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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Cherry Bran Muffins

Cherry Bran Muffins

Easter· muffins· snacks
April 7, 2022

Cherry Bran Muffins – Hearty bran muffins are loaded with dried cherries to make for a yummy (and healthy!) breakfast….
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Scallion Pancakes

Scallion Pancakes

appetizer· bread· snacks
March 28, 2022

Scallion Pancakes – A simple dough is rolled and layered with scallion oil and freshly chopped scallions and fried until…
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Cinnamon Bun Soft Pretzels

Cinnamon Bun Soft Pretzels

dessert· doughnuts and sweet rolls· Easter· Fall Flavors· snacks
March 24, 2022

Cinnamon Bun Soft Pretzels – Soft pretzels are baked, dipped in cinnamon sugar, and drizzled with a cream cheese icing….
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Colombian Arepas con Queso

Colombian Arepas con Queso

snacks
March 17, 2022

Colombian Arepas con Queso – A corn cake made from white cornmeal, queso fresco, milk, and water and stuffed with…
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Orange Vanilla Scones

Orange Vanilla Scones

breakfast· dessert· Easter· snacks· Summertime Favorites
March 3, 2022

Orange Vanilla Scones – Light, sweet scones are flavored with orange zest and vanilla bean to make for a perfect…
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Cheddar Sesame Crackers

Cheddar Sesame Crackers

appetizer· Easter· snacks· Tailgating Recipes
January 10, 2022

Cheddar Sesame Crackers – Crispy, buttery crackers loaded with cheddar cheese and topped with sesame seeds I used to think…
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Pepperoni Totchos

Pepperoni Totchos

appetizer· snacks· Tailgating Recipes
September 9, 2021

Pepperoni Totchos – Tater tots are tossed in an herb butter, covered with mozzarella cheese and mini pepperoni and served…
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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

close up of two brown sugar cinnamon cookie bars stacked on top of each other

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Cookie Bars

overhead shot of Parmesan & Thyme Potatoes Au Gratin in a baking dish

Parmesan & Thyme Potatoes Au Gratin

slice of carrot snack cake on a pink plate

Carrot Snack Cake

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

Pumpkin Cheesecake Macarons

overhead shot of slices of pear coffee cake

Pear Coffee Cake

styled shot of of Salted Caramel Ice Cream in a glass dish with an ice cream scooper with sugar cones and a full ice cream cone next to it and a jar and spoon of caramel sauce

Salted Caramel Ice Cream

ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK NOW!

photo of entertaining made easy cookbook available for preorder now

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holiday favorite

a bowl of Butterscotch Vanilla Bean Sauce with a spoon in it and a bowl of brown sugar with a spoon in it on a cloth napkin, shot from a side angle

Butterscotch Vanilla Bean Sauce

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

Stone Fruit Tart

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

Powdered Sugar Doughnuts

Honey Wheat Bread Loaves

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

 

Can we talk about how guava and cream cheese is TH Can we talk about how guava and cream cheese is THE most underrated flavor combination ever?! 

Growing up, guava was always around. My dad would spread it on toast with butter every morning, and I did the same. But it wasn't until I had guava with cream cheese at a Latin bakery in Florida that I truly appreciated this tropical fruit. 

The cream cheese perfectly balances the tangy guava jelly and makes everything ultra creamy. Wrapped in flaky puff pastry? KILLER.

I know this pastry braid looks super fancy and complicated, but here's the secret: IT'S SHOCKINGLY SIMPLE. When I first saw a pastry braid, I was so intimidated by how intricate it looked. It felt almost unattainable without tons of practice. But I'm here to tell you that is absolutely not the case!

Here's the whole process:
1️⃣ Roll out puff pastry and cut slits on the sides
2️⃣ Spread cream cheese and guava down the center
3️⃣ Overlap the side pieces to create the braid
4️⃣ Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sugar
5️⃣ Bake until deep golden brown

THAT'S IT! The braiding technique is so much easier than it looks, and the result is absolutely stunning.

Two critical tips:
-Keep it COLD before baking: Cold puff pastry = steam when it hits the hot oven = flaky layers! If the butter is too warm, it won't puff properly.
-Bake until DEEP golden brown: Not just golden, but DEEP golden. This ensures crispy, flaky pastry that's cooked all the way through. Nobody wants soggy pastry!

This is perfect for brunch, dessert, or honestly just because you want something that looks impressive but is secretly easy to make. You can also substitute any fruit preserves if you can't find guava!

Want the full recipe? 💌 Comment 'GUAVA' below and I'll send you the link!

#GuavaPastry #PuffPastry #PastryBraid #LatinDesserts #CreamCheese #BrunchRecipes #HomemadePastries #BakingFromScratch #WeekendBaking #ImpressiveButEasy
Do you remember those Danish butter cookies that c Do you remember those Danish butter cookies that came in the fancy blue tin? The ones your mom would buy every Christmas and you'd go absolutely CRAZY for? 

Well, guess what? You can make them YOURSELF! And they're shockingly simple!

I'm talking about those perfectly crispy-on-the-outside, melt-in-your-mouth-on-the-inside shortbread cookies that are basically edible butter. And honestly? 

I don't think they should be reserved just for the holidays. These cookies deserve to be eaten ALL YEAR LONG!

Here's what makes them so special:
-The Recipe: Only FIVE ingredients—butter, flour, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. That's it! If you can cream butter and sugar together, you can make these.
-The Texture: They're like shortbread cookies but slightly softer, so when you bite into them, they literally melt in your mouth. It's pure butter heaven.
-The Secret: Use European-style butter! It has a higher fat content which makes these cookies extra creamy and flavorful. It's worth the upgrade, I promise!

