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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

breakfast· Fall Flavors· Holiday Favorites
October 14, 2021

Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Pancakes – Fluffy pumpkin buttermilk pancakes are swirled with cinnamon brown sugar and then topped with a…
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Maple Walnut Cookies

Maple Walnut Cookies

Cookies· Fall Flavors· Holiday Favorites
October 7, 2021

Maple Walnut Cookies – Buttery cookies loaded with chopped walnuts and maple sugar make for soft cookies with a crisp…
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Cinnamon Apple Kolaches

Cinnamon Apple Kolaches

doughnuts and sweet rolls· Easter· Fall Flavors· Holiday Favorites
September 20, 2021

Cinnamon Apple Kolaches – Fluffy sweet rolls are topped with cinnamon apples, baked to perfection, and finished with sweet icing….
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Carrot Raisin Muffins

Carrot Raisin Muffins

dessert· Easter· Fall Flavors· muffins
April 1, 2021

Carrot Raisin Muffins – Tall, fluffy carrot muffins are studded with golden raisins and chopped walnuts to make a hearty,…
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Apple Pecan Farro Salad

Apple Pecan Farro Salad

appetizer· Easter· Fall Flavors· salad· Summertime Favorites
March 29, 2021

Apple Pecan Farro Salad – Tender farro grains are tossed with a homemade apple cider vinaigrette, pecans, dried cranberries, and…
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Sage & Brown Butter Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Sage & Brown Butter Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Fall Flavors· Holiday Favorites· sides
November 23, 2020

Sage & Brown Butter Mashed Sweet Potatoes – Sweet Potatoes are mashed together with chopped sage and browned butter. Thanksgiving…
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Apple Pie Cake

Apple Pie Cake

cake· dessert· Easter· Fall Flavors· Holiday Favorites· pie
November 2, 2020

Apple Pie Cake – Half pie, half cake, lots of delicious apples. During this pandemic, many have chosen to spend…
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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

slice of pistachio loaf on a cutting board with the rest of the loaf in the background

Pistachio Loaf

slice of carrot snack cake on a pink plate

Carrot Snack Cake

closeup of mini pumpkin doughnut muffins with one with a bite out of it

Mini Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins

overhead shot of pumpkin churros on a plate of cinnamon sugar

Pumpkin Churros

styled shot of Turkey Noodle Soup

Turkey Noodle Soup

styled shot of Cranberry Apple Crumble

Cranberry Apple Crumble

ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK NOW!

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holiday favorite

photo of cinnamon apple kolaches with granny smith apples in the background

Cinnamon Apple Kolaches

close up of chocolate coquito with a dollop of whipped cream on top and a dust of cinnamon and cocoa powder

Chocolate Coquito

Berry Mimosas in flutes pictured with champagne and bowl of berries

Berry Mimosas

plate of mini ham and cheese quiche with caramelized onions and a plan of quiche in the back

Mini Ham & Cheese Quiche with Caramelized Onions

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

Pumpkin Cheesecake Macarons

 

Classic Pot Roast – chuck roast slowly cooked in Classic Pot Roast – chuck roast slowly cooked in a jus made of beef broth, carrots, celery, and onions! Balsamic vinegar, thyme, and mustard give that jus a kick of flavor! 

Cold weather is in full effect, you guys! So comfort food needs to be on the menu! My husband wanted to try a good pot roast, so I used a combination of recipes to come up with the perfect one! 

The secret? Traditional aromatics (carrots, celery, onions) PLUS balsamic vinegar and Dijon mustard set this roast apart with a tangy kick!

Pro tip: Sear the roast first to give it beautiful color on the outside – if you skip this step, the meat will look almost gray when cooked in the broth!

💬 Comment "POTROAST" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for comfort meals
📤 SHARE with someone who loves pot roast!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/classic-pot-roast/
Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Sage Browned Butter – Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Sage Browned Butter – fluffy pillows of sweet potato dumplings tossed in a sage and browned butter sauce for a comforting pasta dish you didn't know you needed! 

This gnocchi was inspired by a dish I had at a local restaurant years ago, you guys! I was skeptical about sweet potato gnocchi with just butter and sage – no cream? no tomato? But MAN, was I wrong! 

The sweet potato gnocchi is even MORE flavorful than the original! It shines on its own with little help from a heavy sauce – that's why it pairs so perfectly with a light toss in sage and browned butter!

Pro tip: Use a potato ricer to break up the sweet potatoes – don't use a food processor or it will make the gnocchi gummy and pasty! The ricer makes it super fluffy!

Perfect for fall dinners, Thanksgiving, date nights, or anytime you want restaurant-quality comfort food at home! 

💬 Comment "GNOCCHI" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for fall cooking
📤 SHARE with someone who loves pasta!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/sweet-potato-gnocchi-with-sage-browned-butter/
Sour Cream Doughnuts – dense and crispy on the o Sour Cream Doughnuts – dense and crispy on the outside, moist and cakey on the inside! Your favorite old-fashioned cake doughnuts ready in half the time as yeast doughnuts!

These are also known as old-fashioned doughnuts, you guys! They're bulky, firm on the outside, but oh-so-moist on the inside! The BEST combination of textures – crunchy yet chewy, dense yet moist! 

I fell in love with these at a local bakery, and now my husband surprises me with them from time to time! Do I have a great man or what?!

Pro tip: Don't roll the dough too thin or the doughnuts will turn to hockey pucks when you fry them! You're better off making the dough too thick than too thin!

Perfect for weekend breakfast, Easter morning, brunch, or anytime you want homemade doughnuts without the wait! 

💬 Comment "DOUGHNUTS" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for weekend baking
📤 SHARE with someone who loves doughnuts!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/sour-cream-doughnuts
Creamy Poblano Enchiladas – tortillas stuffed wi Creamy Poblano Enchiladas – tortillas stuffed with shredded chicken, covered in a creamy poblano sauce and cheese, then baked until creamy perfection! 

I'm more of a green enchiladas fan than red, you guys! While this sauce isn't traditional green enchilada sauce, it's got similar flavor notes! Plus, with the added milk, it's super creamy and decadent! 

The secret? A roux makes the sauce ultra creamy without needing tons of heavy cream!

Pro tip: Don't skip the lime juice! It's KEY to balancing out the flavors – this is NOT an optional ingredient!

Perfect for Cinco de Mayo, dinner parties, family dinners, or anytime you want creamy enchiladas! 🎉

💬 Comment "POBLANO" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for Cinco de Mayo
📤 SHARE with someone who loves enchiladas!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/creamy-poblano-enchiladas/
Beef Empanadas – flaky pie dough filled with cum Beef Empanadas – flaky pie dough filled with cumin-spiced beef and tomato mixture!

These are perfect for Cinco de Mayo, you guys! Small party-perfect size (makes about 20!) with super flavorful filling that's NOT spicy – everyone will love them! 😍

Made with my classic pie dough for the flakiest crust, then filled with seasoned beef, onions, and tomatoes!

Pro tip: Make sure to chill the dough before rolling it out – this lets it rest and firm up so it gets nice and flaky while baking!

Perfect for Cinco de Mayo parties, game day, meal prep, or anytime you want delicious hand-held snacks!

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

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/beef-empanadas

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