holiday favorite

Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate styled with a spoon being dipped into it

Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

Red Velvet Macarons - A classic french cookie made with a red velvet cookie and cream cheese filling. A elegant little dessert perfect for bridal showers and tea parties!

Red Velvet Macarons

stacked maple walnut cookies on a red orange napkin and one cookie with a bite removed

Maple Walnut Cookies

a slice of victoria sandwich cake with a bite remove and a few crumbs on the plate

Victoria Sandwich Cake

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

Goat Cheese & Honey Phyllo Triangles

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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

baked brie with roasted pears and walnuts on top

Roasted Pear Baked Brie

appetizer· Holiday Favorites
October 11, 2021

Roasted Pear Baked Brie – Bartlett pears are roasted with fresh thyme, walnuts, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and honey and then placed atop a warm, baked brie. As we approach the holiday season, it’s time to revamp your typical appetizer recipes. You may have a go-to cheese recipe that you love to share with your family and friends. Well, get…
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stacked maple walnut cookies on a red orange napkin and one cookie with a bite removed

Maple Walnut Cookies

Cookies· Fall Flavors· Holiday Favorites
October 7, 2021

Maple Walnut Cookies – Buttery cookies loaded with chopped walnuts and maple sugar make for soft cookies with a crisp edge. Perfect for the fall season! Ooo ooo ooo! Now that October is here, it’s time for fall baking! While I would never judge you for starting your fall baking in September, for me, October just feels like the right…
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overhead shot of sesame seed braided loaf partially sliced

Sesame Seed Braided Loaf

bread
September 30, 2021

Sesame Seed Braided Loaf – Soft braided white dough is braided and sprinkled with sesame seeds before it’s baked to a perfect golden brown. It’s the perfect texture for sandwiches! Bread baking has become my new obsession. I love how easy it is to make some incredible breads right in my own oven. I remember how intimidated I used to…
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picture of dark chocolate caramel cupcakes with caramel dripping down

Dark Chocolate Caramel Cupcakes

cake· dessert
September 27, 2021

Dark Chocolate Caramel Cupcakes – Dark chocolate cupcakes are oozing with salted caramel sauce and topped with dark chocolate frosting, more caramel, and finished with sea salt. Chocolate and caramel don’t get enough praise, if you ask me. It’s always peanut butter and chocolate or strawberries and chocolate or even marshmallows and chocolate getting all the love. But there’s something…
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photo of smothered pork chops in the braising dish with tons of gravy and thyme leaves for garnish

Smothered Pork Chops

pork entrees
September 23, 2021

Smothered Pork Chops – Bone-in pork chops are lightly fried and then smothered in a creamy onion pan sauce to make for an exciting escape from boring dinners! Mmm mmm. I just love a comfort meal I can easily make during the week. With all the savory meals I’ve been posting in the last month, I’m sure that’s no surprise…
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photo of cinnamon apple kolaches with granny smith apples in the background

Cinnamon Apple Kolaches

doughnuts and sweet rolls· Easter· Fall Flavors· Holiday Favorites
September 20, 2021

Cinnamon Apple Kolaches – Fluffy sweet rolls are topped with cinnamon apples, baked to perfection, and finished with sweet icing. Fall is here and the baking is ramping up. I am so excited to make this house smell like deliciousness each weekend. Bring on all the pumpkin, sweet potato, cinnamon, and apple treats! My first treat of the season is…
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close up of chinese bbq pork tenderloin on a blue plate with rice and pickled cucumbers

Chinese BBQ Pork Tenderloin

pork entrees
September 16, 2021

Chinese BBQ Pork Tenderloin – Pork tenderloin is marinated in a sweet Chinese BBQ sauce and then roasted in the oven to tender perfection. It’s finished off with the broiler to give the outside a sticky glaze. Pork tenderloin is one of the easiest proteins to make. It’s shocking to me that I only started cooking it after moving in…
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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

close up of sliced loaf of chocolate cinnamon babka with the center exposed to see the beautiful swirl of chocolate

Chocolate Cinnamon Babka

shortcut apple strudel on a marble serving platter cut down the middle to expose the apple center with vanilla ice cream on top and a fork in the foreground

Shortcut Apple Strudel

portion of sweet potato gratin being removed from casserole dish, revealing gooey center

Sweet Potato Gratin

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

Chocolate Snickerdoodles

zoomed in shot of a plate of stacked chocolate gingerbread truffles with one with a bite out of it, shot from a side angle

Chocolate Gingerbread Truffles

carrot raisin muffins stacked on top of each other and sitting on a purple plate

Carrot Raisin Muffins

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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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