermelon Margaritas!), so I knew it would be PERFECT with lemonade!

Watermelon is such a major symbol of summer, so pairing it with fresh basil takes it to another level! The basil adds an herbaceous, complex flavor that regular lemonade could never achieve! 

This is one of those drinks that looks impressive but is incredibly simple to make – just 10 minutes of prep time and you've got something that tastes like it came straight from a summer garden!

Pro tip: Don't skip the salt! With a drink as sweet and sour as this lemonade, a little salt balances it all out and prevents it from being overly cloying!
Perfect for summer BBQs, entertaining guests, hot days, or anytime you want a refreshingly unique drink! 

💬 Comment "WATERMELONLEMONADE" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for summer entertaining
📤 SHARE with someone who loves lemonade!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/watermelon-basil-lemonade
Fluffernutter Sandwich Three Ways – marshmallow Fluffernutter Sandwich Three Ways – marshmallow creme and peanut butter come together to make the ultimate sweet sandwich using three unique peanut butter flavors: Mighty Maple, Cinnamon Raisin Swirl, and Dark Chocolate Dreams! 

Peanut butter is probably my favorite dessert flavor, you guys! I mean, I have posted THREE different peanut butter cookie recipes in the past year, and that's not even including my PB&J Ice Cream Sandwiches! If this is what addiction looks like, please don't make me control it! 😍

It's my go-to dessert when I have the biggest sweet tooth but no cake or ice cream or candy around! I almost always have the ingredients on hand for a fluffernutter, so I never have to suffer "sweet pains" for too long!

Instead of making a plain fluffernutter, I decided to test three unique peanut butter flavors from Peanut Butter & Co! And I was shocked by the results! Dark Chocolate Dreams (my first love!) trumped the Cinnamon Raisin Swirl! There's something about how the Dark Chocolate Dreams melts into the marshmallow creme that makes me melt after each bite!

Pro tip: Cook on medium-low temp so the peanut butter has time to melt before the bread gets toasty! The melty peanut butter is the BEST part!

Perfect for when you need a quick dessert fix, a sweet treat, or anytime your sweet tooth takes over! 

💬 Comment "FLUFFERNUTTER" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for sweet cravings
📤 SHARE with a peanut butter addict!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/fluffernutter-sandwich-three-ways/

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