holiday favorite

a short glass with a gold rim filled with cherry bourbon spritz and a garnish of rosemary twig

Cherry Bourbon Spritz

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

Cranberry Apple Sangria

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

Garlic & Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes

close up of cherry almond couffle with a spoonful exposing the center

Cherry Almond Soufflé

pint glass of pumpkin cream cold brew coffee with a metal straw

Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew

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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

a slice of chocolate pecan pie on a plate with another plate of pie in the background, shot from a side angle

Chocolate Pecan Pie

Fall Flavors· Holiday Favorites· pie
October 24, 2019

Chocolate Pecan Pie – Classic pecan pie is made even better with the addition of chocolate chips and substituting corn syrup for maple syrup. The resulting pie is velvety and rich in all the right ways! Oooo yes! We are heading into pie season, alright! And I am fully embracing the pie this year. If you’re a frequent visitor to…
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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

breakfast· doughnuts and sweet rolls· Fall Flavors· Holiday Favorites
October 21, 2019

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls – Fluffy cinnamon rolls are made with pumpkin dough filled with brown sugar and cinnamon and then topped with cinnamon cream cheese frosting My fall baking is in full swing, y’all! I made these sweet potato biscuits last week, butterscotch pear turnovers a couple weeks ago, and recently perfected my favorite fall pie of all time (not on…
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sweet potato biscuits on parchment paper with butter to the side and a cast iron pan of more biscuits in it, shot from a side angle

Sweet Potato Biscuits

biscuits· bread· breakfast· Easter· Fall Flavors· Holiday Favorites· pastries
October 17, 2019

Sweet Potato Biscuits – Fluffy buttermilk biscuits made with sweet potato puree to make them ultra-moist and perfect for the fall season Last week, I featured an underrated fall fruit – the pear. Now I want to shed light on an underrated fall veggie – the sweet potato. Its no doubt that pumpkin dominates this time of year. And lately…
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a plate of cacio e pepe pasta sprinkled with Parmesan, shot from overhead

Cacio e Pepe Pasta Risotto

entrees· pizza & pasta· Valentine's Day
October 14, 2019

Cacio e Pepe Pasta Risotto – This classic Italian pasta dish made with fresh ground pepper and Pecorino Romano cheese, is made “risotto-style” with short ditalini pasta so you can make a lot of servings at once.  I love pasta. I’ve always loved pasta. But my love went to a whole other level when I visited Eataly in Boston. It’s…
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a plate with garlic Parmesan pull apart bread on it with a glass of marinara sauce in the center, shot from a side angle

Garlic Parmesan Pull-Apart Bread

appetizer· bread· pizza & pasta· Popular Recipes· Tailgating Recipes
October 10, 2019

Garlic Parmesan Pull-Apart Bread – Homemade pizza dough is tossed with herbs, butter, garlic, and Parmesan cheese, and then baked into a loaf and served with marinara sauce for the perfect snack or appetizer.  A few weeks ago, I shared my epic Apple Cinnamon Monkey Bread. I love how fun it is to eat as you pull off each ball…
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Butterscotch Pear Turnovers on a baking sheet with parchment paper, shot from overhead

Butterscotch Pear Turnovers

breakfast· dessert· Fall Flavors· pastries· Popular Recipes
October 7, 2019

Butterscotch Pear Turnovers – diced pears, butterscotch sauce, and a pinch of cinnamon are stuffed into puff pastry to make a delicious breakfast treat that might as well be dessert, too! Pears really don’t get the respect they deserve. They have all the flavor of their cousin, the apple, but have a softer, juicier and, in my opinion, more delightful…
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caramel macchiato cupcakes some drizzled with caramel sauce, shot from the front

Caramel Macchiato Cupcakes

cake· dessert· Fall Flavors
October 3, 2019

Caramel Macchiato Cupcakes – Moist coffee-flavored cake is topped with caramel buttercream and a generous drizzle of salted caramel sauce. Each bite tastes like a taste of the yummy Italian coffee drink, the caramel macchiato.  I’ll never forget my experience working as a barista throughout college. It’s an experience I discuss frequently here because it introduced me to so many…
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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

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

Pumpkin Tres Leches

pint glass of pumpkin cream cold brew coffee with a metal straw

Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew

overhead shot of cheddar crusted apple pie with lattice crust

Cheddar Crusted Apple Pie

overhead shot of Parmesan & Thyme Potatoes Au Gratin in a baking dish

Parmesan & Thyme Potatoes Au Gratin

a trio of gingerbread souffles on a serving platter

Gingerbread Soufflé

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Raspberry and chocolate is a match made in heaven! Raspberry and chocolate is a match made in heaven! I just love how the juicy, tart raspberries balance out even the darkest chocolate. This combo is hard to beat, especially around this time of year!

I took my favorite molten chocolate cake recipe and made it even BETTER by adding fresh raspberry puree and a fresh raspberry in the center. The result? Pure indulgence!

These mini molten cakes are:
🍫 The perfect individual serving size (no more giant cakes!)
🍓 Light yet completely decadent
💕 Romantic and festive with those gorgeous colors
⚡ Ready in just 35 minutes total

The best part? That gooey, molten center with the surprise raspberry inside! Every bite is heaven.

Want the complete recipe? Comment 'MOLTEN' below and I'll send you the link!

#RaspberryChocolateMoltenCake #MoltenCake #ChocolateLavaCake #ValentinesDayDessert #RaspberryChocolate
I'm SO excited to share these Raspberry Almond Lin I'm SO excited to share these Raspberry Almond Linzer Cookies with you!

