holiday favorite

stacked maple walnut cookies on a red orange napkin and one cookie with a bite removed

Maple Walnut Cookies

Pumpkin Tres Leches

Pigs in a Blanket Wreath on parchment paper with thyme sprigs and a dish of dipping sauce in the center with cans of dr pepper and plates in the background, shot from a side angle

Pigs in a Blanket Wreath

plate of croissant french toast with powdered sugar and fruit with another plate in the background

Croissant French Toast

raspberry chocolate molten cake on a plate with bites removed to reveal the center

Raspberry Chocolate Molten Cakes

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • Work With Me
  • Contact

CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

close up of slice of roasted strawberry bundt cake taken from the side to show the inside of the slice

Roasted Strawberry Bundt Cake

cake· dessert· Easter· Holiday Favorites· Summertime Favorites· Valentine's Day
May 27, 2021

Roasted Strawberry Bundt Cake – Strawberries are roasted before adding to the cake batter in order to concentrate their flavor and remove the excess liquid, that we then use to make a strawberry icing to drizzle over the roasted strawberry cake. Berry season is in full swing! We certainly have been indulging in our fair share of berries in the…
Read More

overhead shot of pineapple upside down cake with a slice removed

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

cake· dessert· Summertime Favorites
May 24, 2021

Pineapple Upside Down Cake – Fluffy vanilla cake topped with brown sugar pineapple slices During my pregnancy last year, I was eating lots of fruit. I couldn’t buy it fast enough so I start buying it in cans so we always had some on hand. Pineapple was one of those fruits I loved to eat from a can – it’s…
Read More

photo of creme brulee doughnuts stacked together with the top doughnut missing a bite

Crème Brûlée Doughnuts

doughnuts and sweet rolls· Easter· Holiday Favorites· pastries
May 20, 2021

Crème Brûlée Doughnuts – Fluffy brioche doughnuts are filled with a vanilla bean custard, dipped in icing and then topped with a hard caramelized sugar brûlée Today’s recipe is a recreation of my favorite doughnut of all time. I discovered it during my pregnancy last year when I was obsessed with doughnuts. We started getting fancy doughnuts from a local…
Read More

picture of mixed berry almond tart dusted with powdered sugar shot at an angle from the front

Mixed Berry Almond Tart

dessert· Holiday Favorites· pie· Summertime Favorites· Valentine's Day
May 17, 2021

Mixed Berry Almond Tart – A baked tart made from buttery pie crust, frangipane almond filling and berries sprinkled throughout Get ready for yet another Great British Baking Show inspired treat! For today’s inspiration, I decided to try out frangipane for the first time. Frangipane is an almond filling used in tarts and other baked treats. I had never heard…
Read More

photo of healthy onion dip in a square bowl with a chip sitting in the center

Healthy Onion Dip

appetizer· snacks· Summertime Favorites· Tailgating Recipes
May 14, 2021

Healthy Onion Dip – A dip made from roasted onions, garlic, lemon juice and Greek yogurt will be your favorite addition to any event As things start to get back to normal, many of us are starting to gather again with friends and family we haven’t seen in over a year. For the first time in forever, we have had…
Read More

My Favorite Grilled Chicken Sandwich

chicken entrees· sandwiches & wraps· Tailgating Recipes
May 10, 2021

My favorite grilled chicken sandwich – I love this sandwich because of it’s simple ingredients, juicy texture, and yummy flavor without being overwhelming. We make it every week! This week, I am sharing a recipe that we make every week. We started making it about a year ago as a way to get more healthy yet simple recipes into our…
Read More

zoomed in shot of orange-scented madelines on a white plate

Orange-Scented Madeleines

cake· Cookies· dessert· Easter· Holiday Favorites
May 6, 2021

Orange-Scented Madeleines – Little Madeleine cakes are sprinkled with orange zest to give them a hint of orange flavor Today’s recipe is for a cute little treat that can be made in a jiffy. As such, it’s a great dessert or snack to make with very little notice or when you have a sudden craving for something sweet. Even more,…
Read More

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 30
  • 31
  • 32
  • 33
  • 34
  • …
  • 92
  • Next Page »

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 slice of apple cinnamon stuffed french toast on a plate with powdered sugae

Apple Cinnamon Stuffed French Toast

a stack of three Apple Cider Crumb Doughnuts on a cloth napkin with more doughnuts around them, shot from the front

Apple Cider Crumb Doughnuts

plate of stack of pistachio pancakes with a bite of them on a fork with pistachios sprinkled around on a cloth napkin, shot from overhead

Pistachio Pancakes

front shot of sweet potato cornbread in a cast iron skillet

Sweet Potato Cornbread

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

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Cookie Bars

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

Breakfast
Appetizers
Entrees
Salads
Sides
Drinks
Desserts
Roundups
Holidays

Browse by Date

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Contact Me
  • Privacy Policy

 

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

Copyright © 2026 Certified Pastry Aficionado · Web Design by Viva la Violet