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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Cranberry Cookies with White Chocolate Drizzle

Cranberry Cookies with White Chocolate Drizzle

Cookies· Holiday Favorites
October 31, 2016

Cranberry Cookies with White Chocolate Drizzle – Chewy, brown sugar cookies with dried cranberry pieces and white chocolate drizzled on…
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Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

Cookies· Fall Flavors
October 6, 2016

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles – This classic cinnamon-sugar cookie is given a fall makeover with pumpkin and spices! Pumpkin and I became close friends…
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Nutella Macarons

Nutella Macarons

Cookies· Popular Recipes· Valentine's Day
September 5, 2016

Nutella Macarons – A classic chewy french cookie made with chocolate hazelnut spread (Nutella).  A few weeks ago, you might remember…
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Reese’s Pieces Peanut Butter Cookies

Reese’s Pieces Peanut Butter Cookies

Cookies
August 18, 2016

Reese’s Pieces Peanut Butter Cookies – Soft and dense peanut butter cookies, with chocolate chips and Reese’s pieces candy. A chewy…
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Red Velvet Macarons

Red Velvet Macarons

Cookies· Holiday Favorites· Valentine's Day
August 1, 2016

Red Velvet Macarons – A classic french cookie made with a red velvet cookie and cream cheese filling. A elegant…
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Pretzel Rolo Cookie Cups

Pretzel Rolo Cookie Cups

Cookies
May 13, 2012

Pretzel Rolo Cookie Cups – Chocolate caramel candies baked in a brown sugar cookie shell and topped with a pretzel….
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S’mores Chocolate Chip Cookies

S’mores Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cookies
February 19, 2012

Did I mention that I’m kind of obsessed with s’mores? S’mores in a jar, s’mores pop tarts, s’mores cupcakes, s’mores…
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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

two copper mugs filled with holiday mule drinks and a pitcher in the background

Holiday Mule

pumpkin cinnamon pull apart loaf with a center slice visable

Pumpkin Cinnamon Pull Apart Loaf

zoomed in shot of chocolate snickerdoodles on parchment paper with a spoon in front, shot from a side angle

Chocolate Snickerdoodles

styled shot of Salted Caramel Apple Pie Parfaits with a pan of pie and a can of whipped cream behind it

Salted Caramel Apple Pie Parfaits

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

Pumpkin Fettuccine with Sundried Tomatoes

Cinnamon Latte Whoopie Pies

ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK NOW!

photo of entertaining made easy cookbook available for preorder now

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holiday favorite

photo of two glasses of sangria with the pitcher in the background

Cranberry Apple Sangria

salted caramel banana cream puffs on a round serving plate with bananas in the background

Salted Caramel Banana Cream Puffs

Pecan Pie Brownies

mixed berry fool in a glass with a strawberry and mint garnish on top

Mixed Berry Fool

a plate with an Almond Croissant on it with a baking sheet of more croissants on it with almonds sprinkled around the table, shot from a side angle

Almond Croissants

 

Double Chocolate Biscotti – Chocolate cookies ar 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 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/
Rosemary Cheese Straws – The Southern cheese str Rosemary Cheese Straws – The Southern cheese straw is flavored with fresh rosemary to give them a sophisticated feel.

I am a snacker, through and through. Before meeting my husband and living together, my meals were not planned out and mostly consisted of a lot of small snacks throughout the day. 

Over time, I learned it’s very hard to coordinate meals and get togethers with others when I’m not super hungry so I learned to adapt. But in my core, I am still a snack lover!

Today’s recipe is my newest snack obsession – Rosemary Cheese Straws

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/rosemary-cheese-straws/
Split Buns with Cream and Jam – soft, enriched y Split Buns with Cream and Jam – soft, enriched yeast buns split and filled with fresh whipped cream and raspberry jam, then dusted with powdered sugar!

Once again, The Great British Baking Show has led me to a new treat I'd never heard of but was completely entranced by! Devonshire split buns are a popular British treat made with soft baked buns filled with cream and jam, and honestly? I'm obsessed! 

What I love about these buns is how they feel like eating a sweet sandwich – imagine a jam sandwich but in a long bun with whipped cream! Doesn't that make you drool?

The great news is they're super easy to make! With a simple enriched dough recipe and store-bought jam, you can have these buns ready in just a couple of hours! The dough took me some time to develop because I wanted them soft like hot dog buns (but obviously sweeter!), not dense and heavy!

Pro tip: DO NOT slice all the way through! Leave the bottom connected so the buns hold the filling well! Use piping bags with tips to fill neatly – it makes them look bakery-quality!

Perfect for breakfast, dessert, holiday gatherings, brunch, or anytime you want a soft, indulgent treat! 

💬 Comment "SPLITBUNS" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for baking inspiration
📤 SHARE with someone who loves buns!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/split-buns-with-cream-and-jam/
Fig & Goat Cheese Crostini – crispy baguette sli Fig & Goat Cheese Crostini – crispy baguette slices rubbed with fresh garlic, spread with rosemary honey goat cheese, and topped with fig preserves! 

This particular crostini was born when I had leftover fig preserves to use up! And let me tell you – this combination is INCREDIBLE! Every single bite is perfectly balanced – crispy, tangy, sweet, spicy, and creamy all at once! My guests absolutely cannot stop at just one!

The magic is in the rosemary honey goat cheese spread – that's where all the flavor comes from! The fresh rosemary pairs SO beautifully with the sweet fig preserves!
Pro tip: Do NOT assemble these until you're ready to serve! 

The bread will get soggy if you make them ahead! BUT you can toast the bread and make the goat cheese spread ahead of time for quick assembly!

Perfect for holiday parties, entertaining guests, or anytime you need an impressive appetizer that's seriously easy to make! 🎉

💬 Comment "CROSTINI" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for party planning
📤 SHARE with someone who loves appetizers!

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