I've always loved almond (hence my obsession with almond croissants), and you know I'm crazy about berries. But it wasn't until I tried raspberry almond thumbprint cookies last year that I realized how KILLER these two flavors are together!

So I wanted to showcase this dynamic duo in a more sophisticated way. Enter: Linzer Cookies! These Austrian beauties feature a little window of jam in the center, and honestly? They're not short on the pizzazz, that's for sure.

Here's what makes these cookies SO good:
🍓 Buttery almond shortbread base
🍓 Perfectly tart seedless raspberry jam
🍓 Crisp texture with the perfect moisture from the jam
🍓 They look WAY more impressive than they actually are to make

Now, I won't lie - these rank Medium on the difficulty level. They're not particularly hard, they just take a little patience. But don't worry! I've got ALL my tips and tricks in the full recipe to make sure you feel confident!

Critical tips for success:
1️⃣ Keep the dough COLD or they'll spread into flat pancakes (trust me on this!)
2️⃣ Use parchment paper when rolling - lifesaver for sticky dough
3️⃣ Dip your cookie cutter in flour between cuts
4️⃣ Chill cut cookies for 30 min BEFORE baking
5️⃣ If dough gets sticky, pop it in the freezer - I do this constantly!

The best part? As soon as you bite into one of these, a rush of flavor overcomes your mouth and all you can manage to say is "Yummm!" How could you not love these cookies?!

They're perfect for your holiday cookie exchanges, Christmas parties, Valentine's Days, or honestly anytime you want something that tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen but is secretly pretty doable!

Want the full recipe with ALL my detailed tips? https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/raspberry-almond-linzer-cookies/
Today's recipe is the perfect romantic dessert and Today's recipe is the perfect romantic dessert and just what you need for your V-Day needs. 

It's light, flavorful, and looks VERY impressive – the soufflé!

In this version, there's a layer of cherry compote at the bottom of each ramekin with almond cake on top. Cherry and almond are so perfect together, guys. This dessert tastes like heaven!

Here's why you'll LOVE this recipe:
💕 Light almond cake with sweet-tart cherry compote
💕 Looks fancy but surprisingly doable
💕 Perfect for date night at home
💕 That classic cherry-almond flavor combo
💕 Individual servings = so romantic!

Critical tips for souffle success:
1️⃣ Gently fold the egg whites - If you stir too vigorously, they'll deflate and won't help the soufflé rise
2️⃣ Grease AND sugar the ramekins - The sugar helps the soufflé climb up the sides instead of falling back down
3️⃣ Keep oven CLOSED - Do NOT open the door before it's done or it could fall!
4️⃣ Serve immediately - Straight out of the oven for the prettiest presentation

Fun fact: If you want extra tall soufflés, you can add a paper collar to the inside of the dish before filling it with batter. But I definitely don't think it's necessary!

This might be my favorite Valentine's Day dessert ever. That cherry-almond combo is just chef's kiss.

Want the full recipe? 💌 Comment 'SOUFFLE' below and I'll send you the link!

#CherryAlmondSouffle #ValentinesDayDessert #SouffleRecipe #ValentinesDayBaking #HomemadeSouffle #ValentinesDayRecipes
It's soup season, y'all! And I'm bringing you my F It's soup season, y'all! And I'm bringing you my FAVORITE fall comfort food: Salsa Verde Chicken Chili! 

This isn't your typical chili, guys. We're talking shredded chicken, white beans, and a HEARTY salsa verde broth that'll warm you right up on these chilly days!

The best part? It's SO EASY! I use rotisserie chicken so there's barely any prep work. Just shred, dump, and let it simmer for an hour. That's it!

Here's why you'll LOVE this recipe:
✨ Packed with protein and fiber from white beans
✨ Fresh salsa verde flavor (not jarred stuff!)
✨ Ready in about 1.5 hours total
✨ Perfect for meal prep - lasts 3 days in the fridge
✨ Totally customizable with your favorite toppings

And can we talk about the avocado situation? I'd never had avocado in my chili before this, and OH MY GOSH. Game changer! The creaminess + the spices = chef's kiss

Swipe to see the process and my top tips! ➡️

💌 Want the full recipe? Comment 'VERDE' below and I'll send you the link!
Have you tried white chili before? Let me know in the comments! 👇

#SalsaVerdeChickenChili  #ComfortFoo #ChickenChili #SoupRecipe
Okay I'm taking a break from all this healthy eati Okay I'm taking a break from all this healthy eating. Gimme me all the chocolate!

This Red Velvet Loaf is EXACTLY what I needed after a month of Weight Watchers! Ultra-moist red velvet cake topped with fluffy cream cheese frosting - and the best part? It's a loaf so there's no fussy layering!

Here's why you'll LOVE this recipe:
🔴 Super moist thanks to buttermilk (my secret weapon!)
🔴 Perfect for Valentine's Day or any time you need something red and festive
🔴 Easy loaf format - no cake decorating skills needed
🔴 That classic red velvet flavor with mild chocolate notes

The trick to keeping this cake moist? Don't overbake it! I start checking around the 1-hour mark. Also, gel food coloring is KEY - it won't mess with your batter consistency.

Fun fact: I never even tasted red velvet until I moved to Atlanta! Now it's one of my favorite treats to make.

Want the full recipe? 💌 Comment 'RED VELVET' below and I'll send you the link!
Have you tried making red velvet at home? Let me know in the comments! 

#RedVelvetLoaf #RedVelvetCake #ValentinesDayDessert #ValentinesDayBaking #LoafCake #HomemadeCake #RedVelvet #DessertRecipe #CakeRecipe #ValentinesTreatsl

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