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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Peanut Butter Explosion Milkshake

Peanut Butter Explosion Milkshake

dessert· drinks· ice cream· National Ice Cream Month
July 31, 2023

Peanut Butter Explosion Milkshake – A homemade milkshake loaded with peanut butter and decorated with Reese’s Pieces and Reese’s Peanut…
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Tiramisu Sundae

Tiramisu Sundae

ice cream· National Ice Cream Month
July 24, 2023

Tiramisu Sundae – Vanilla bean ice cream is placed on top of coffee-soaked lady fingers and finished with mascarpone whipped…
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Chili Mango Sorbet

Chili Mango Sorbet

ice cream· National Ice Cream Month
July 21, 2023

Chili Mango Sorbet – Fresh mango, lime juice, lime zest, and a little chili powder are blended together and then…
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Blackberry Vanilla Ice Cream

Blackberry Vanilla Ice Cream

ice cream· National Ice Cream Month
July 17, 2023

Blackberry Vanilla Ice Cream – Homemade vanilla ice cream is given a fruity addition of fresh blackberries. Happy belated National…
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Banana Split Parfait

Banana Split Parfait

dessert· ice cream· National Ice Cream Month
July 14, 2023

Banana Split Parfait – The classic banana split goes vertical! Strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate ice creams are topped with homemade…
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Strawberry Pound Cake Sundae

Strawberry Pound Cake Sundae

cake· dessert· ice cream· National Ice Cream Month· Summertime Favorites· Valentine's Day
July 6, 2023

Strawberry Pound Cake Sundae – A slice of buttery pound cake is grilled and then topped with vanilla bean ice…
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Bananas Foster Ice Cream

Bananas Foster Ice Cream

ice cream· National Ice Cream Month
July 3, 2023

Bananas Foster Ice Cream – Homemade vanilla ice cream is swirled with caramelized bananas with a hint of cinnamon July…
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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 cinnamon stick being dipped into a mug of mulled wine with another mug of mulled wine and a glass dish of mulled spices in the background, shot from a side angle

Slow Cooker Mulled Wine

chicken and biscuits in a dutch oven overhead shot

Chicken and Dumplings

sweet potato biscuits on parchment paper with butter to the side and a cast iron pan of more biscuits in it, shot from a side angle

Sweet Potato Biscuits

Candied Pecans

close up of pretzel bread pudding slice on a plate in a pool of whiskey sauce

Pretzel Bread Pudding

zoomed in shot of chocolate snickerdoodles on parchment paper with a spoon in front, shot from a side angle

Chocolate Snickerdoodles

ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK NOW!

photo of entertaining made easy cookbook available for preorder now

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holiday favorite

zoomed in shot of a piece of Vanilla Bean Cheesecake with a bite taken out of it with a plate of more cheesecake in the background, shot from the front

Vanilla Bean Cheesecake

a whisking bowl with Garlic & Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes with a wooden spoon in it, shot from overhead

Garlic & Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes

a plate with a slice of stone fruit tart and slices of fruit in the background, shot from the front

Stone Fruit Tart

slices of iced pumpkin scones drizzled with frosting on a wire rack on top of parchment paper, shot from overhead

Iced Pumpkin Scones

close up of beignets stacked on a plate, covered in powdered sugar

Beignets

 

Can we talk about how guava and cream cheese is TH Can we talk about how guava and cream cheese is THE most underrated flavor combination ever?! 

Growing up, guava was always around. My dad would spread it on toast with butter every morning, and I did the same. But it wasn't until I had guava with cream cheese at a Latin bakery in Florida that I truly appreciated this tropical fruit. 

The cream cheese perfectly balances the tangy guava jelly and makes everything ultra creamy. Wrapped in flaky puff pastry? KILLER.

I know this pastry braid looks super fancy and complicated, but here's the secret: IT'S SHOCKINGLY SIMPLE. When I first saw a pastry braid, I was so intimidated by how intricate it looked. It felt almost unattainable without tons of practice. But I'm here to tell you that is absolutely not the case!

Here's the whole process:
1️⃣ Roll out puff pastry and cut slits on the sides
2️⃣ Spread cream cheese and guava down the center
3️⃣ Overlap the side pieces to create the braid
4️⃣ Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sugar
5️⃣ Bake until deep golden brown

THAT'S IT! The braiding technique is so much easier than it looks, and the result is absolutely stunning.

Two critical tips:
-Keep it COLD before baking: Cold puff pastry = steam when it hits the hot oven = flaky layers! If the butter is too warm, it won't puff properly.
-Bake until DEEP golden brown: Not just golden, but DEEP golden. This ensures crispy, flaky pastry that's cooked all the way through. Nobody wants soggy pastry!

This is perfect for brunch, dessert, or honestly just because you want something that looks impressive but is secretly easy to make. You can also substitute any fruit preserves if you can't find guava!

Want the full recipe? 💌 Comment 'GUAVA' below and I'll send you the link!

#GuavaPastry #PuffPastry #PastryBraid #LatinDesserts #CreamCheese #BrunchRecipes #HomemadePastries #BakingFromScratch #WeekendBaking #ImpressiveButEasy
Do you remember those Danish butter cookies that c Do you remember those Danish butter cookies that came in the fancy blue tin? The ones your mom would buy every Christmas and you'd go absolutely CRAZY for? 

Well, guess what? You can make them YOURSELF! And they're shockingly simple!

I'm talking about those perfectly crispy-on-the-outside, melt-in-your-mouth-on-the-inside shortbread cookies that are basically edible butter. And honestly? 

I don't think they should be reserved just for the holidays. These cookies deserve to be eaten ALL YEAR LONG!

