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

CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Contact Me

If you have any questions about the blog or a specific request for a recipe or anything at all, just shoot me a message using the form below. I will respond within 24 hours. Or you can send me a direct message using the email address in my About Me page. Thanks for stopping by!

 





    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

    warm banana bread with a couple bites removed sitting on a plate with two scoops on butter pecan ice cream stacked on top and caramelized bananas over the top and a spoon on the side

    Banana Bread Sundae

    close up of a serving bowl with sage and brown butter mashed sweet potatoes

    Sage & Brown Butter Mashed Sweet Potatoes

    overhead shot of partially eaten baked carrot cake oatmeal in casserole dish with serving spoon

    Baked Carrot Cake Oatmeal

    a plate with a slice of stone fruit tart and slices of fruit in the background, shot from the front

    Stone Fruit Tart

    apple cinnamon charlotte sitting on a plate with cinnamon sabayon sliced in half to reveal the apples in the center

    Apple Cinnamon Charlotte

    overhead shot of bright pumpkin fettuccine on a white plate with sundried tomatoes and wilted spinach throughout

    Pumpkin Fettuccine with Sundried Tomatoes

    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

    holiday favorite

    plate of bananas foster french toast casserole on a plate with a bottle of syrup and a baking dish with casserole in the background, shot from the front

    Bananas Foster French Toast Casserole

    Goat Cheese Phyllo Cigars

    puff pastry filled with chicken a la king

    Chicken a la King

    a slice of bread being dipped into the butter in a dish of roasted garlic mushrooms with a loaf of bread in the background, shot from a side angle

    Roasted Garlic Mushrooms

    zoomed in shot of portuguese egg tarts sitting on a plate

    Portuguese Egg Tarts

     

    Cannoli Cones – An easy way to make a homemade can Cannoli Cones – An easy way to make a homemade cannoli without the hassle of frying cannoli shells. Made with sugar ice cream cones which are stuffed with homemade cannoli cream and dipped in your favorite cannoli toppings. 

Recipe: http://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/cannoli-cones/
    Fried Onion Petals – Sweet onion is sliced into pe Fried Onion Petals – Sweet onion is sliced into petals, seasoned, and fried until perfectly crispy. Served with homemade horseradish sauce.

The inspiration for this snack comes from the Bloomin’ Onion at Outback Steakhouse. Making a whole onion seems so intimidating so I never thought to make it at home. But then the thought came to me – why not fried them in little petals instead? They’re also easier to dip than onion rings.

Without further ado, here are the Fried Onion Petals: https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/fried-onion-petals/
    Goat Cheese Stuffed Chicken – Chicken breasts are Goat Cheese Stuffed Chicken – Chicken breasts are stuffed with a garlic herb goat cheese and pan fried until they are cooked through. These are perfect for fun, yet easy weeknight dinner.

Recipe: https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/goat-cheese-stuffed-chicken/
    Double Chocolate Biscotti – Chocolate cookies are Double Chocolate Biscotti – Chocolate cookies are loaded with chocolate chips and baked twice to make them extra crispy and perfect for dunking into your favorite hot beverage.

Biscotti is the dessert I never knew I needed. I discovered them in college when I craved a snack while studying for finals. I bought a biscotti at the library coffee shop and dunked it in my coffee. The cookie that I thought was too crunchy suddenly turn soft and chewy. Yum!

Those memories inspired me to make my own biscotti. First, I made these gingerbread biscotti. And then I made this pistachio version. Now, I’m recreating the biscotti I first had many years ago – Double Chocolate Biscotti.

RECIPE: https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/double-chocolate-biscotti/
    Classic Fruit Tarts – Rich vanilla pastry cream is Classic Fruit Tarts – Rich vanilla pastry cream is filled into a buttery mini tart shell and covered with fresh fruit.

I decided to share a recipe that is (1) perfect to serve during the holidays and (2) absolutely gorgeous to look at. And with that, I present to you my Classic Fruit Tarts!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/classic-fruit-tarts/

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