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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Monster Cookies

Monster Cookies

Cookies· Holiday Favorites
December 1, 2016

Monster Cookies – Super chewy oatmeal cookies with peanut butter, M&M candies, and chocolate chips. And naturally they’re gluten free! I…
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Cranberry Apple Crumble

Cranberry Apple Crumble

dessert· Easter· Fall Flavors· Holiday Favorites· pie· Summertime Favorites· Valentine's Day
November 22, 2016

Cranberry Apple Crumble – A warm dessert made with seasonal flavors of cranberry and apple and topped with crunchy brown sugar…
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Bananas Foster French Toast Casserole

Bananas Foster French Toast Casserole

breakfast· breakfast casseroles· Easter· Holiday Favorites
November 7, 2016

Bananas Foster French Toast Casserole– A yummy breakfast casserole made with french bread, custard, and caramelized bananas and topped with a…
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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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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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Peppermint Shortbread Bites

Peppermint Shortbread Bites

Holiday Favorites
December 31, 2011

Peppermint Shortbread Bites – Super easy peppermint shortbread, slices into mini squares and covered with vanilla icing and crushed peppermint…
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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

Butterscotch Pear Turnovers on a baking sheet with parchment paper, shot from overhead

Butterscotch Pear Turnovers

Cinnamon Latte Whoopie Pies

pumpkin cinnamon pull apart loaf with a center slice visable

Pumpkin Cinnamon Pull Apart Loaf

a baking sheet with banana bread granola and a whole banana on it, shot from a side angle

Banana Bread Granola

oatmeal rolls sitting on a baking sheet

Oatmeal Dinner Rolls

Pumpkin Tres Leches

ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK NOW!

photo of entertaining made easy cookbook available for preorder now

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holiday favorite

cranberry lime mojitos with cranberries and slices of lime

Cranberry Lime Mojitos

overhead shot of partially eaten baked carrot cake oatmeal in casserole dish with serving spoon

Baked Carrot Cake Oatmeal

front shot of sweet potato cornbread in a cast iron skillet

Sweet Potato Cornbread

zoomed in shot of Mint Brownie Truffles

Mint Brownie Truffles

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

Apple Cinnamon Monkey Bread

 

Peach Raspberry Cobbler – fresh peaches and rasp Peach Raspberry Cobbler – fresh peaches and raspberries topped with a cakey, cinnamon-sugar crust that's so incredible you won't even need ice cream!

Cobblers have stolen my heart, you guys! The first cobbler I ever loved was blackberry, but after tasting this peach raspberry version at a work potluck, it took the top spot! 

The secret? That cinnamon sugar crust! It's not just a topping – it's the STAR of the show! The combination of fresh peaches, tart raspberries, and that cakey, cinnamon-sugar-coated crust is pure summer magic!

Pro tip: Let the cobbler cool for at least 15 minutes before serving so the filling can thicken up and it'll be much easier to scoop!

Perfect for summer gatherings, July 4th parties, potlucks, or anytime you want a Southern dessert with a delicious twist! 

💬 Comment "COBBLER" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for summer entertaining
📤 SHARE with someone who loves fruit desserts!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/peach-raspberry-cobbler/
Nutella Macarons – delicate French almond cookie Nutella Macarons – delicate French almond cookies filled with chocolate-hazelnut Nutella spread! Classic macarons made with the proper technique learned straight from a pastry chef! 

You guys remember when I made French macarons for the first time and they were a HOT MESS? The tops were cracked and bumpy and looked more like brownies! I was determined to get them right, so I took a macaron baking class in person – and it changed EVERYTHING! 

The trickiest part? Mixing the dry and wet ingredients together. Under mix = too dry and cracked. Over mix = dense and heavy. But now I know exactly what the batter should look like!

Pro tip: Age your egg whites for 24-48 hours before making the meringue – this helps them get to the perfect consistency!

Perfect for Valentine's Day, gift-giving, special occasions, or anytime you want elegant French macarons at home! 🇫🇷

💬 Comment "NUTELLAMACARON" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for French cookie inspiration
📤 SHARE with someone who loves macarons!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/nutella-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

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