fall flavors

CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

a plate of Vanilla Bean Morning Buns with a cup of coffee and a baking sheet with a wire rack and more buns in the background, shot from a side angle

Vanilla Bean Morning Buns

breakfast· doughnuts and sweet rolls· Easter· pastries

Vanilla Bean Morning Buns – Puff pastry rolled into a bun with vanilla bean sugar, a hint of cinnamon, and baked until puffed and golden brown.  There are so many things I unexpectedly learned from my college job at Starbucks – (1) what to drink when I need the most caffeine possibly, (2) there is not enough fat in half…
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Dulce de Leche Mousse in a dish topped with a cookie on a platter, shot from a side angle

Dulce de Leche Mousse

dessert

Dulce de Leche Mousse – Rich dulce de leche custard is folded into fresh whipped cream to make a light and fluffy sweet treat Happy Valentine’s Day! On this magical, chocolate-filled holiday, you’d think I’d have something ultra-decadent to share with you all. And you’d be right! But it’s not something chocolatey. Nope. But I promise you – it’s just…
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three Cookies & Cream Cupcakes with chocolate chips spread around and a cloth napkin in the background, shot from the front

Cookies & Cream Cupcakes

cake· dessert

Cookies & Cream Cupcakes – Vanilla cake is speckled with chunks of Oreo cookies, topped with Oreo buttercream frosting, and finished with a dollop of chocolate ganache to make for the most decadent cupcake you’ve ever had Happy birthday to me! Birthdays have changed their meaning for me over the years. I used to look forward to the gifts but…
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Coconut Tres Leches on a platter with slices taken out of it, shot from the front

Coconut Tres Leches

dessert· Summertime Favorites

Coconut Tres Leches – Traditional tres leches is given a tropical makeover with the addition of coconut cream and toasted coconut. I was serious when I said I was jumping headfirst into sweets this month. First, I started with this red velvet loaf and earlier this week, I posted this dark chocolate raspberry fudge. And now I have one of the…
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Dark Chocolate Raspberry Fudge spread out on a piece of parchment paper one with a bite out of it with raspberries and chocolate chips next to them, shot from a side angle

Dark Chocolate Raspberry Fudge

candy· dessert· Valentine's Day

Dark Chocolate Raspberry Fudge – Easy, creamy dark chocolate fudge swirled with raspberry puree. Who else is struggling this morning?? Mondays are rough enough but Mondays after the Super Bowl are the WORST. It could be worse, though, a lesson I learned a couple years ago when I hosted a Super Bowl party. I will not be hosting any more,…
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slices and a load of Red Velvet Loaf on a cutting board with a striped towel under it, shot from a side angle

Red Velvet Loaf

cake· dessert· Valentine's Day

Red Velvet Loaf – Ultra-moist red velvet loaf cake topped with fluffy cream cheese frosting Okay I’m taking a break from all this healthy eating. Gimme me all the chocolate! It’s funny what one month of healthy eating will do to a person, especially a person who loves sweets as much as me! I’ve officially been on Weight Watchers for…
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a pot of Poblano Corn Chowder with a ladle in the pot on top of a striped cotton napkin, shot from overhead

Poblano Corn Chowder

soup

Poblano Corn Chowder – A creamy corn chowder loaded with poblano pepper, Yukon gold potatoes, and sharp cheddar cheese. It’s the comfort food you need on any cold night! Brrrr. Who else is feeling some of the coldest weather all season right now??? Later this week, we’re getting lows into the teens! You’ll find me huddled indoors as much as…
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