holiday favorite

a pie plate of berry crumble pie, shot from overhead

Berry Crumble Pie

fingers holding a chocolate berry fritter with a wire rack with more fritters and mixed berries surrounding them, shot from a side angle

Chocolate Berry Fritters

Apple Pie Cake

close up of slices of cranberry orange loaf on a serving platter

Cranberry Orange Loaf

mallorca sweet buns on a wire rack over a sheet pan

Mallorca Sweet Bread

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

CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

a slice of victoria sandwich cake with a bite remove and a few crumbs on the plate

Victoria Sandwich Cake

cake· dessert· Holiday Favorites· Valentine's Day
May 3, 2021

Victoria Sandwich Cake – Raspberry jam and fresh whipped cream are sandwiched between two vanilla sponge cakes and dusted with powdered sugar. A British classic dessert perfect for dessert or afternoon tea. Once again, The Great British Bake Show has inspired me to make something I’ve never even heard of. Apparently, the Victoria sandwich is a cake that is a…
Read More

Churros with Mexican Chocolate Sauce

dessert· snacks· Valentine's Day
April 29, 2021

Churros with Mexican Chocolate Sauce – Chewy homemade churros are dusted in sugar and dipped in a thick chocolate sauce lightly spiced with cinnamon and chili powder. It’s hard to believe May is just a couple days away. Where has all this time gone?! I guess when you’re stuck indoors for the last year, you almost loose a sense of…
Read More

overhead shot of pistachio creme brulee with a few bites take out and sugar cracked

Pistachio Crème Brulee

dessert· Easter· Holiday Favorites
April 27, 2021

Pistachio Crème Brulee – Creamy, nutty, and flavorful pistachio custard is finished off with a toasted layer of caramelized sugar before serving. I am constantly looking for new and inspiring ways to honor my love affair with pistachios. In years past, I’ve included pistachios in classic recipes such as macarons and biscotti but also in more fun ways such as…
Read More

picture of forkful of lemon pecorino pasta hanging over a bowl of pasta

Lemon Pecorino Pasta

pizza & pasta
April 22, 2021

Lemon Pecorino Pasta – Long pasta is combined with lemon zest, lemon juice and Percorino Romano cheese to make a simple, healthy (ish) dinner for any day of the week Lemon pasta is something I grew to love over the years. There’s just something refreshing about a pasta dish with fresh lemon, garlic, and olive oil that helps lighten up…
Read More

photo of chocolate chip cookie standing against a stack of more cookies

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cookies· dessert
April 19, 2021

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies – Your search for the best chocolate chip cookie is over. This cookie is the perfect balance of butter, chocolate, sugar, and flour that does not need to chill before baking. You can stop your search for the greatest chocolate chip cookie recipe because I’ve got here for you today. It took me decades of…
Read More

photo of wild rice salad on a white plate with a spoon set in the center

Wild Rice Salad

appetizer· Easter· salad· sides· Summertime Favorites· Tailgating Recipes
April 15, 2021

Wild Rice Salad – Hearty wild rice is tossed in a tangy vinaigrette with dried cranberries, sliced almonds, corn, and red onion to make for a delicious salad that will completely shock you Some of my favorite recipes to share are my recreations of meals I’ve loved from restaurants. My latest obsession was a side dish that I ordered on…
Read More

angled shot of french almond cakes sitting on a white plate

French Almond Cakes (Financiers)

cake· Easter· Holiday Favorites· pastries
April 12, 2021

French Almond Cakes (Financiers) – These almond flavor mini cakes aren’t quite cupcakes nor are they muffins. They’re the perfect balance of sweet and nutty. Perfect for any breakfast or afternoon snack! Today’s recipe is another inspiration from The Great British Baking Show. You may remember me talking about my new obsession with the show a few months ago. Not…
Read More

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 31
  • 32
  • 33
  • 34
  • 35
  • …
  • 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

close up angle of pumpkin cinnamon roll pancakes stacked on a white plate

Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

portion of sweet potato gratin being removed from casserole dish, revealing gooey center

Sweet Potato Gratin

autumn kale salad in a blue salad bowl

Autumn Kale Salad

Cinnamon Latte Whoopie Pies

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

Butterscotch Pear Turnovers

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

Carrot Raisin Muffins

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