holiday favorite

Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies on a baking sheet with sprinkles on top

Soft, Frosted Sugar Cookies

zoomed in shot of portuguese egg tarts sitting on a plate

Portuguese Egg Tarts

photo of two glasses of sangria with the pitcher in the background

Cranberry Apple Sangria

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

Nutella Fruit Waffle

a plate with stacked strawberry white chocolate eclairs, shot from the front

Strawberry White Chocolate Eclairs

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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

a hand holding up a cinnamon bun soft pretzel

Cinnamon Bun Soft Pretzels

dessert· doughnuts and sweet rolls· Easter· Fall Flavors· snacks
March 24, 2022

Cinnamon Bun Soft Pretzels – Soft pretzels are baked, dipped in cinnamon sugar, and drizzled with a cream cheese icing. Extra cream cheese icing is the perfect dipping sauce! I’ll never forget my first cinnamon sugar soft pretzel – it was at the mall and my grandma ordered a couple for all of us to share. She was equally obsessed…
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a hand holding a honey garlic chicken tender with the plate o chicken tenders in the background

Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders

chicken entrees
March 21, 2022

Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders – Extra crispy chicken tenders are tossed in a buttery honey garlic sauce to make them sticky, sweet, and salty, all at the same time! Today’s recipe is all about the classic chicken tender. But instead of boring plain tenders that you dip in a sauce, these chicken tenders are an excited mix of crispy coating…
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photo hands pulling apart arepa con queso to reveal gooey melted cheese

Colombian Arepas con Queso

snacks
March 17, 2022

Colombian Arepas con Queso – A corn cake made from white cornmeal, queso fresco, milk, and water and stuffed with mozzarella cheese before forming into a patty and grilling until firm Arepas were a main staple of my childhood. My Cololmbian grandmother lived with us and made these frequently. We all loved them so much. I especially loved the starchy…
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bailey cheesecake brownie bites on a dessert plate with one missing a bite to expose the creamy center

Baileys Cheesecake Brownie Bites

bars and brownies· cake· dessert· Easter· Holiday Favorites
March 14, 2022

Baileys Cheesecake Brownie Bites – Brownie bottoms are topped with Baileys Irish Cream cheesecake and baked until set. Topped with chocolate ganache. St. Patrick’s Day is coming up this week! To celebrate, I have a fun new dessert to share. This one is made with a hint Bailey’s Irish Cream and lots of chocolate. I used my favorite mini molds…
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close up of a stuffed shell getting scooping out of the casserole dish

Spinach & Cheese Stuffed Shells with Vodka Sauce

pizza & pasta
March 10, 2022

Spinach & Cheese Stuffed Shells with Vodka Sauce – Jumbo pasta shells are stuffed with ricotta, spinach, and mozzarella, covered in homemade vodka sauce, and baked with more cheese on top Ricotta cheese is one of my favorite cheeses to cook with. I love how creamy it gets when warm – perfect for layering and stuffing into pastas. Recently, I…
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plate of croissant french toast with powdered sugar and fruit with another plate in the background

Croissant French Toast

breakfast· breakfast casseroles· Holiday Favorites· Valentine's Day
March 7, 2022

Croissant French Toast – Mini croissants are dipped in a rich custard and fried until crisp on the outside and creamy on the inside French toast has been apart of my life since I was a little girl. We made French toast at home way more often than we did pancakes. I loved it then but it’s since fallen out…
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close up of orange vanilla scones sitting on a baking sheet with icing dripping down the side

Orange Vanilla Scones

breakfast· dessert· Easter· snacks· Summertime Favorites
March 3, 2022

Orange Vanilla Scones – Light, sweet scones are flavored with orange zest and vanilla bean to make for a perfect treat with afternoon tea With spring approaching, it’s hard not to get excited about the warmer weather and blooming flowers and trees. Around this time of year, I love to pivot towards making fruity desserts and brunch fare, especially since…
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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

front shot of sweet potato cornbread in a cast iron skillet

Sweet Potato Cornbread

Roasted Brussel Sprouts in a baking dish with melted butter and a spoon in it, shot from a side angle

