holiday favorite

front shot of sweet potato cornbread in a cast iron skillet

Sweet Potato Cornbread

cranberry lime mojitos with cranberries and slices of lime

Cranberry Lime Mojitos

zoomed in shot of sour cream doughnuts and donut holes on a cloth napkin, shot from a side angle

Sour Cream Doughnuts

a mug of Raspberry Hot Chocolate topped with raspberries and marshmallows on a plate with more raspberries and marshmallows surrounding it on top of a plaid tablecloth, shot from the front

Raspberry Hot Chocolate

a corner shot of a plate of Raspberry Almond Linzer Cookies with a shaker of powdered sugar in the background, shot from a side angle

Raspberry Almond Linzer Cookies

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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

a hand holding up a cinnamon bun soft pretzel

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. Extra cream cheese icing is the perfect dipping sauce! I’ll never forget my first cinnamon sugar soft pretzel – it was at the mall and my grandma ordered a couple for all of us to share. She was equally obsessed…
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a hand holding a honey garlic chicken tender with the plate o chicken tenders in the background

Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders

chicken entrees
March 21, 2022

Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders – Extra crispy chicken tenders are tossed in a buttery honey garlic sauce to make them sticky, sweet, and salty, all at the same time! Today’s recipe is all about the classic chicken tender. But instead of boring plain tenders that you dip in a sauce, these chicken tenders are an excited mix of crispy coating…
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photo hands pulling apart arepa con queso to reveal gooey melted cheese

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 mozzarella cheese before forming into a patty and grilling until firm Arepas were a main staple of my childhood. My Cololmbian grandmother lived with us and made these frequently. We all loved them so much. I especially loved the starchy…
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bailey cheesecake brownie bites on a dessert plate with one missing a bite to expose the creamy center

Baileys Cheesecake Brownie Bites

bars and brownies· cake· dessert· Easter· Holiday Favorites
March 14, 2022

Baileys Cheesecake Brownie Bites – Brownie bottoms are topped with Baileys Irish Cream cheesecake and baked until set. Topped with chocolate ganache. St. Patrick’s Day is coming up this week! To celebrate, I have a fun new dessert to share. This one is made with a hint Bailey’s Irish Cream and lots of chocolate. I used my favorite mini molds…
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close up of a stuffed shell getting scooping out of the casserole dish

Spinach & Cheese Stuffed Shells with Vodka Sauce

pizza & pasta
March 10, 2022

Spinach & Cheese Stuffed Shells with Vodka Sauce – Jumbo pasta shells are stuffed with ricotta, spinach, and mozzarella, covered in homemade vodka sauce, and baked with more cheese on top Ricotta cheese is one of my favorite cheeses to cook with. I love how creamy it gets when warm – perfect for layering and stuffing into pastas. Recently, I…
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plate of croissant french toast with powdered sugar and fruit with another plate in the background

Croissant French Toast

breakfast· breakfast casseroles· Holiday Favorites· Valentine's Day
March 7, 2022

Croissant French Toast – Mini croissants are dipped in a rich custard and fried until crisp on the outside and creamy on the inside French toast has been apart of my life since I was a little girl. We made French toast at home way more often than we did pancakes. I loved it then but it’s since fallen out…
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close up of orange vanilla scones sitting on a baking sheet with icing dripping down the side

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 treat with afternoon tea With spring approaching, it’s hard not to get excited about the warmer weather and blooming flowers and trees. Around this time of year, I love to pivot towards making fruity desserts and brunch fare, especially since…
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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

overhead shot of quinoa harvest salad on a plate

Quinoa Harvest Salad

zoomed in shot of cut up apple cider caramels

Apple Cider Caramels

Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes

caramel macchiato cupcakes some drizzled with caramel sauce, shot from the front

Caramel Macchiato Cupcakes

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

Butterscotch Pear Turnovers

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Classic Pot Roast – chuck roast slowly cooked in Classic Pot Roast – chuck roast slowly cooked in a jus made of beef broth, carrots, celery, and onions! Balsamic vinegar, thyme, and mustard give that jus a kick of flavor! 

