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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Blueberry Crumb Bars

Blueberry Crumb Bars

bars and brownies· Easter· Summertime Favorites
April 22, 2012

Blueberry Crumb Bars – Fresh blueberries with a hint of lemon zest on top of a buttery crust and sprinkled…
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Bourbon Peach Hand Pies

Bourbon Peach Hand Pies

Easter· pie· Summertime Favorites
March 25, 2012

Bourbon Peach Hand Pies – Mini peach hand pies with a hint of bourbon. This week’s baked good was inspired…
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Southern Buttermilk Biscuits

Southern Buttermilk Biscuits

biscuits· Easter
March 21, 2012

Southern Buttermilk Biscuits – These southern buttermilk biscuits are given a little boost from active drive yeast so they become…
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Glazed Doughnut Muffins

Glazed Doughnut Muffins

breakfast· Easter· muffins
March 11, 2012

Glazed Doughnut Muffins – These muffins have the texture and flavors of classic cake doughnuts, covered in glaze. At work,…
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Homemade Pop Tarts

Homemade Pop Tarts

pastries
February 16, 2012

Homemade Pop Tarts – Flaky pastry filled with your favorite flavors: strawberry jam, brown sugar cinnamon, or s’mores. For this…
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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 baking sheet with banana bread granola and a whole banana on it, shot from a side angle

Banana Bread Granola

apple cinnamon monkey bread with a chunk out of it and sliced apples in front, shot from a side angle

Apple Cinnamon Monkey Bread

a trio of gingerbread souffles on a serving platter

Gingerbread Soufflé

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

Maple Walnut Cookies

apple pie egg roll dipping in caramel sauce

Apple Pie Egg Rolls

photo of cinnamon apple kolaches with granny smith apples in the background

Cinnamon Apple Kolaches

ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK NOW!

photo of entertaining made easy cookbook available for preorder now

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holiday favorite

Gingerbread Biscotti on parchment paper

Gingerbread Biscotti

zoomed in shot of a plate of stacked chocolate gingerbread truffles with one with a bite out of it, shot from a side angle

Chocolate Gingerbread Truffles

berry pavlova sitting on a baking sheet with parchment paper

Berry Pavlova

strawberry brioche bun on a gray table

Strawberry Brioche Buns

two bowls of goat cheese sweet corn grits with a spoon in it on a cotton napkin with corn cobs next to it, shot from overhead

Goat Cheese & Sweet Corn Grits

 

Italian Herb Wings with Gorgonzola Dipping Sauce – crispy baked wings tossed in garlic, Parmesan, and Italian herbs, served with a creamy Gorgonzola dipping sauce! 🍗

I've been obsessed with wings ever since high school when we'd have 25-cent wing nights at our local pub, you guys! These are a little bit of a step up from those days! 

Instead of my usual teriyaki wings, these are dry wings (not tossed in sauce) coated in the trifecta of flavor – Italian herbs, garlic, and Parmesan! And the best part? They're BAKED, not fried! You can put away that gallon of vegetable oil!

Pro tip: Dry the wings extremely well before coating – excess moisture keeps them from browning! And don't flip them during baking – the longer they're untouched, the deeper the skin will brown!

Perfect for football Sundays, tailgating parties, game day snacks, or anytime you want incredible wings without the fuss! 

💬 Comment "ITALIANWINGS" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for game day
📤 SHARE with someone who loves wings!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/italian-herb-wings-gorgonzola-dipping-sauce/
Peach Raspberry Cobbler – fresh peaches and rasp Peach Raspberry Cobbler – fresh peaches and raspberries topped with a cakey, cinnamon-sugar crust that's so incredible you won't even need ice cream!

Cobblers have stolen my heart, you guys! The first cobbler I ever loved was blackberry, but after tasting this peach raspberry version at a work potluck, it took the top spot! 

The secret? That cinnamon sugar crust! It's not just a topping – it's the STAR of the show! The combination of fresh peaches, tart raspberries, and that cakey, cinnamon-sugar-coated crust is pure summer magic!

Pro tip: Let the cobbler cool for at least 15 minutes before serving so the filling can thicken up and it'll be much easier to scoop!

Perfect for summer gatherings, July 4th parties, potlucks, or anytime you want a Southern dessert with a delicious twist! 

💬 Comment "COBBLER" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for summer entertaining
📤 SHARE with someone who loves fruit desserts!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/peach-raspberry-cobbler/
Nutella Macarons – delicate French almond cookie Nutella Macarons – delicate French almond cookies filled with chocolate-hazelnut Nutella spread! Classic macarons made with the proper technique learned straight from a pastry chef! 

You guys remember when I made French macarons for the first time and they were a HOT MESS? The tops were cracked and bumpy and looked more like brownies! I was determined to get them right, so I took a macaron baking class in person – and it changed EVERYTHING! 

The trickiest part? Mixing the dry and wet ingredients together. Under mix = too dry and cracked. Over mix = dense and heavy. But now I know exactly what the batter should look like!

Pro tip: Age your egg whites for 24-48 hours before making the meringue – this helps them get to the perfect consistency!

Perfect for Valentine's Day, gift-giving, special occasions, or anytime you want elegant French macarons at home! 🇫🇷

💬 Comment "NUTELLAMACARON" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for French cookie inspiration
📤 SHARE with someone who loves macarons!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/nutella-macarons/
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/

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