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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Avocado Cucumber Salad

Avocado Cucumber Salad

appetizer· Easter· salad· Summertime Favorites
May 30, 2019

Avocado Cucumber Salad – Fresh avocado and mini cucumber slices are tossed with red onion, cilantro, and homemade avocado lime…
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Bacon & Blue Cheese Deviled Eggs

Bacon & Blue Cheese Deviled Eggs

appetizer· Easter· Summertime Favorites
March 25, 2019

Bacon & Blue Cheese Deviled Eggs – Classic deviled eggs are taken to another level with the addition of blue…
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Pimento Cheese with Bacon Jam

Pimento Cheese with Bacon Jam

appetizer· dips· Easter· Tailgating Recipes
March 21, 2019

Pimento Cheese with Bacon Jam – Homemade pimento cheese spread is perfectly paired with a tangy, sweet onion bacon jam…
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Philly Cheesesteak Sliders

Philly Cheesesteak Sliders

appetizer· beef entrees· sandwiches & wraps· Tailgating Recipes
March 11, 2019

This post was sponsored by Kroger and The Coca-Cola Company. All opinions expressed on my site are my own.  Philly…
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The Best Recipes for Homegating

The Best Recipes for Homegating

appetizer· round-up· snacks· Tailgating Recipes
September 27, 2018

Homegating – a gathering of friends and family to watch sports at someone’s home. I’ve been a fan of homegating…
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Loaded Totchos

Loaded Totchos

appetizer· snacks· Tailgating Recipes
September 13, 2018

Loaded Totchos – Crispy tater tots are covered in cheddar and Monterey jack cheeses, bacon, diced tomatoes, and drizzled with…
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Cilantro Lime Sweet Potato Fries

Cilantro Lime Sweet Potato Fries

appetizer· sides· snacks· Tailgating Recipes
August 30, 2018

Cilantro Lime Sweet Potato Fries – Sweet potatoes are tossed in garlic, lime zest, and olive oil, baked to perfection,…
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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

oatmeal rolls sitting on a baking sheet

Oatmeal Dinner Rolls

Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes

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

plate of pecan sticky bun

Pecan Sticky Buns

overhead shot of quinoa harvest salad on a plate

Quinoa Harvest Salad

overhead shot of Parmesan & Thyme Potatoes Au Gratin in a baking dish

Parmesan & Thyme Potatoes Au Gratin

ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK NOW!

photo of entertaining made easy cookbook available for preorder now

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holiday favorite

a hand holding a cinnamon roll doughnut showing off the glazed topping

Cinnamon Roll Doughnuts

Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies on a baking sheet with sprinkles on top

Soft, Frosted Sugar Cookies

zoomed in shot of Mint Brownie Truffles

Mint Brownie Truffles

autumn kale salad in a blue salad bowl

Autumn Kale Salad

a plate of pistachio snowballs with one cut in half on top of the plate, shot from the front

Pistachio Snowballs

 

Do you remember those Danish butter cookies that c Do you remember those Danish butter cookies that came in the fancy blue tin? The ones your mom would buy every Christmas and you'd go absolutely CRAZY for? 

Well, guess what? You can make them YOURSELF! And they're shockingly simple!

I'm talking about those perfectly crispy-on-the-outside, melt-in-your-mouth-on-the-inside shortbread cookies that are basically edible butter. And honestly? 

I don't think they should be reserved just for the holidays. These cookies deserve to be eaten ALL YEAR LONG!

Here's what makes them so special:
-The Recipe: Only FIVE ingredients—butter, flour, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. That's it! If you can cream butter and sugar together, you can make these.
-The Texture: They're like shortbread cookies but slightly softer, so when you bite into them, they literally melt in your mouth. It's pure butter heaven.
-The Secret: Use European-style butter! It has a higher fat content which makes these cookies extra creamy and flavorful. It's worth the upgrade, I promise!

Important tips:
Be VERY careful measuring your flour—too much and the dough will be impossible to pipe
Use a LARGE star tip (not a small one!) or you won't be able to squeeze the dough out
These actually taste BETTER after they cool! The crispiness is what makes them so good, so resist eating them warm (I know it's hard!)

These are perfect for coffee breaks, gift-giving, parties, or honestly just because you deserve a good cookie. You can make them in under an hour from start to finish!

Want the full recipe? 💌 Comment 'BUTTER' below and I'll send you the link!

#DanishButterCookies #ButterCookies #ShortbreadCookies #HolidayBaking #CookieRecipe #HomemadeCookies
After making approximately ONE MILLION pumpkin tre After making approximately ONE MILLION pumpkin treats recently, I was desperate for something with all those cozy fall vibes but maybe... a little less pumpkin? 

So I set my sights on something that doesn't get nearly enough love in the dessert world: SWEET POTATOES! 

And here's my controversial opinion: Sweet potato beats pumpkin ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. There, I said it! 

These Sweet Potato Cupcakes are super moist, perfectly spiced, and topped with the creamiest cinnamon cream cheese frosting. 

They taste similar to pumpkin cupcakes (so if you're a die-hard pumpkin lover, you can absolutely swap in pumpkin puree!), but here's why sweet potato wins:
✨ More starch = MORE moisture and density in the cupcake
✨ The flavor is 100x better (fight me on this!)
✨ That perfect balance between sweet and earthy

But what I'm MOST proud of is how the frosting and cake work together. You know how sometimes you get a cupcake with frosting that's way too sweet so you just eat the cake? Or killer frosting but blah cake so you only eat the frosting? NOT THIS CUPCAKE. 

