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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Avocado Lime Sorbet

Avocado Lime Sorbet

dessert· ice cream· National Ice Cream Month· Summertime Favorites
July 13, 2017

Avocado Lime Sorbet – Made with only three ingredients, this avocado lime sorbet is shockingly refreshing and unbelievably creamy. It’s going…
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Peach Raspberry Cobbler

Peach Raspberry Cobbler

dessert· Summertime Favorites
June 29, 2017

Peach Raspberry Cobbler – A Southern peach cobbler given a little twist with the addition of fresh raspberries and a…
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Chocolate-Covered Key Lime Pie

Chocolate-Covered Key Lime Pie

dessert· pie· Summertime Favorites· Valentine's Day
June 22, 2017

Chocolate-Covered Key Lime Pie – A rich and tangy slice of key lime pie dipped in creamy dark chocolate. It’s…
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Nutella Crunch Cupcakes

Nutella Crunch Cupcakes

cake· dessert· Valentine's Day
June 12, 2017

Nutella Crunch Cupcakes – A super moist chocolate cupcake, dipped in creamy Nutella hazelnut spread, and crunchy chocolate pieces. The…
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Funfetti Whoopie Pies

Funfetti Whoopie Pies

cake· Cookies· dessert
June 1, 2017

Funfetti Whoopie Pies – Soft and fluffy vanilla cake is loaded with sprinkles and sandwiched with creamy vanilla frosting to make…
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Traditional English Trifle

Traditional English Trifle

dessert· Easter· Holiday Favorites· Popular Recipes· Summertime Favorites
April 10, 2017

Traditional English Trifle – This traditional English trifle is a layered dessert made with ladyfingers soaked in sherry, fresh berries,…
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Warm Banana Pudding (Southern Style)

Warm Banana Pudding (Southern Style)

dessert· Easter
March 30, 2017

Warm Banana Pudding – Made with pound cake, homemade vanilla pudding, sliced bananas and topped with toasted meringue, this Southern…
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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 plate with a slice of stone fruit tart and slices of fruit in the background, shot from the front

Stone Fruit Tart

a plate of pie crust chips with a bowl of Salted Caramel Apple Pie Dip on it and a jar of caramel behind it, shot from a side angle

Salted Caramel Apple Pie Dip with Pie Crust Chips

front shot of pumpkin loaf cut into slices

My Favorite Pumpkin Loaf

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

Apple Cinnamon Monkey Bread

overhead shot of slices of pear coffee cake

Pear Coffee Cake

close up pork chops on a plate with Dijon apple pan sauce on top and a rosemary garnish

Dijon Apple Pork Chops

ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK NOW!

photo of entertaining made easy cookbook available for preorder now

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holiday favorite

Pecan Pie Brownies

a corner shot of a plate of Raspberry Almond Linzer Cookies with a shaker of powdered sugar in the background, shot from a side angle

Raspberry Almond Linzer Cookies

a glass dish with bacon corn casserole with half scooped out and a wooden spoon in it, shot from a side angle

Bacon Corn Casserole

side shot of banana bread doughnuts on a purple plate with more doughnuts in the background

Banana Bread Doughnuts

Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes

 

Asparagus Risotto – creamy, cheesy homemade riso Asparagus Risotto – creamy, cheesy homemade risotto loaded with crispy bright green asparagus! The perfect fancy-yet-simple spring side dish that tastes like it came straight from a fancy restaurant! 🌿

Risotto was one of the first "fancy" dishes I learned to make, you guys! I watched so much Giada De Laurentiis on Everyday Italian growing up, and she always made risotto seem intimidating yet achievable!

 So I decided to try it about 10 years ago for Mother's Day (or maybe Easter? – it was so long ago!) and made a mushroom risotto that turned out INCREDIBLE! 

Mushroom risotto is still one of my favorite variations, but asparagus is the PERFECT spring twist! The bright green color and fresh taste pairs so beautifully with that creamy, cheesy risotto!

Pro tip: The key to amazing risotto is patience! Add the broth just 2 ladles at a time and stir constantly. This slow process is what creates that luxurious, creamy texture!

Perfect for spring dinners, Easter, Mother's Day, or anytime you want an elegant yet simple dish that will impress everyone at the table! 🍽️

💬 Comment "RISOTTO" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for spring entertaining
📤 SHARE with someone who loves Italian food!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/asparagus-risotto/
Strawberry Cheesecake Milkshake – vanilla ice cr Strawberry Cheesecake Milkshake – vanilla ice cream blended with real strawberries, actual cheesecake chunks, and topped with whipped cream, graham cracker crumbs, and a fresh strawberry! 🍓

I am very picky about my milkshakes, you guys! They HAVE to be (1) thick, (2) full of flavor, and (3) loaded with texture! This milkshake checks all the boxes!

