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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Dijon Apple Pork Chops

Dijon Apple Pork Chops

Fall Flavors· pork entrees
November 20, 2022

Dijon Apple Pork Chops – Pork chops are cooked to perfection and then topped with a Dijon apple pan sauce…
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Potato Dinner Rolls

Potato Dinner Rolls

bread· Fall Flavors· Holiday Favorites
November 14, 2022

Potato Dinner Rolls – Homemade dinner rolls made with 1 cup mashed Russett potatoes to give them a pillowy texture….
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Pumpkin Crumb Cake

Pumpkin Crumb Cake

breakfast· cake· dessert· Fall Flavors· Holiday Favorites
November 10, 2022

Pumpkin Crumb Cake – Dense pumpkin spice cake is covered with crispy cinnamon crumbs, making it such a great treat…
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Sweet Potato Gratin

Sweet Potato Gratin

Fall Flavors· sides
November 6, 2022

Sweet Potato Gratin – Thinly sliced sweet potatoes are baked with cream and covered in Parmesan cheese to make for…
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Chicken and Dumplings

Chicken and Dumplings

chicken entrees· Fall Flavors
November 2, 2022

Chicken and Dumplings – Fluffy dumplings are cooked in a pot of homemade creamy chicken soup, making for the ultimate…
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Pumpkin Churros

Pumpkin Churros

dessert· Fall Flavors· pastries
October 23, 2022

Pumpkin Churros – Pumpkin choux dough is fried up in hot oil and then tossed in cinnamon sugar. Churros are…
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Pear Coffee Cake

Pear Coffee Cake

cake· dessert· Fall Flavors· Holiday Favorites
October 10, 2022

Pear Coffee Cake – Slightly spiced coffee cake is sprinkled with fresh pears and topped with a cinnamon oatmeal streusel…
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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

plate of Pumpkin Cheesecake Macarons with a gourd in the background, shot from the front

Pumpkin Cheesecake Macarons

Cinnamon Latte Whoopie Pies

styled shot of pumpkin snickerdoodles

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

Roasted Brussel Sprouts in a baking dish with melted butter and a spoon in it, shot from a side angle

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Honey Mustard Vinaigrette

Pecan Pie Brownies

caramel macchiato cupcakes some drizzled with caramel sauce, shot from the front

Caramel Macchiato Cupcakes

ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK NOW!

photo of entertaining made easy cookbook available for preorder now

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holiday favorite

close up of a slice of pumpkin crumb cake separated from the rest of the cake but not on a plate yet

Pumpkin Crumb Cake

cherry almond pastry cake with a wedge removed

Cherry Almond Pastry Cake

zoomed in shot of min fruit tarts, shot from a side angle

Classic Fruit Tarts

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

Apple Cinnamon Monkey Bread

nutella fruit waffle on a white plate with waffles and fruit in the background

Nutella Fruit Waffle

 

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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