The spiced cake needs a little sweetness to balance it out, and the tart cream cheese frosting is PERFECT. They're soulmates! 

Important tips:
-Don't undercook them or they'll sink in the center (but more frosting fixes everything!)
-Fill the liners 3/4 full—not all the way—to get exactly 12 cupcakes
-Use a 2M Wilton tip for that fancy frosting swirl (or just spread with a knife!)

Want the full recipe? 💌 Comment 'CUPCAKE' below and I'll send you the link!
Team Sweet Potato or Team Pumpkin? Let me know in the comments! 

#SweetPotatoCupcakes #CreamCheeseFrosting  #CupcakeRecipe
Y'all, I need to talk about these Kentucky Derby C Y'all, I need to talk about these Kentucky Derby Cookie Bars because they might just be the most decadent thing I've ever created!

So here's the deal: I love taking traditional recipes and giving them a major upgrade. 

Traditional Derby Pie is delicious, but I wanted to make something even MORE special. And these bars? They're Derby Pie on steroids!

Here's what makes them absolutely incredible:
The Cookie Crust: Instead of regular pie crust, we're using a thick chocolate chip cookie base. Game. Changer.
The Filling: Loaded with pecans, chocolate chips, and a hint of bourbon that adds this rich, complex flavor. The filling is more dense and cakey than traditional Derby Pie, which gives you the perfect chewy texture.
The Bourbon Caramel: This homemade bourbon caramel sauce is what takes these bars over the top. It's sweet, buttery, and has that gorgeous bourbon depth. And yes, the alcohol cooks out, so it's safe for everyone (even made these while I was pregnant!)!

Important tips:
Don't chop your pecans too finely—leave nice chunks for better texture
If the bars start browning too quickly, just cover them with foil while the center finishes baking
Don't over-thicken the caramel sauce on the stove—it will thicken as it cools!

These bars are perfect for Derby Day (obviously!), but honestly, they're amazing for any summer gathering, BBQ, or potluck. 

Want the full recipe with that bourbon caramel sauce? 💌 Comment 'DERBY' below and I'll send you the link!

#DerbyPie #CookieBars #BourbonDesserts #PecanDesserts
Y'all, I just made the BEST hot chocolate of my li Y'all, I just made the BEST hot chocolate of my life and I need you to try it immediately!

Growing up, I only knew hot chocolate from those packets where you just add hot water. I had NO idea you could make it from scratch so easily! 

All it takes is hot milk, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and the secret ingredient... PEANUT BUTTER!

I've always been obsessed with the peanut butter and chocolate combo (if you've been following me, you know this is true!), but for some reason, it never occurred to me to add it to hot chocolate until recently. And now I'm officially never going back to regular hot chocolate!

What makes this recipe so special? The peanut butter adds this incredible creaminess and depth of flavor without overpowering the chocolate. 

Plus, you don't need to add any extra sugar because the chocolate chips provide all the sweetness you need. 

Top it with marshmallows and maybe a drizzle of chocolate and peanut butter sauce, and you've got pure heaven in a mug.

Important tips:
-Be careful not to overheat the chocolate and peanut butter—too much heat will cause the chocolate to harden
-Add the milk SLOWLY to the chocolate mixture and whisk constantly. It makes blending so much easier!
-This recipe makes 4 cups, and leftovers keep for 5 days in the fridge!

This is the ultimate cozy drink for cold winter nights, holiday gatherings, or honestly any time you need a little comfort. It's ready in less than 10 minutes!

Want the full recipe? 💌 Comment 'COZY' below and I'll send you the link!

What's your favorite hot drink for winter? Let me know in the comments! 
#HotChocolateRecipe  #HomemadeHotChocolate #WinterRecipes
When I had a serious craving for pain au chocolat When I had a serious craving for pain au chocolat but didn't want to spend DAYS making croissant dough, I had a brilliant idea: What if I used brioche instead?

And let me tell you... this might be even BETTER than the original!

Brioche au Chocolat gives you all the buttery, flaky flavor of croissants but with the soft, pillowy texture of bread. Plus, that melted chocolate center? Pure heaven! 

The best part is that the entire process is done in a stand mixer, which makes it so much simpler than traditional croissants.

Here's why this recipe is perfect:
🌙 The dough is made overnight, so you can just wake up and bake in the morning
✨ No lamination or complicated folding techniques required
🍫 Each bun has a hidden chocolate surprise in the center
💯 Foolproof method that works every time
🔑 Three tips for success:

Add the butter one tablespoon at a time and let each piece fully incorporate before adding the next (it might look like it won't mix in, then suddenly it disappears!)

The overnight refrigeration is essential—it lets the dough rest AND makes it so much easier to work with.

Don't skip the egg wash! It's what gives these buns their gorgeous golden sheen

These are best served slightly warm (just 10 seconds in the microwave will do!), so the chocolate gets perfectly melty. Trust me, you'll want to make these on repeat!

Want the full recipe? 💌 Comment 'BRIOCHE' below and I'll send you the link!

Have you ever made brioche before? Let me know in the comments! 👇

 #ChocolateBrioche #FrenchPastry #HomemadeBread #BreadBaking

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