holiday favorite

two stacked Cinnamon Chocolate Muffins and one muffin cut in half next to it and a pan of cinnamon chocolate muffins, shot from a side angle

Cinnamon Chocolate Muffins

two powdered sugar doughnuts on a wood plate with more doughnuts in the background

Powdered Sugar Doughnuts

zoomed in shot of sour cream doughnuts and donut holes on a cloth napkin, shot from a side angle

Sour Cream Doughnuts

Goat Cheese Phyllo Cigars

front shot of sweet potato cornbread in a cast iron skillet

Sweet Potato Cornbread

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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

styled shot of of Salted Caramel Ice Cream in a glass dish with an ice cream scooper with sugar cones and a full ice cream cone next to it and a jar and spoon of caramel sauce

Salted Caramel Ice Cream

dessert· Fall Flavors· ice cream· National Ice Cream Month· Summertime Favorites
July 20, 2017

Salted Caramel Ice Cream – The creamiest ice cream you will ever have! Made with homemade caramel, this custard-based ice cream is super decadent and rich and worth every single calorie.  I am struggling to start this post today. Today marks the One-Year Anniversary of the blog so I thought I’d have tons of grateful and emotional things to say….
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two cones with Avocado Lime Sorbet in a glass with sliced limes and half an avocado

Avocado Lime Sorbet

dessert· ice cream· National Ice Cream Month· Summertime Favorites
July 13, 2017

Avocado Lime Sorbet – Made with only three ingredients, this avocado lime sorbet is shockingly refreshing and unbelievably creamy. It’s going to be your new favorite summer treat! How have you been spending #NationalIceCreamMonth so far? Have you tried out these chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches yet? I froze all the sandwiches I made for the blog and have slowly…
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styled shot of Blackberry & Rosemary Pork Tenderloin on a platter with blackberries sprigs of thyme a bowl of blackberry sauce two bottles of wine and full wine glasses on a cloth napkin, shot from the front

Blackberry & Rosemary Pork Tenderloin (+wine pairing)

pork entrees· Summertime Favorites
July 10, 2017

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older. #SipsOfSummer #CollectiveBias Blackberry & Rosemary Pork Tenderloin – Pork tenderloin is marinated in a blackberry & rosemary marinade, grilled to perfection, and then drizzled with a thick blackberry & rosemary sauce for…
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a glass dish of Cobb Salad Dip with a bowl of more chips in the background, shot from the front

Cobb Salad Dip

appetizer· dips· Summertime Favorites· Tailgating Recipes
July 6, 2017

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SeeHowFreshWorks #CollectiveBias Cobb Salad Dip – A creamy ranch dip covered in your favorite toppings from a traditional cobb salad. The perfect appetizer for game days, summer parties, and barbecues! I don’t know about you guys, but my July is JAM. PACKED. I’ve got…
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three Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches stacked on top of each other on parchment paper with a plate of cookies and a bowl of ice cream in the background, shot from the front

Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches

Cookies· ice cream· National Ice Cream Month· Summertime Favorites· Valentine's Day
July 3, 2017

Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches – Your favorite ice cream is sandwiched with the chewiest chocolate chip cookies to make the best handheld dessert. This is the perfect treat to enjoy all summer long and the best way to celebrate National Ice Cream month in July! Welcome to July, everyone! We’re in the peak of summer so hopefully you’ve…
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overhead shot of Peach Raspberry Cobbler in a baking dish with a large spoon and a scoop taken out of the side

Peach Raspberry Cobbler

dessert· Summertime Favorites
June 29, 2017

Peach Raspberry Cobbler – A Southern peach cobbler given a little twist with the addition of fresh raspberries and a cinnamon sugar crust. The cakey, yet crispy crust is so spectacular that you won’t even need ice cream for this incredibly comforting dessert! Cobbler is a dessert that has stolen my heart. Tons of fruit tossed in a little sugar…
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a sheet pan with BBQ Chicken Nachos on them and a slice of lime cut and off to the side

BBQ Chicken Nachos

appetizer· snacks· Summertime Favorites· Tailgating Recipes
June 26, 2017

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Constellation Brands. All opinions are mine alone. The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older. #SummertimeCerveza #CollectiveBias BBQ Chicken Nachos – Made with tortilla chips topped with BBQ chicken, Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses, fresh tomatoes, sliced red onion, and crispy bacon, these nachos are a fun…
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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

overhead shot of pumpkin churros on a plate of cinnamon sugar

Pumpkin Churros

side shot of banana bread doughnuts on a purple plate with more doughnuts in the background

Banana Bread Doughnuts

a plate of pie crust chips with a bowl of Salted Caramel Apple Pie Dip on it and a jar of caramel behind it, shot from a side angle

Salted Caramel Apple Pie Dip with Pie Crust Chips

plate of pecan sticky bun

Pecan Sticky Buns

overhead shot of quinoa harvest salad on a plate

Quinoa Harvest Salad

apple pie egg roll dipping in caramel sauce

Apple Pie Egg Rolls

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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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