recipe Archives - Pretty Handy Girl

Holiday Sweets to Try: Peppermint, Chocolate & Cookie Favorites

From peppermint Oreo bark to salted caramel cookies, these festive sweets are a must-make this holiday season.

Holiday Sweets and Cookie Favorites

The holidays are here, and that means it’s officially dessert season! From peppermint bark to chocolate fudge and classic cookie favorites, there’s no shortage of treats to bake (and share!) this time of year.

In this post, we’re sharing fun and easy holiday desserts that make the perfect treats to share with friends and family.

Whether you’re whipping up something for a holiday party or just love making a sweet treat for special occasions, these easy holiday desserts are always a big hit.

Holiday Sweets You Will Love!

These favorite Christmas desserts and holiday treats, include everything from chocolatey bark to gooey cookies that are perfect for celebrating the season. Find the perfect recipe for your family!

White Chocolate Cookie Bar Recipe

These white chocolate cookie bars were a huge hit with my boys and our neighbors, and I’m so excited to share the recipe with you. They are super easy to make and you can double the batch so you have extra to share.

DIY Gift Idea: Hot Cocoa Mix in a Jar

I love making homemade gifts during the holidays. They’re thoughtful, personal, and easy on the budget. One of my go-to quick gifts is a hot chocolate mix in a mason jar. It’s simple to put together and makes the perfect DIY holiday gift for neighbors, teachers, or friends! Create your own Christmas traditions with this food gift. Take it to the next level by making homemade marshmallows and mini candy canes.

Quick & Easy Peppermint Oreo Recipe

Looking for easy treats to make with the kids? When you’re short on time but still want to give a homemade gift, try this festive dessert. You can't go wrong with Oreos packed with delicious peppermint flavors. Roll each cookie in a crushed candy cane to make these Christmas cookies even more flavorful! These are cookies you want to add to your Christmas Day menu.

Keto Chocolate Mug Cake

This Keto chocolate mug cake is hands-down one of the best Keto-friendly desserts you’ll ever try! We’ve tested tons of Keto dessert recipes and only share the ones that pass our taste test, so you can save time, money, and carbs! Get the secret ingredient to make your own low carb treat. The best way to serve them is in a mini mason jar.

Holiday Gift Idea: Hot Cocoa on a Stick

I love giving simple and budget-friendly gifts to the teachers and service providers in our life, but I still want them to look special! These hot cocoa on a stick gift mugs are festive, affordable, and make a cozy little treat everyone will enjoy.

Dark Chocolate Peppermint Cookie Bars

You don't have to be a pastry chef to bake these decadent dark chocolate peppermint cookie bars. This recipe is my personal favorite and for good reason! After all, who can resist the classic combo of rich chocolate and cool peppermint, especially during the holiday season?

Salted Caramel Cookies with Chocolate Chips

Let's bake some cookies for Santa and maybe a few for friends (and me too!). I don’t bake sweets often, but when I do, I love keeping it simple. That’s how these salted caramel chocolate chip cookies came to be. They are quick, easy, and irresistibly delicious. Serve with a scoop of ice cream for extra indulgence.

Slow Cooker Chocolate Covered Peanuts

These chocolate-covered peanut clusters are super easy to make. You can use a slow cooker, microwave, or stovetop. For a fun twist, try them with mixed nuts or almonds! Pro tip: Sprinkle a pinch of coarse sea salt on top while the chocolate is setting for an extra flavor boost. They make the most delicious treats to gift or enjoy.

Easy Peppermint Star Ornaments

Get into the holiday spirit with these easy peppermint star ornaments. Watch colorful candies melt and fuse into sparkling snowflake decorations. It's a fun craft for all ages.

PIN FOR LATER

Looking for a quick fall dessert? You’ll love this yummy pumpkin dip!

October 31, 2025/0 Comments/by Brittany Bailey

recipe, Summer

Ultimate Summer Recipes: Sweet Treats, Salads & Grilled Goodness

Beat the heat with 13 fresh summer recipes, plus bonus DIYs (like lemon balm and sunburn spray) to keep you glowing.

Ultimate Summer Recipe Collection

Summer is the best time of year to gather around the table and enjoy fresh, flavorful meals that celebrate the season. Our ultimate summer recipes collection is packed with family favorites that make the most of summer’s best produce.

Think ripe tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, sweet corn, and fresh fruit straight from the farmers market. Whether you’re planning a backyard BBQ or a simple weeknight dinner, you’ll find main dishes, side dishes, and sweet treats that don’t require much time but deliver big on taste.

From colorful salads bursting with flavor to grilled goodness hot off the BBQ, these recipes are some of our favorite ways to enjoy the warm weather.

On a hot summer day, nothing beats a refreshing dish made with fresh ingredients, and we’ve got plenty of inspiration to choose from. These easy dinners are perfect for making the most of the summer months with easy, delicious meals the whole family will love.

