holiday favorite

Berry Mimosas in flutes pictured with champagne and bowl of berries

Berry Mimosas

a whisking bowl with Garlic & Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes with a wooden spoon in it, shot from overhead

Garlic & Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes

Goat Cheese Phyllo Cigars

a cinnamon stick being dipped into a mug of mulled wine with another mug of mulled wine and a glass dish of mulled spices in the background, shot from a side angle

Slow Cooker Mulled Wine

a plate of Peanut Butter Blossoms and a wrapped hershey kiss next to them and a pan of more cookies and hershey kisses in the background, shot from a side angle

Peanut Butter Blossoms

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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes

Fall Flavors· Holiday Favorites· sides
October 8, 2020

Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes – The filling from baked sweet potatoes is added to maple syrup, butter, spices, and cream cheese, added back to the sweet potato shells, and then topped with marshmallows before baking again. Sweet potatoes don’t get enough love. They’re just as versatile as regular potatoes and available year-round, yet they get their time in the limelight…
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Easy Ravioli Lasagna

beef entrees· pizza & pasta
October 5, 2020

Easy Ravioli Lasagna – Meat sauce, cheese ravioli, and mozzarella cheese are layered to make a yummy baked pasta dish that is incredibly easy to put together And the easy dinner recipes keep on coming! I’ve featured a handful of easy dinners these last few months, like this easy fettuccine alfredo and this mojo pork tenderloin and you guys have…
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Pumpkin Tres Leches

cake· dessert· Fall Flavors· Holiday Favorites
October 1, 2020

Pumpkin Tres Leches – Pumpkin cake is soaked in a mixture of tres leches (three milks), and covered with cinnamon whipped cream Happy October! The weather is finally cooler and the leaves are changing and it’s really putting me in a great mood. With my anniversary also this month (and a baby boy due this month, as well), October is…
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Candied Pecans

candy· Fall Flavors· Holiday Favorites· snacks
September 28, 2020

Candied Pecans – Pecans are coated in cinnamon sugar and then baked until crispy A couple months ago, I was having a huge craving for candied pecans. Have you ever had these before? We used to get them all the time at the mall when I was a kid, but usually they were in the form of candied almonds. You’d…
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Maple Pecan Scones

breakfast· Easter· Fall Flavors· Holiday Favorites· pastries
September 24, 2020

Maple Pecan Scones – Fluffy cream scones loaded with pecans and covered in maple icing Fall is officially here! Not only have we reached the fall solstice, but the weather has turned perfectly cool and everywhere you look there is pumpkin this and pumpkin that. Now, if only I could muster up the energy to decorate the house for the…
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The Best Waffles

breakfast· Easter· Holiday Favorites
September 21, 2020

The Best Waffles – These buttery, sweet waffles are made with simple ingredients but packed with tons of flavor! OK confession time…I’ve always favored waffles to pancakes. There, I said it! I only ordered pancakes in restaurants because, well, you got more (usually around 3) than you would if you ordered a Belgian waffle (just one large waffle). As a…
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Funfetti Sugar Cookies

Uncategorized
September 17, 2020

Funfetti Sugar Cookies – Sugar cookies with a hint of almond extract are rolled in sprinkles and baked to perfection. The texture on the inside remains soft while the exterior has a slight crunch. When it comes to cookies, I’m a chocolate chip cookie gal all the way. Even growing up, I was never dazzled by sugar cookies or oatmeal…
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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

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

Cranberry Apple Sangria

oatmeal rolls sitting on a baking sheet

Oatmeal Dinner Rolls

overhead shot of bright pumpkin fettuccine on a white plate with sundried tomatoes and wilted spinach throughout

Pumpkin Fettuccine with Sundried Tomatoes

a cinnamon stick being dipped into a mug of mulled wine with another mug of mulled wine and a glass dish of mulled spices in the background, shot from a side angle

Slow Cooker Mulled Wine

a plate with a slice of stone fruit tart and slices of fruit in the background, shot from the front

Stone Fruit Tart

pumpkin cinnamon pull apart loaf with a center slice visable

Pumpkin Cinnamon Pull Apart Loaf

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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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