Cold weather is in full effect, you guys! So comfort food needs to be on the menu! My husband wanted to try a good pot roast, so I used a combination of recipes to come up with the perfect one! 

The secret? Traditional aromatics (carrots, celery, onions) PLUS balsamic vinegar and Dijon mustard set this roast apart with a tangy kick!

Pro tip: Sear the roast first to give it beautiful color on the outside – if you skip this step, the meat will look almost gray when cooked in the broth!

💬 Comment "POTROAST" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for comfort meals
📤 SHARE with someone who loves pot roast!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/classic-pot-roast/
Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Sage Browned Butter – Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Sage Browned Butter – fluffy pillows of sweet potato dumplings tossed in a sage and browned butter sauce for a comforting pasta dish you didn't know you needed! 

This gnocchi was inspired by a dish I had at a local restaurant years ago, you guys! I was skeptical about sweet potato gnocchi with just butter and sage – no cream? no tomato? But MAN, was I wrong! 

The sweet potato gnocchi is even MORE flavorful than the original! It shines on its own with little help from a heavy sauce – that's why it pairs so perfectly with a light toss in sage and browned butter!

Pro tip: Use a potato ricer to break up the sweet potatoes – don't use a food processor or it will make the gnocchi gummy and pasty! The ricer makes it super fluffy!

Perfect for fall dinners, Thanksgiving, date nights, or anytime you want restaurant-quality comfort food at home! 

💬 Comment "GNOCCHI" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for fall cooking
📤 SHARE with someone who loves pasta!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/sweet-potato-gnocchi-with-sage-browned-butter/
Sour Cream Doughnuts – dense and crispy on the o Sour Cream Doughnuts – dense and crispy on the outside, moist and cakey on the inside! Your favorite old-fashioned cake doughnuts ready in half the time as yeast doughnuts!

These are also known as old-fashioned doughnuts, you guys! They're bulky, firm on the outside, but oh-so-moist on the inside! The BEST combination of textures – crunchy yet chewy, dense yet moist! 

I fell in love with these at a local bakery, and now my husband surprises me with them from time to time! Do I have a great man or what?!

Pro tip: Don't roll the dough too thin or the doughnuts will turn to hockey pucks when you fry them! You're better off making the dough too thick than too thin!

Perfect for weekend breakfast, Easter morning, brunch, or anytime you want homemade doughnuts without the wait! 

💬 Comment "DOUGHNUTS" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for weekend baking
📤 SHARE with someone who loves doughnuts!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/sour-cream-doughnuts
Creamy Poblano Enchiladas – tortillas stuffed wi Creamy Poblano Enchiladas – tortillas stuffed with shredded chicken, covered in a creamy poblano sauce and cheese, then baked until creamy perfection! 

I'm more of a green enchiladas fan than red, you guys! While this sauce isn't traditional green enchilada sauce, it's got similar flavor notes! Plus, with the added milk, it's super creamy and decadent! 

The secret? A roux makes the sauce ultra creamy without needing tons of heavy cream!

Pro tip: Don't skip the lime juice! It's KEY to balancing out the flavors – this is NOT an optional ingredient!

Perfect for Cinco de Mayo, dinner parties, family dinners, or anytime you want creamy enchiladas! 🎉

💬 Comment "POBLANO" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for Cinco de Mayo
📤 SHARE with someone who loves enchiladas!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/creamy-poblano-enchiladas/
Beef Empanadas – flaky pie dough filled with cum Beef Empanadas – flaky pie dough filled with cumin-spiced beef and tomato mixture!

These are perfect for Cinco de Mayo, you guys! Small party-perfect size (makes about 20!) with super flavorful filling that's NOT spicy – everyone will love them! 😍

Made with my classic pie dough for the flakiest crust, then filled with seasoned beef, onions, and tomatoes!

Pro tip: Make sure to chill the dough before rolling it out – this lets it rest and firm up so it gets nice and flaky while baking!

Perfect for Cinco de Mayo parties, game day, meal prep, or anytime you want delicious hand-held snacks!

💬 Comment "EMPANADAS" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for party planning
📤 SHARE with someone who loves empanadas!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/beef-empanadas

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