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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Brooklyn Blackout Cupcakes

Brooklyn Blackout Cupcakes

cake· dessert· Holiday Favorites· Uncategorized· Valentine's Day
March 5, 2024

Brooklyn Blackout Cupcakes – Rich chocolate cupcakes are filled with homemade chocolate pudding and topped with fudge icing and cake…
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Funfetti Sugar Cookies

Funfetti Sugar Cookies

Uncategorized
September 17, 2020

Funfetti Sugar Cookies – Sugar cookies with a hint of almond extract are rolled in sprinkles and baked to perfection….
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Coconut Banana Pudding

Coconut Banana Pudding

Uncategorized
March 23, 2020

Coconut Banana Pudding – Classic banana pudding is taken up a notch by using coconut milk and coconut cream in…
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Bonus Post! Sunshine Blogger Award Nomination

Bonus Post! Sunshine Blogger Award Nomination

Uncategorized
June 24, 2017

As you know, I typically post things for you guys Mondays and Thursdays. But this week, you get a bonus…
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Story behind the blog

Uncategorized
November 6, 2011

At work, we get these AMAZING doughnuts from Sublime Doughnuts every Friday. And when I say amazing, I mean ah-may-zing….
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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 stack of three pumpkin oatmeal cream pies on cotton napkins with a platter behind it with more pies in the background, shot from the front

Pumpkin Oatmeal Cream Pies

styled shot of a stack of chocolate pecan pie cheesecake bars

Chocolate Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars

front shot of sweet potato cornbread in a cast iron skillet

Sweet Potato Cornbread

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

Carrot Raisin Muffins

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

Parmesan & Thyme Potatoes Au Gratin

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

salted caramel banana cream puffs on a round serving plate with bananas in the background

Salted Caramel Banana Cream Puffs

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

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

overhead shot of Cinnamon Roll Wreath

Cinnamon Roll Wreath

two chocolate cherry crepes on a plate with powdered sugar dusted on top

Chocolate Cherry Crepes

 

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
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

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