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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Spiced Carrots with Whipped Feta

Spiced Carrots with Whipped Feta

appetizer· Easter· Fall Flavors· sides· snacks
March 15, 2024

Spiced Carrots with Whipped Feta – Organic small carrots are tossed with cumin, paprika and cinnamon and then roasted to…
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Everything Focaccia

Everything Focaccia

bread· snacks
January 9, 2024

Everything Focaccia – Homemade focaccia dough is topped with everything seasoning (salt, poppyseeds, sesame seeds, and onion) and baked to…
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Monte Cristo Pinwheels

Monte Cristo Pinwheels

appetizer· sandwiches & wraps· snacks· Tailgating Recipes
January 5, 2024

Monte Cristo Pinwheels – Puff pastry dough is rolled with black forest ham and Swiss cheese and baked to perfection….
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Grown-up Chocolate Chip Cookies

Grown-up Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cookies· dessert· snacks
October 9, 2023

Grown-up Chocolate Chip Cookies – Chocolate chip cookies loaded with finely chopped pistachios, walnuts, and dried cherries. A sprinkle of…
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Goat Cheese Phyllo Cigars

Goat Cheese Phyllo Cigars

appetizer· Easter· Holiday Favorites· snacks· Valentine's Day
September 4, 2023

Goat Cheese Phyllo Cigars – Thin phyllo dough is filled with goat cheese and herb filling, rolled into cigars, and…
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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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Fried Onion Petals

Fried Onion Petals

appetizer· snacks
June 8, 2023

Fried Onion Petals – Sweet onion is sliced into petals, seasoned, and fried until perfectly crispy. Served with homemade horseradish…
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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

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

Baked Carrot Cake Oatmeal

slice of carrot snack cake on a pink plate

Carrot Snack Cake

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

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

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

Mini Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins

plate of pecan sticky bun

Pecan Sticky Buns

ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK NOW!

photo of entertaining made easy cookbook available for preorder now

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holiday favorite

Candied Pecans

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

Potato Dinner Rolls

overhead shot of fig and goat cheese crostini on a serving platter

Fig & Goat Cheese Crostini

a slice of bread being dipped into the butter in a dish of roasted garlic mushrooms with a loaf of bread in the background, shot from a side angle

Roasted Garlic Mushrooms

nutella pastry rolls on a sheet of parchment paper with a spoonful of nutella next to them

Nutella Pastry Rolls

 

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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