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Honey Mustard Vinaigrette

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

two mugs of Cinnamon Maple Latte topped with whipped cream and sprinkled with pecans with dunkin donuts creamer and a stack of pumpkins on top of a cloth napkin, shot from a side angle

Cinnamon Maple Latte

a trio of gingerbread souffles on a serving platter

Gingerbread Soufflé

side shot of banana bread doughnuts on a purple plate with more doughnuts in the background

Banana Bread Doughnuts

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There was a rainy afternoon when I wandered into t There was a rainy afternoon when I wandered into the kitchen with nothing but a craving, and I ended up mixing melted chocolate, warm cinnamon, and muffin batter until something magical happened. 

That’s how these Cinnamon Chocolate Muffins came to life: rich chocolate, a whisper of cinnamon spice, and a crunchy cinnamon-sugar topping that makes every bite feel like comfort.

They remind me of cozy mornings, a cup of coffee, and the kind of treat you tell yourself you deserve.

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/cinnamon-chocolate-muffins/
There’s something about the first cool morning o There’s something about the first cool morning of fall that just feels different. 🍂

You step outside, the air is crisp, the leaves have that faint earthy smell… and suddenly all you want is pumpkin spice, warm muffins, and cozy socks.

Mini Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins - They’re soft, cakey, perfectly spiced, and coated in buttery cinnamon sugar. It’s like a pumpkin doughnut met a muffin and decided to make your morning ten times better. 

The best part? They’re baked, not fried, which means you can totally justify having more than one. 

If you love fall baking, these muffins are a must-try. Whether you’re bringing them to a brunch, sharing them with family, or just sneaking one with your morning coffee, they’ll make your kitchen smell like pure happiness. 

Would you like me to send you the full recipe link directly here so you can save it for your next cozy baking day? 🍁 Just comment PUMPKIN below and I’ll send it straight to your DMs!

#minipumpkindoughnutmuffins #pumpkindessert #fallbaking #pumpkinmuffins #cinnamonsugar
There’s something about digging into a bowl of s There’s something about digging into a bowl of soup that reminds you of cozy evenings. The soft glow of the kitchen light, the aroma of buttery potatoes, cheese melting, and bacon crisping.

This loaded potato soup is all of that and more: tender chunks of potato, a rich creamy base, sharp cheddar, smoky bacon, green onions popping with flavor. It’s hearty comfort food at its finest.

It started on a night when I needed something substantial, something that felt like a hug in a bowl, and this soup answered the call.

Would you rather serve yours with an extra drizzle of melted cheese on top or let it sit so the flavors mingle?

comments “POTATO SOUP” and I'll send you a recipe.

#loadedpotatosoup #potatosouprecipes #comfortfood #soupseason #onepotmeals
There’s something about the moment you press pea There’s something about the moment you press peanut butter into soft chocolate dough. It’s like two flavors finally realizing they belong together.

I first experimented with chocolate + peanut butter cookies late one winter evening, trying to recreate that bakery magic I remembered from childhood. 

When the first batch came out warm, chewy, with that melt-in-your-mouth peanut butter swirl… I knew I had a new favorite.

These Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies are rich, indulgent, and downright comforting, perfect with a glass of milk or a cu#bakedtreats 

Comment COOKIES and I'll send you a link to the recipe. 

#chocolatepeanutbuttercookies #peanutbutterchocolate #homemadecookies #cookieoftheday #bakedtreats
Some of the best meals come from desperation—and Some of the best meals come from desperation—and this Chili Mac & Cheese was born on one of those nights. I had leftover chili and boxes of pasta, and I thought “why not combine them?”

What came out was something magical: creamy cheese sauce folding into hearty chili, elbow macaroni soaking up every bit of flavor, topped with melty cheese and baked to a golden crust. It’s comfort food squared.

This is my go-to when I want something filling, nostalgic, and totally satisfying.

Comment “MAC” and I'll send you a recipe.

#chilimacandcheese #comfortfood #onepotmeals #macandcheese #chilirecipe

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