holiday favorite

picture of fried goat cheese balls stacked on an appetizer plate with honey drizzling over the top

Fried Goat Cheese Balls

nutella fruit waffle on a white plate with waffles and fruit in the background

Nutella Fruit Waffle

Fudge Striped Cookies on a wire rack drizzled chocolate, shot from a side angle

Fudge Striped Cookies

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

fingers holding a chocolate berry fritter with a wire rack with more fritters and mixed berries surrounding them, shot from a side angle

Chocolate Berry Fritters

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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

zoomed in shot of Funfetti Whoopie Pies stacked on a plate

Funfetti Whoopie Pies

cake· Cookies· dessert
June 1, 2017

Funfetti Whoopie Pies – Soft and fluffy vanilla cake is loaded with sprinkles and sandwiched with creamy vanilla frosting to make a handheld version of a cupcake, also known as a whoopie pie. The perfect cookie that kids and adults will both enjoy! Welcome to June, guys! As I do at the beginning of every month, I have a brand-spanking new…
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overhead zoomed in shot of Easy Homemade Refrigerator Pickles in a glass jar

Easy Homemade Refrigerator Pickles

Popular Recipes· snacks· Summertime Favorites
May 25, 2017

Easy Homemade Refrigerator Pickles – A super-easy recipe for homemade pickles that cure right in your fridge so there’s no need to preserve them in jars. Ready in just a day or two, these classic dill pickles are made with garlic and dill and will be a welcomed addition to your summer time parties and barbecues! Memorial Day is so close…
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overhead styled shot of Avocado and Charred Corn Salad with Cilantro Ranch Dressing

Avocado and Charred Corn Salad with Cilantro Ranch Dressing

salad· Summertime Favorites
May 23, 2017

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #EchaleVida #VidaAguacate #CollectiveBias Avocado and Charred Corn Salad with Cilantro Ranch Dressing – A refreshing and filling salad, made with leafy greens, diced avocado, charred corn, pickled red onions, diced cucumbers, shredded Monterrey Jack cheese, and chopped cilantro, tossed with a homemade cilantro…
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overhead styled shot of Tomato & Whipped Feta Crostini on a platter and crostini on a cloth napkin on the side of the platter

Tomato & Whipped Feta Crostini

appetizer· snacks· Summertime Favorites
May 18, 2017

Tomato & Whipped Feta Crostini – Crispy baguette rounds spread with a creamy layer of lemony whipped feta cheese and topped with juicy cherry tomatoes soaked in a tangy vinaigrette. This is the best appetizer you will ever make – you won’t be able to stop eating it! Have you ever tried something that was so mind-blowingly incredible that it changes…
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styled shot of Red, White, & Blue Sangria in glasses and a pitcher with blueberries and strawberries scattered around on cloth napkins

Red, White, & Blue Sangria

drinks· Summertime Favorites
May 15, 2017

Red, White, & Blue Sangria – A refreshing white sangria made with dry white wine, brandy, and tons of strawberries and blueberries. It’s the best Patriotic drink to serve for Memorial Day, 4th of July, and all summer long! It wouldn’t be right to kick off the summer festivities without an awesome festive cocktail, am I right?! You guys know…
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styled shot of Pineapple & Melon Fruit Salad with Citrus Mint Dressing with a large bowl of salad and a jar of honey with a napkin under it

Pineapple & Melon Fruit Salad with Citrus Mint Dressing

appetizer· salad· sides· Summertime Favorites
May 11, 2017

Pineapple & Melon Fruit Salad with Citrus Mint Dressing – A super refreshing fruit salad made with watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, pineapple, orange segments, grapefruit segments, chopped mint, and a hint of honey. The perfect addition to any summer party, picnic, or BBQ!  The start of summer is just around the corner. That’s right, Memorial Day is in just 20 days,…
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overhead shot of Parmesan & Thyme Potatoes Au Gratin in a baking dish

Parmesan & Thyme Potatoes Au Gratin

Fall Flavors· sides
May 8, 2017

Parmesan & Thyme Potatoes Au Gratin – Thinly sliced russet potatoes layered in a casserole dish with heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and fresh thyme. This dish is so simple to make but is super impressive for any occasion! This week I spent some time at the Everything Food Conference in Salt Lake City. Did you see me document the whole thing…
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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 pretzel bread pudding slice on a plate in a pool of whiskey sauce

Pretzel Bread Pudding

shortcut apple strudel on a marble serving platter cut down the middle to expose the apple center with vanilla ice cream on top and a fork in the foreground

Shortcut Apple Strudel

zoomed in shot of Sage & Browned Butter Hasselback Sweet Potatoes, shot from a side angle

Sage & Browned Butter Hasselback Sweet Potatoes

styled shot of pumpkin snickerdoodles

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

overhead shot of spiced carrots on a bed of whipped feta dip

Spiced Carrots with Whipped Feta

Candied Pecans

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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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