holiday favorite

overhead shot of finish amaretto baba cake before slicing

Amaretto Baba Cake

Candied Pecans

two copper mugs with Pomegranate Rosemary Moscow Mule with thyme sprigs in them and on a table with cloth napkins and a bottle of Schweppes in the background, shot from a side angle

Pomegranate Rosemary Moscow Mule

mallorca sweet buns on a wire rack over a sheet pan

Mallorca Sweet Bread

picture of fried goat cheese balls stacked on an appetizer plate with honey drizzling over the top

Fried Goat Cheese Balls

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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

picture of fried goat cheese balls stacked on an appetizer plate with honey drizzling over the top

Fried Goat Cheese Balls

appetizer· Easter· Holiday Favorites· Valentine's Day
January 6, 2022

Fried Goat Cheese Balls – Soft goat cheese is rolled in panko breadcrumbs, fried until golden brown, and served with a drizzle of honey to make the best little appetizer for any occasion Today’s recipe is inspired by an appetizer that I had years ago at a local restaurant. They’re known for their fried goat cheese and man, is it…
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spoonful of baked chicken spaghetti rising from the casserole

Baked Chicken Spaghetti

chicken entrees
January 3, 2022

Baked Chicken Spaghetti – Spaghetti is tossed in a creamy sauce, along with mozzarella cheese and diced chicken and then baked to make for a perfect weeknight one-pot casserole. Happy New Year! My December was jam-packed with sugary sweets so I am actually looking forward to moving past the holidays and back into more savory cooking and baking this month….
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pastry rolls sitting next to each other on a white surface

Easy Ham & Cheese Pastry Rolls

breakfast· Easter· pastries
December 30, 2021

Easy Ham & Cheese Pastry Rolls – Puff pastry is layered with Dijon mustard, ham, and cheddar cheese, rolled and then baked in the oven until perfectly crispy Fun breakfasts don’t need to be complicated. No dicing vegetables or layering ingredients into a casserole are required for the breakfast I have for you today. It’s a simple breakfast dish that…
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a hand holding up a maple molasses cookie to show all the detailed cracks in the top of the cookie

Maple Molasses Cookies

Cookies· dessert· Fall Flavors· Holiday Favorites
December 23, 2021

Maple Molasses Cookies – Chewy molasses cookies have just the perfect amount of spice and way more chew than a gingerbread man cookie. If that wasn’t enough, they’re covered with a thin layer of maple glaze. It’s rare that a cookie surprises me. But that’s exactly what these Maple Molasses Cookies did. I was testing a recipe for new cookies…
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close up of cinnamon raisin rugelach to shot the spiral side and yummy filling

Cinnamon Raisin Rugelach

Cookies· dessert· Holiday Favorites· pastries
December 20, 2021

Cinnamon Raisin Rugelach – Pastry is rolled with a cinnamon raisin filling and then baked until crispy on top and chewy in the middle I don’t talk much about my Jewish heritage but it was definitely part of my upbringing. We never went to the synagogue but we’d celebrate the major holidays and ate many of the traditional foods. My…
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close up of a split bun with cream & jam

Split Buns with Cream and Jam

bread· breakfast· dessert· doughnuts and sweet rolls· Holiday Favorites· pastries
December 17, 2021

Split Buns with Cream and Jam – Soft, enriched buns are split in half and stuffed with raspberry jam and fresh whipped cream. Are they dessert? Are they breakfast? They taste so good you’ll eat them whenever! Once again, The Great British Baking Show has led me to a new treat that I’d never heard of but was completely entranced…
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close up of slices of cranberry orange loaf on a serving platter

Cranberry Orange Loaf

cake· dessert· Easter· Holiday Favorites
December 13, 2021

Cranberry Orange Loaf – A sweet bread flavored with fresh orange zest and loaded with cranberries. Topped with a sweet orange icing and candied orange slices and cranberries. Fruit is hard to come by this time of year, which is hard for me because baking with fruit it one of my favorite things. But once again, I was reminded of…
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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

styled shot of Cranberry Apple Crumble

Cranberry Apple Crumble

overhead shot of quinoa harvest salad on a plate

Quinoa Harvest Salad

a slice of peach upside down cake on a white plate with the rest of the cake in the background

Peach Upside-down Cake

front shot of pumpkin loaf cut into slices

My Favorite Pumpkin Loaf

a bowl of Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Bread Pudding topped with ice cream with a casserole dish with bread pudding and two pumpkins stacked on top of each other in the background, shot from a side angle

Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Bread Pudding

autumn kale salad in a blue salad bowl

Autumn Kale Salad

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There was one quiet Saturday morning when I decide There was one quiet Saturday morning when I decided to stray from my usual sweet rolls and try something a little different. I roasted sweet potatoes, mashed them into dough, and folded in warm spices until the kitchen smelled like autumn-wrapped comfort.

Out came these Sweet Potato Sticky Buns: soft, pillowy buns full of sweet potato richness, coated in gooey brown-sugar maple syrup, and topped with pecans for that crunch that makes you close your eyes in the best way.

They’re not your average cinnamon roll, they’re a twist, a treat, and a comfort all in one. 
https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/sweet-potato-sticky-buns/
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

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