This one was inspired by my husband's obsession with the Strawberry Cheesequake Blizzard from Dairy Queen! 

He LOVES it, so I decided to recreate it at home – but better! Instead of using strawberry ice cream and cream cheese, I used REAL strawberries and a real slice of cheesecake for that authentic chunky texture!

The key to making this milkshake so thick? I only use ½ cup of milk! The juice from the fresh strawberries helps liquefy the ice cream, so you don't need much liquid at all!
Pro tip: Make sure you're using the BEST vanilla ice cream you can find! Since this recipe is so simple, the quality of the ingredients really makes all the difference!

Perfect for summer treats, date nights, hot days, or anytime you want a decadent, fruity dessert in a glass! 🥤

💬 Comment "STRAWBERRYCHEESECAKE" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for milkshake inspiration
📤 SHARE with someone who loves dessert!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/strawberry-cheesecake-milkshake/
Watermelon Basil Lemonade – homemade lemonade sw Watermelon Basil Lemonade – homemade lemonade sweetened with basil sugar and fresh watermelon juice for a complex, refreshing summer drink!

I love making my lemonade from scratch, you guys! It gives me the freedom to experiment with unique flavors like this watermelon basil combo! I've used watermelon in drinks before (hello, Watermelon Sangria and Watermelon Margaritas!), so I knew it would be PERFECT with lemonade!

Watermelon is such a major symbol of summer, so pairing it with fresh basil takes it to another level! The basil adds an herbaceous, complex flavor that regular lemonade could never achieve! 

This is one of those drinks that looks impressive but is incredibly simple to make – just 10 minutes of prep time and you've got something that tastes like it came straight from a summer garden!

Pro tip: Don't skip the salt! With a drink as sweet and sour as this lemonade, a little salt balances it all out and prevents it from being overly cloying!
Perfect for summer BBQs, entertaining guests, hot days, or anytime you want a refreshingly unique drink! 

💬 Comment "WATERMELONLEMONADE" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for summer entertaining
📤 SHARE with someone who loves lemonade!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/watermelon-basil-lemonade
Fluffernutter Sandwich Three Ways – marshmallow Fluffernutter Sandwich Three Ways – marshmallow creme and peanut butter come together to make the ultimate sweet sandwich using three unique peanut butter flavors: Mighty Maple, Cinnamon Raisin Swirl, and Dark Chocolate Dreams! 

Peanut butter is probably my favorite dessert flavor, you guys! I mean, I have posted THREE different peanut butter cookie recipes in the past year, and that's not even including my PB&J Ice Cream Sandwiches! If this is what addiction looks like, please don't make me control it! 😍

It's my go-to dessert when I have the biggest sweet tooth but no cake or ice cream or candy around! I almost always have the ingredients on hand for a fluffernutter, so I never have to suffer "sweet pains" for too long!

Instead of making a plain fluffernutter, I decided to test three unique peanut butter flavors from Peanut Butter & Co! And I was shocked by the results! Dark Chocolate Dreams (my first love!) trumped the Cinnamon Raisin Swirl! There's something about how the Dark Chocolate Dreams melts into the marshmallow creme that makes me melt after each bite!

Pro tip: Cook on medium-low temp so the peanut butter has time to melt before the bread gets toasty! The melty peanut butter is the BEST part!

Perfect for when you need a quick dessert fix, a sweet treat, or anytime your sweet tooth takes over! 

💬 Comment "FLUFFERNUTTER" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for sweet cravings
📤 SHARE with a peanut butter addict!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/fluffernutter-sandwich-three-ways/
Schnitzel Sub Sandwich – crispy fried chicken te Schnitzel Sub Sandwich – crispy fried chicken tenders topped with fresh baby arugula, a squeeze of lemon juice, and shaved Parmesan cheese in a soft hoagie bun! 

I tried this sandwich at a restaurant and fell so deeply in love that I HAD to recreate it at home, you guys! It was so SIMPLE yet so INCREDIBLE! 😍

The best part? It tastes fresh and light despite being a fried piece of chicken! The secret is all in the fresh toppings – the baby arugula, bright lemon juice, and shaved Parmesan cut through the richness of the fried chicken perfectly!

The biggest step is pounding and frying the chicken tenders, but don't worry – I use a shallow pool of oil instead of deep frying, which makes it SO much simpler at home! Just flatten the chicken evenly so it cooks through and gets super crispy!

Pro tip: Make sure to use the lemon! Fried food can taste rich and heavy, and the lemon juice is exactly what the chicken needs to lighten it up and add freshness!
Perfect for lunch, dinner, weeknight meals, or anytime you want a gourmet sandwich at home! 🥪

💬 Comment "SCHNITZEL" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for sandwich inspiration
📤 SHARE with someone who loves sandwiches!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/schnitzel-sub-sandwich/

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