• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • Work With Me
  • Contact

CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Slow Cooker Short Ribs

Slow Cooker Short Ribs

beef entrees· Holiday Favorites· Valentine's Day
March 29, 2018

Slow Cooker Short Ribs – Beef short ribs are cooked in a slow cooker to help break down the meat…
Read More

Raspberry Cheesecake Brownies

Raspberry Cheesecake Brownies

bars and brownies· dessert· Valentine's Day
March 19, 2018

Raspberry Cheesecake Brownies – Fudgy brownies are taken up a few notches with the addition of raspberry swirl cheesecake. As…
Read More

Sweet Corn Risotto with Crispy Shrimp (+ wine pairing)

Sweet Corn Risotto with Crispy Shrimp (+ wine pairing)

Easter· Holiday Favorites· seafood· seafood entrees· Summertime Favorites· Valentine's Day
March 2, 2018

This post has been sponsored by Clos du Bois and SeaPak. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The following…
Read More

Vanilla Bean Cheesecake

Vanilla Bean Cheesecake

cake· dessert· Easter· Holiday Favorites· Valentine's Day
February 26, 2018

Vanilla Bean Cheesecake – Cheesecake made with vanilla beans and then layered with a vanilla bean white chocolate mousse. The…
Read More

Chocolate Peanut Butter Souffles

Chocolate Peanut Butter Souffles

cake· dessert· Valentine's Day
February 5, 2018

Chocolate Peanut Butter Souffles – Rich chocolate souffles are filled with a creamy peanut butter center to make for an…
Read More

Raspberry Macaron Hearts

Raspberry Macaron Hearts

Cookies· Valentine's Day
February 1, 2018

Raspberry Macaron Hearts – Classic french raspberry macarons are given a Valentine’s Day makeover by shaping them into lovely hearts….
Read More

Chocolate Berry Cups

Chocolate Berry Cups

candy· dessert· Valentine's Day
January 29, 2018

Chocolate Berry Cups – Homemade dark chocolate cups are filled with fresh berries and topped with a drizzle of dark…
Read More

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • …
  • 16
  • Next Page »

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

front shot of sweet potato cornbread in a cast iron skillet

Sweet Potato Cornbread

close up pork chops on a plate with Dijon apple pan sauce on top and a rosemary garnish

Dijon Apple Pork Chops

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

Butterscotch Pear Turnovers

Pumpkin Tres Leches

staged shot of pumpkin cinnamon crunch muffins with sprinkled pecans and pumpkins in the background, shot from a side angle

Pumpkin Cinnamon Crunch Muffins

styled shot of Turkey Noodle Soup

Turkey Noodle Soup

ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK NOW!

photo of entertaining made easy cookbook available for preorder now

Breakfast
Appetizers
Entrees
Salads
Sides
Drinks
Desserts
Roundups
Holidays

Browse by Date

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Contact Me
  • Privacy Policy

holiday favorite

close up of a phyllo triangle sitting on a platter drizzled with honey and chopped walnuts

Goat Cheese & Honey Phyllo Triangles

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

raspberry chocolate molten cake on a plate with bites removed to reveal the center

Raspberry Chocolate Molten Cakes

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

Nutella Fruit Waffle

Almond Butter Chocolate Tarts on a platter with a spoon of almond butter on it, shot from a side angle

Almond Butter Chocolate Tarts

 

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

Copyright © 2026 Certified Pastry Aficionado · Web Design by Viva la Violet