holiday favorite

close up of a mint chocolate fudge cookie surrounded by chocolate chips

Mint Chocolate Fudge Cookies

close up of cinnamon raisin rugelach to shot the spiral side and yummy filling

Cinnamon Raisin Rugelach

Pigs in a Blanket Wreath on parchment paper with thyme sprigs and a dish of dipping sauce in the center with cans of dr pepper and plates in the background, shot from a side angle

Pigs in a Blanket Wreath

Sausage Egg & Cheese Pastry Muffins on a platter with a sprig of rosemary, shot from a side angle

Sausage, Egg, & Cheese Pastry Muffins

overhead shot of partially eaten baked carrot cake oatmeal in casserole dish with serving spoon

Baked Carrot Cake Oatmeal

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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

styled shot of Peach Lemonade in two glasses with a glass pitcher in the background and whole peaches spread around on a cloth napkin, shot from the front

Peach Lemonade

drinks· Easter· Summertime Favorites
June 7, 2018

Peach Lemonade – Homemade lemonade is taken to a new level with the addition of fresh peaches. It will be your new favorite summer drink! I am on a roll with these drink recipes, guys! Today’s Peach Lemonade marks my third drink recipe in the last couple months. Do you remember the others? First, I shared this Homemade Grapefruit Soda and…
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Oreo Chocolate Chip Cookies sprinkled with crushed oreo cookies on a counter with a cloth napkin next to it, shot from overhead

Oreo Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cookies· dessert
June 4, 2018

Oreo Chocolate Chip Cookies – Classic chocolate chip cookies are mixed with crushed Oreos to make for a mega cookie that is screaming to be dunked in a glass of milk. And just like that, we’ve reached a new month! I cannot believe we’re already into June. Time is flying by – which means this baby is that much closer…
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styled shot of Salted Caramel Apple Pie Parfaits with a pan of pie and a can of whipped cream behind it

Salted Caramel Apple Pie Parfaits

dessert· Fall Flavors· pie· Summertime Favorites
June 1, 2018

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Conagra Brands. All opinions are mine alone. #StarsofSummer #CollectiveBias Salted Caramel Apple Pie Parfaits – A super simple treat to make for all your summer parties that is sure to impress! Simply layer Marie Callender’s® Dutch Apple Pie, Reddi–wip®, and salted caramel sauce in individual cups and serve immediately.  Another…
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a stack of Ham & Cheese Croquettes on a platter sprinkled with chives and cheese, shot from the front

Ham & Cheese Croquettes (Croquetas)

appetizer· Easter· snacks· Tailgating Recipes
May 31, 2018

Ham & Cheese Croquettes – Dumplings filled with rich prosciutto ham and manchego cheese are rolled in breadcrumbs and fried to perfection to make for one of the best appetizers you’ll ever have A couple years ago, my husband and I had an incredible time visiting some of my family in Madrid, Spain. Not only did he get to know…
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Asian Steak Skewers on a platter sprinkled with sesame seeds and green onions, shot from the front

Asian Steak Skewers

beef entrees· Summertime Favorites· Tailgating Recipes
May 28, 2018

Asian Steak Skewers – Tender sirloin is marinated in Asian flavors and skewered with red onion and red pepper before it’s grilled to perfection! Happy Memorial Day! I am so thankful for the sacrifices made by so many so I can live a life full of freedom and I am happy we get to honor them today. Hopefully most of…
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a casserole dish with everything bagel breakfast casserole on top of a coaster on a cloth napkin with a spoon next to it, shot from overhead

Everything Bagel Breakfast Casserole

breakfast· breakfast casseroles
May 24, 2018

Everything Bagel Breakfast Casserole – A hearty and rich breakfast casserole made with super flavorful everything bagels, Gruyere cheese, and crispy bacon. I know Memorial Day is coming up this weekend and I probably should be posting about grilling recipes, festive red, white, blue recipes, or refreshing salads. However, I have been sitting on this breakfast recipe wayyy too long…
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slices of Reese's Crispy Cereal Bars on parchment paper with reeses pieces candy sprinkled around them, shot from overhead

Reese’s Crispy Cereal Bars

bars and brownies· candy· dessert· snacks
May 21, 2018

Reese’s Crispy Cereal Bars – You’re average rice crispy treats are getting a makeover thanks to lots of peanut butter and chocolate. Made only with Reese’s Puffs cereal, Reese’s Pieces, marshmallows and butter, this will be your new favorite afternoon treat! If you’ve been following this blog regularly, you know how I feel about peanut butter and chocolate. This duo…
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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 apple pie slide doughnut sitting on a tray with other doughnuts

Apple Pie Slider Doughnuts

a slice of apple cinnamon stuffed french toast on a plate with powdered sugae

Apple Cinnamon Stuffed French Toast

a slice of peach upside down cake on a white plate with the rest of the cake in the background

Peach Upside-down Cake

autumn kale salad in a blue salad bowl

Autumn Kale Salad

front shot of sweet potato cornbread in a cast iron skillet

Sweet Potato Cornbread

a stack of Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies and individual cookies on a sheet pan with chocolate chips around them and a stack of pumpkins in the background, shot from a side angle

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Strawberry Cheesecake Milkshake – vanilla ice cr Strawberry Cheesecake Milkshake – vanilla ice cream blended with real strawberries, actual cheesecake chunks, and topped with whipped cream, graham cracker crumbs, and a fresh strawberry! 🍓

I am very picky about my milkshakes, you guys! They HAVE to be (1) thick, (2) full of flavor, and (3) loaded with texture! This milkshake checks all the boxes!

This one was inspired by my husband's obsession with the Strawberry Cheesequake Blizzard from Dairy Queen! 