Here's what makes them so special:
-The Recipe: Only FIVE ingredients—butter, flour, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. That's it! If you can cream butter and sugar together, you can make these.
-The Texture: They're like shortbread cookies but slightly softer, so when you bite into them, they literally melt in your mouth. It's pure butter heaven.
-The Secret: Use European-style butter! It has a higher fat content which makes these cookies extra creamy and flavorful. It's worth the upgrade, I promise!

Important tips:
Be VERY careful measuring your flour—too much and the dough will be impossible to pipe
Use a LARGE star tip (not a small one!) or you won't be able to squeeze the dough out
These actually taste BETTER after they cool! The crispiness is what makes them so good, so resist eating them warm (I know it's hard!)

These are perfect for coffee breaks, gift-giving, parties, or honestly just because you deserve a good cookie. You can make them in under an hour from start to finish!

Want the full recipe? 💌 Comment 'BUTTER' below and I'll send you the link!

#DanishButterCookies #ButterCookies #ShortbreadCookies #HolidayBaking #CookieRecipe #HomemadeCookies
After making approximately ONE MILLION pumpkin tre After making approximately ONE MILLION pumpkin treats recently, I was desperate for something with all those cozy fall vibes but maybe... a little less pumpkin? 

So I set my sights on something that doesn't get nearly enough love in the dessert world: SWEET POTATOES! 

And here's my controversial opinion: Sweet potato beats pumpkin ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. There, I said it! 

These Sweet Potato Cupcakes are super moist, perfectly spiced, and topped with the creamiest cinnamon cream cheese frosting. 

They taste similar to pumpkin cupcakes (so if you're a die-hard pumpkin lover, you can absolutely swap in pumpkin puree!), but here's why sweet potato wins:
✨ More starch = MORE moisture and density in the cupcake
✨ The flavor is 100x better (fight me on this!)
✨ That perfect balance between sweet and earthy

But what I'm MOST proud of is how the frosting and cake work together. You know how sometimes you get a cupcake with frosting that's way too sweet so you just eat the cake? Or killer frosting but blah cake so you only eat the frosting? NOT THIS CUPCAKE. 

The spiced cake needs a little sweetness to balance it out, and the tart cream cheese frosting is PERFECT. They're soulmates! 

Important tips:
-Don't undercook them or they'll sink in the center (but more frosting fixes everything!)
-Fill the liners 3/4 full—not all the way—to get exactly 12 cupcakes
-Use a 2M Wilton tip for that fancy frosting swirl (or just spread with a knife!)

Want the full recipe? 💌 Comment 'CUPCAKE' below and I'll send you the link!
Team Sweet Potato or Team Pumpkin? Let me know in the comments! 

#SweetPotatoCupcakes #CreamCheeseFrosting  #CupcakeRecipe
Y'all, I need to talk about these Kentucky Derby C Y'all, I need to talk about these Kentucky Derby Cookie Bars because they might just be the most decadent thing I've ever created!

So here's the deal: I love taking traditional recipes and giving them a major upgrade. 

Traditional Derby Pie is delicious, but I wanted to make something even MORE special. And these bars? They're Derby Pie on steroids!

Here's what makes them absolutely incredible:
The Cookie Crust: Instead of regular pie crust, we're using a thick chocolate chip cookie base. Game. Changer.
The Filling: Loaded with pecans, chocolate chips, and a hint of bourbon that adds this rich, complex flavor. The filling is more dense and cakey than traditional Derby Pie, which gives you the perfect chewy texture.
The Bourbon Caramel: This homemade bourbon caramel sauce is what takes these bars over the top. It's sweet, buttery, and has that gorgeous bourbon depth. And yes, the alcohol cooks out, so it's safe for everyone (even made these while I was pregnant!)!

Important tips:
Don't chop your pecans too finely—leave nice chunks for better texture
If the bars start browning too quickly, just cover them with foil while the center finishes baking
Don't over-thicken the caramel sauce on the stove—it will thicken as it cools!

These bars are perfect for Derby Day (obviously!), but honestly, they're amazing for any summer gathering, BBQ, or potluck. 

Want the full recipe with that bourbon caramel sauce? 💌 Comment 'DERBY' below and I'll send you the link!

#DerbyPie #CookieBars #BourbonDesserts #PecanDesserts
Y'all, I just made the BEST hot chocolate of my li Y'all, I just made the BEST hot chocolate of my life and I need you to try it immediately!

Growing up, I only knew hot chocolate from those packets where you just add hot water. I had NO idea you could make it from scratch so easily! 

All it takes is hot milk, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and the secret ingredient... PEANUT BUTTER!

I've always been obsessed with the peanut butter and chocolate combo (if you've been following me, you know this is true!), but for some reason, it never occurred to me to add it to hot chocolate until recently. And now I'm officially never going back to regular hot chocolate!

What makes this recipe so special? The peanut butter adds this incredible creaminess and depth of flavor without overpowering the chocolate. 

Plus, you don't need to add any extra sugar because the chocolate chips provide all the sweetness you need. 

Top it with marshmallows and maybe a drizzle of chocolate and peanut butter sauce, and you've got pure heaven in a mug.

Important tips:
-Be careful not to overheat the chocolate and peanut butter—too much heat will cause the chocolate to harden
-Add the milk SLOWLY to the chocolate mixture and whisk constantly. It makes blending so much easier!
-This recipe makes 4 cups, and leftovers keep for 5 days in the fridge!

This is the ultimate cozy drink for cold winter nights, holiday gatherings, or honestly any time you need a little comfort. It's ready in less than 10 minutes!

Want the full recipe? 💌 Comment 'COZY' below and I'll send you the link!

What's your favorite hot drink for winter? Let me know in the comments! 
#HotChocolateRecipe  #HomemadeHotChocolate #WinterRecipes

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