holiday favorite

raspberry lime macaron sandwich on a white plate with lime zest garnish

Raspberry Lime Macaron Sandwich

stacked and spread out butter pecan macarons with crushed pecans spread around them, shot from a side angle

Butter Pecan Macarons

brooklyn blackout cupcakes

Brooklyn Blackout Cupcakes

Maple Pecan Scones

close up of a piece of chocolate hzelnut toffee with chopped hazelnuts sitting beside it

Chocolate Hazelnut Toffee

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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

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
February 11, 2019

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
February 7, 2019

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
February 4, 2019

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
January 31, 2019

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
January 28, 2019

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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Peanut Butter Banana Bites on top of a piece of parchment paper one with a bite out of it with a spoon with peanut butter and a banana in the background, shot from a side angle

Peanut Butter Banana Bites

dessert· snacks
January 24, 2019

Peanut Butter Banana Bites – Sliced bananas are topped with peanut butter and dipped in chocolate to make a yummy, guilt-free treat that is great fresh or frozen! Hello, I’m Sharon and I’m a walking cliche. Like everyone else in America, I am spending January in the healthy zone. I know, how original. But I have an excuse and she’s…
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a bowl filled with Chocolate Cinnamon Granola on a tray with granola on it and a stick of cinnamon, shot from a side angle

Chocolate Cinnamon Granola

breakfast· snacks
January 21, 2019

Chocolate Cinnamon Granola – Classic cinnamon granola is given a chocolatey makeover with the addition of cocoa powder and mini chocolate chips. You’ll be shocked at how great the cinnamon and chocolate pairs together! Granola is one of my favorite things to make at home. I never knew how easy it was to make or else I would have been making…
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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

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

Pumpkin Fettuccine with Sundried Tomatoes

staged shot of pumpkin cinnamon crunch muffins with sprinkled pecans and pumpkins in the background, shot from a side angle

Pumpkin Cinnamon Crunch Muffins

zoomed in shot of a bowl of sweet potato gnocchi, shot from a side angle

Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Sage Browned Butter

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

Sweet Potato Gratin

Apple Pie Cake

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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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