He LOVES it, so I decided to recreate it at home – but better! Instead of using strawberry ice cream and cream cheese, I used REAL strawberries and a real slice of cheesecake for that authentic chunky texture!

The key to making this milkshake so thick? I only use ½ cup of milk! The juice from the fresh strawberries helps liquefy the ice cream, so you don't need much liquid at all!
Pro tip: Make sure you're using the BEST vanilla ice cream you can find! Since this recipe is so simple, the quality of the ingredients really makes all the difference!

Perfect for summer treats, date nights, hot days, or anytime you want a decadent, fruity dessert in a glass! 🥤

💬 Comment "STRAWBERRYCHEESECAKE" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for milkshake inspiration
📤 SHARE with someone who loves dessert!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/strawberry-cheesecake-milkshake/
Watermelon Basil Lemonade – homemade lemonade sw Watermelon Basil Lemonade – homemade lemonade sweetened with basil sugar and fresh watermelon juice for a complex, refreshing summer drink!

I love making my lemonade from scratch, you guys! It gives me the freedom to experiment with unique flavors like this watermelon basil combo! I've used watermelon in drinks before (hello, Watermelon Sangria and Watermelon Margaritas!), so I knew it would be PERFECT with lemonade!

Watermelon is such a major symbol of summer, so pairing it with fresh basil takes it to another level! The basil adds an herbaceous, complex flavor that regular lemonade could never achieve! 

This is one of those drinks that looks impressive but is incredibly simple to make – just 10 minutes of prep time and you've got something that tastes like it came straight from a summer garden!

Pro tip: Don't skip the salt! With a drink as sweet and sour as this lemonade, a little salt balances it all out and prevents it from being overly cloying!
Perfect for summer BBQs, entertaining guests, hot days, or anytime you want a refreshingly unique drink! 

💬 Comment "WATERMELONLEMONADE" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for summer entertaining
📤 SHARE with someone who loves lemonade!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/watermelon-basil-lemonade
Fluffernutter Sandwich Three Ways – marshmallow Fluffernutter Sandwich Three Ways – marshmallow creme and peanut butter come together to make the ultimate sweet sandwich using three unique peanut butter flavors: Mighty Maple, Cinnamon Raisin Swirl, and Dark Chocolate Dreams! 

Peanut butter is probably my favorite dessert flavor, you guys! I mean, I have posted THREE different peanut butter cookie recipes in the past year, and that's not even including my PB&J Ice Cream Sandwiches! If this is what addiction looks like, please don't make me control it! 😍

It's my go-to dessert when I have the biggest sweet tooth but no cake or ice cream or candy around! I almost always have the ingredients on hand for a fluffernutter, so I never have to suffer "sweet pains" for too long!

Instead of making a plain fluffernutter, I decided to test three unique peanut butter flavors from Peanut Butter & Co! And I was shocked by the results! Dark Chocolate Dreams (my first love!) trumped the Cinnamon Raisin Swirl! There's something about how the Dark Chocolate Dreams melts into the marshmallow creme that makes me melt after each bite!

Pro tip: Cook on medium-low temp so the peanut butter has time to melt before the bread gets toasty! The melty peanut butter is the BEST part!

Perfect for when you need a quick dessert fix, a sweet treat, or anytime your sweet tooth takes over! 

💬 Comment "FLUFFERNUTTER" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for sweet cravings
📤 SHARE with a peanut butter addict!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/fluffernutter-sandwich-three-ways/
Schnitzel Sub Sandwich – crispy fried chicken te Schnitzel Sub Sandwich – crispy fried chicken tenders topped with fresh baby arugula, a squeeze of lemon juice, and shaved Parmesan cheese in a soft hoagie bun! 

I tried this sandwich at a restaurant and fell so deeply in love that I HAD to recreate it at home, you guys! It was so SIMPLE yet so INCREDIBLE! 😍

The best part? It tastes fresh and light despite being a fried piece of chicken! The secret is all in the fresh toppings – the baby arugula, bright lemon juice, and shaved Parmesan cut through the richness of the fried chicken perfectly!

The biggest step is pounding and frying the chicken tenders, but don't worry – I use a shallow pool of oil instead of deep frying, which makes it SO much simpler at home! Just flatten the chicken evenly so it cooks through and gets super crispy!

Pro tip: Make sure to use the lemon! Fried food can taste rich and heavy, and the lemon juice is exactly what the chicken needs to lighten it up and add freshness!
Perfect for lunch, dinner, weeknight meals, or anytime you want a gourmet sandwich at home! 🥪

💬 Comment "SCHNITZEL" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for sandwich inspiration
📤 SHARE with someone who loves sandwiches!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/schnitzel-sub-sandwich/
Texas Sheet Cake – a thin, moist chocolate cake Texas Sheet Cake – a thin, moist chocolate cake with a generous layer of fudgy chocolate icing on top! The ratio of cake to icing is absolute PERFECTION! 

Chocolate cake has been hit or miss for me my whole life, you guys! Either it's dry or bland or not chocolatey enough! But this Texas Sheet Cake? BY FAR my favorite chocolate cake of all time! 

It's perfectly moist, FULL of chocolate flavor, and that icing on top just sets it into overdrive! After one bite, I simply cannot stop eating!

The secret to this incredible cake is the right ratio of icing to cake and placing the icing on the cake while it's HOT! This seals in all the moisture and makes it absolutely DIVINE!

Pro tip: Use Dutch-processed cocoa powder instead of classic unsweetened – the chocolate flavor is way more potent! Plus, this cake bakes in under 20 minutes, so it's perfect for last-minute cravings!

Perfect for potlucks, parties, crowd feeding, or anytime you need to satisfy those chocolate cravings! 

💬 Comment "TEXASCAKE" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for chocolate emergencies
📤 SHARE with someone who loves chocolate!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/texas-sheet-cake/

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