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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Cookie Bars

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Cookie Bars

bars and brownies· Cookies· dessert· Easter· Fall Flavors· Holiday Favorites· snacks
August 22, 2023

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Cookie Bars – Brown sugar cinnamon filing is placed between shortbread cookie layers. It all gets a…
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Peach Upside-down Cake

Peach Upside-down Cake

cake· dessert· Fall Flavors· Summertime Favorites
August 11, 2023

Peach upside-down Cake – Fresh peaches are baked under an almond-flavored cake and then inverted to reveal perfectly cooked peaches…
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Carrot Snack Cake

Carrot Snack Cake

cake· dessert· Easter· Fall Flavors
April 6, 2023

Carrot Snack Cake – A square single-layer carrot cake is topped with a homemade cream cheese and sprinkled with chopped…
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Pistachio Loaf

Pistachio Loaf

bread· breakfast· cake· dessert· Easter· Fall Flavors· Holiday Favorites· pastries· snacks
January 15, 2023

Pistachio Loaf – Real pistachios are ground and added to olive oil, eggs, sugar, flour, and a hint of almond…
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Quinoa Harvest Salad

Quinoa Harvest Salad

Fall Flavors· salad· Summertime Favorites
January 8, 2023

Quinoa Harvest Salad – Spring mix is tossed with roasted sweet potatoes, goat cheese, roasted pepitas, dried cranberries, and quinoa…
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Holiday Mule

Holiday Mule

drinks· Fall Flavors· Holiday Favorites
December 26, 2022

Holiday Mule – Ginger beer, cranberry juice, vodka, apple cider, and Prosecco are combined to make this perfect drink for…
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Gingerbread Soufflé

Gingerbread Soufflé

dessert· Fall Flavors· Holiday Favorites
December 5, 2022

Gingerbread Soufflé – A special holiday version of the classic dessert. This soufflé is the perfect treat to serve all…
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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

front shot of pumpkin loaf cut into slices

My Favorite Pumpkin Loaf

pint glass of pumpkin cream cold brew coffee with a metal straw

Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew

portion of sweet potato gratin being removed from casserole dish, revealing gooey center

Sweet Potato Gratin

a glass dish with pumpkin cinnamon rolls in it with some missing from the center and a spatula with a pumpkin the background, shot from a side angle

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

overhead shot of spiced carrots on a bed of whipped feta dip

Spiced Carrots with Whipped Feta

overhead shot of cheddar crusted apple pie with lattice crust

Cheddar Crusted Apple Pie

ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK NOW!

photo of entertaining made easy cookbook available for preorder now

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holiday favorite

Black & White Bundt Cake

zoomed in shot of a Rum Cake surrounded with raspberries on top of a cloth napkin, shot from the front

Rum Cake

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

close up of potato dinner rolls on a wooden round serving platter

Potato Dinner Rolls

a casserole dish of Berries & Cream Stuffed French Toast Casserole on top of a cloth napkin with a bowl of mixed berries next to it, shot from overhead

Berries & Cream Stuffed French Toast Casserole

 

These babies are called Peanut Butter Blossoms! T These babies are called Peanut Butter Blossoms!

The peanut butter cookie base is so soft and chewy, with just the right amount of sweetness from the sugar coating. And that Hershey Kiss on top? It's not just decoration – it's an essential part of the experience! Every bite has peanut butter AND chocolate!

Perfect for Christmas cookie trays, holiday cookie exchanges, bake sales, homemade gifts, or honestly ANY time you're craving that classic peanut butter and chocolate combo! 

Ready to make these classics? https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/peanut-butter-blossoms/
These Mint Chocolate Fudge Cookies have so many el These Mint Chocolate Fudge Cookies have so many elements that it was really hard to name them! They're chewy, chocolatey, minty, have a layer of buttercream, and a nice dollop of fudge on top. I decided 4 words were the max I could use when naming them so I settled on mint chocolate fudge cookies!

Mint cookies have long been a love of mine, whether it's a thin mint or mint cookie ice cream. I love the duo of chocolate and mint together, but it is EVEN better when the chocolate is in the form of a cookie! 

March tends to be the unofficial month of mint because of St. Patrick's Day and the Shamrock Shake at McDonald's making its annual appearance this time of year. So I had to give you a fun, new mint cookie to celebrate these flavors! 

Perfect for St. Patrick's Day parties, cookie exchanges, gifts for mint chocolate lovers, or any time you want to impress with a stunning cookie! 

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/mint-chocolate-fudge-cookies/
I present to you my Pigs in a Blanket Wreath! The I present to you my Pigs in a Blanket Wreath!

The wreath isn't hard to assemble at all! You just make the little pigs in a blanket like you normally do - using crescent dough and mini hot dogs - but just arrange them in a ring and bake. Simple as that! I added a little poppy seeds to step up the presentation a little. But if you have picky little eaters, you can leave them off!

About that dipping sauce... When serving the wreath, don't forget the dipping sauce! I love honey mustard with my hot dogs so that's what I wanted to serve with this wreath. But not just any honey mustard. No, no. This is a Dr Pepper honey mustard, guys! I make a killer Dr Pepper mustard glaze for my Thanksgiving ham so I know first-hand how well Dr Pepper pairs with the mustard flavors! 

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/pigs-in-a-blanket-wreath/
For this Roasted Tomato Mac & Cheese, I've topped For this Roasted Tomato Mac & Cheese, I've topped it with roasted tomatoes to help balance out the richness of the cheese and pasta. Because the tomatoes are roasted, they have a similar flavor you would find in a tomato soup. And we all know how incredible cheese and tomato soup go together! 

The combination of creamy, rich mac and cheese with those slightly acidic, charred roasted tomatoes is PERFECTION. It's like eating grilled cheese with tomato soup, but elevated! The tomatoes cut through the richness in the best way possible.

Perfect for cozy nights, family dinners, or potlucks! 

Ready to make this? 💌 Comment "MAC" below and I'll send you the link!

#MacAndCheese #ComfortFood #PastaRecipes
These Cornbread Cookies are my new sweet and salty These Cornbread Cookies are my new sweet and salty obsession, you guys! They start out sweet and chewy, much like any other brown sugar cookie. But they finish with a hint of salty cornbread taste. And with the drizzle of honey on top, there is no mistaking that similarity to cornbread! 

These are SO versatile too! Perfect with morning coffee, amazing alongside chili or soup, delicious with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or honestly just slathered with butter! They're like the cookie version of cornbread muffins, but better! 🌟

The sweet and salty combination is absolutely addictive. My family couldn't stop eating them, and I bet yours won't be able to either!

Ready to try these? https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/cornbread-cookies/

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