Important tips:
Be VERY careful measuring your flour—too much and the dough will be impossible to pipe
Use a LARGE star tip (not a small one!) or you won't be able to squeeze the dough out
These actually taste BETTER after they cool! The crispiness is what makes them so good, so resist eating them warm (I know it's hard!)

These are perfect for coffee breaks, gift-giving, parties, or honestly just because you deserve a good cookie. You can make them in under an hour from start to finish!

Want the full recipe? 💌 Comment 'BUTTER' below and I'll send you the link!

#DanishButterCookies #ButterCookies #ShortbreadCookies #HolidayBaking #CookieRecipe #HomemadeCookies
After making approximately ONE MILLION pumpkin tre After making approximately ONE MILLION pumpkin treats recently, I was desperate for something with all those cozy fall vibes but maybe... a little less pumpkin? 

So I set my sights on something that doesn't get nearly enough love in the dessert world: SWEET POTATOES! 

And here's my controversial opinion: Sweet potato beats pumpkin ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. There, I said it! 

These Sweet Potato Cupcakes are super moist, perfectly spiced, and topped with the creamiest cinnamon cream cheese frosting. 

They taste similar to pumpkin cupcakes (so if you're a die-hard pumpkin lover, you can absolutely swap in pumpkin puree!), but here's why sweet potato wins:
✨ More starch = MORE moisture and density in the cupcake
✨ The flavor is 100x better (fight me on this!)
✨ That perfect balance between sweet and earthy

But what I'm MOST proud of is how the frosting and cake work together. You know how sometimes you get a cupcake with frosting that's way too sweet so you just eat the cake? Or killer frosting but blah cake so you only eat the frosting? NOT THIS CUPCAKE. 

The spiced cake needs a little sweetness to balance it out, and the tart cream cheese frosting is PERFECT. They're soulmates! 

Important tips:
-Don't undercook them or they'll sink in the center (but more frosting fixes everything!)
-Fill the liners 3/4 full—not all the way—to get exactly 12 cupcakes
-Use a 2M Wilton tip for that fancy frosting swirl (or just spread with a knife!)

Want the full recipe? 💌 Comment 'CUPCAKE' below and I'll send you the link!
Team Sweet Potato or Team Pumpkin? Let me know in the comments! 

#SweetPotatoCupcakes #CreamCheeseFrosting  #CupcakeRecipe
Y'all, I need to talk about these Kentucky Derby C Y'all, I need to talk about these Kentucky Derby Cookie Bars because they might just be the most decadent thing I've ever created!

So here's the deal: I love taking traditional recipes and giving them a major upgrade. 

Traditional Derby Pie is delicious, but I wanted to make something even MORE special. And these bars? They're Derby Pie on steroids!

Here's what makes them absolutely incredible:
The Cookie Crust: Instead of regular pie crust, we're using a thick chocolate chip cookie base. Game. Changer.
The Filling: Loaded with pecans, chocolate chips, and a hint of bourbon that adds this rich, complex flavor. The filling is more dense and cakey than traditional Derby Pie, which gives you the perfect chewy texture.
The Bourbon Caramel: This homemade bourbon caramel sauce is what takes these bars over the top. It's sweet, buttery, and has that gorgeous bourbon depth. And yes, the alcohol cooks out, so it's safe for everyone (even made these while I was pregnant!)!

Important tips:
Don't chop your pecans too finely—leave nice chunks for better texture
If the bars start browning too quickly, just cover them with foil while the center finishes baking
Don't over-thicken the caramel sauce on the stove—it will thicken as it cools!

These bars are perfect for Derby Day (obviously!), but honestly, they're amazing for any summer gathering, BBQ, or potluck. 

Want the full recipe with that bourbon caramel sauce? 💌 Comment 'DERBY' below and I'll send you the link!

#DerbyPie #CookieBars #BourbonDesserts #PecanDesserts
Y'all, I just made the BEST hot chocolate of my li Y'all, I just made the BEST hot chocolate of my life and I need you to try it immediately!

Growing up, I only knew hot chocolate from those packets where you just add hot water. I had NO idea you could make it from scratch so easily! 

All it takes is hot milk, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and the secret ingredient... PEANUT BUTTER!

I've always been obsessed with the peanut butter and chocolate combo (if you've been following me, you know this is true!), but for some reason, it never occurred to me to add it to hot chocolate until recently. And now I'm officially never going back to regular hot chocolate!

What makes this recipe so special? The peanut butter adds this incredible creaminess and depth of flavor without overpowering the chocolate. 

Plus, you don't need to add any extra sugar because the chocolate chips provide all the sweetness you need. 

Top it with marshmallows and maybe a drizzle of chocolate and peanut butter sauce, and you've got pure heaven in a mug.

Important tips:
-Be careful not to overheat the chocolate and peanut butter—too much heat will cause the chocolate to harden
-Add the milk SLOWLY to the chocolate mixture and whisk constantly. It makes blending so much easier!
-This recipe makes 4 cups, and leftovers keep for 5 days in the fridge!

This is the ultimate cozy drink for cold winter nights, holiday gatherings, or honestly any time you need a little comfort. It's ready in less than 10 minutes!

Want the full recipe? 💌 Comment 'COZY' below and I'll send you the link!

What's your favorite hot drink for winter? Let me know in the comments! 
#HotChocolateRecipe  #HomemadeHotChocolate #WinterRecipes

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