Best Summer Recipes: Sweet Treats, Salads & Grilled Goodness

How to Make Classic Sun Tea

The best way to make sun tea is simple and refreshing—just add your favorite tea bags to a glass pitcher filled with water and set it outside in the sunshine. Let the sun do all the work as it gently brews your tea over a few hours, leaving you with a smooth, flavorful end result that's perfect for hot summer days.

Easy Oven Roasted Asparagus Recipe

This easy oven-roasted asparagus recipe is the perfect simple side dish to serve alongside pork chops or any weeknight dinner. All you need are a few minutes to make fresh asparagus spears seasoned and roasted until tender and slightly crispy—delicious, healthy!

Lemon Zest Popcorn Recipe

What could be more summery than the taste of lemon zest popcorn? This bright and zesty snack delivers a burst of fresh flavor in every bite—perfect for sunny days and movie nights alike!

Grilled Corn Pesto Pizza Recipe

This grilled corn pesto pizza is a delicious way to make good use of summer’s freshest ingredients. Topped with a vibrant pesto made from fresh basil and fresh parsley, juicy tomatoes, sweet grilled corn kernels, and creamy fresh mozzarella, every bite bursts with seasonal flavor. Plus, learn how to get that brick oven pizza taste in your own backyard.

Chipotle Ranch Chicken Salad Recipe

This chipotle ranch chicken salad is the perfect easy summer dinner recipe, packed with savory flavor and made with minimal effort. Juicy chicken breasts are grilled to perfection and served over a bed of fresh salad greens, with avocados, sweet cherry tomatoes and a creamy chipotle ranch dressing that ties it all together.

Corn Salsa Recipe

This corn salsa is a delicious way to take any meal to the next level! Made with sweet corn, red onion, and fresh herbs, it’s perfect as a topping for tacos, a dip with chips, or served over store-bought flatbread for a quick and flavorful snack.

Savory Spice-Rubbed Salmon Recipe

This Savory Spice-Rubbed Salmon uses simple ingredients like brown sugar, cumin, salt, and black pepper to create a perfectly balanced blend of sweet and savory. It's a great option for a quick weeknight meal or an impressive main dish for a dinner party—delicious, elegant, and ready in no time.

Tasty Grilled Fruit Kabobs with Coconut Honey Dip

These fun and colorful fruit kabobs are a refreshing addition to any summer cookout—especially when served alongside classics like hot dogs. They’re a healthy, crowd-pleasing snack that’s as easy to make as it is to enjoy! They also make a colorful addition to any charcuterie board—adding a sweet, patriotic twist to your spread!

Easy Strawberry Tart Recipe

This easy strawberry tart recipe is the real deal when it comes to effortless summer desserts. With a buttery crust, fresh strawberries, and just the right amount of sweetness, it’s a showstopper that tastes as good as it looks—perfect for any warm-weather gathering.

Red, White & Blueberry Fruit Pops

These red, white & blueberry fruit pops are a festive and refreshing treat that’s perfect for summer celebrations. They also make a fun and colorful addition to any picnic—adding a sweet, patriotic twist to your spread!

Crab Pinwheels

Crab Pinwheels are tasty, bite-sized rolls filled with creamy crab meat and herbs—perfect for easy appetizers or snacks!

DIY Lemonade Lip Balm

DIY Lemonade Lip Balm is a refreshing, homemade lip treatment that blends zesty lemon with nourishing ingredients to keep your lips soft, smooth, and lightly scented.

Sunburn Relief Spray

Sunburn Relief Spray soothes and cools irritated skin with natural, calming ingredients—perfect for quick, refreshing comfort after sun exposure.

We hope you enjoyed these easy summer meals and found something delicious to make the next time you are looking for a simple dinner option.

PIN FOR LATER

8 image collage ultimate summer recipe collection

Looking for a quick, healthy dessert? You’ll love this Keto Chocolate Mug Cake Recipe.

August 8, 2025/0 Comments/by Brittany Bailey

recipe

Slow Cooker Chocolate Covered Peanuts

It’s Amanda from Domestically Creative and this month I am back with a new and EASY recipe! This is my grandmother’s favorite candy recipe for the holidays, but you can make and enjoy it any time of year. These chocolate covered peanut clusters can be made in a slow cooker, in the microwave, or on a stovetop. I even love to switch it up and make a batch with mixed nuts, or almonds. Here’s a tip: Add a pinch of course sea salt on top while the chocolate is hardening!

I hope your family enjoys these chocolate peanut clusters as much as we do. Check out the easy 4 ingredient recipe below!

Ingredients:

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

1 bag Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (Nestle Morsels works best)
1 bag White Chocolate Chips (Nestle Morsels works best)
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
16oz can of lightly salted peanuts

Equipment:

Slow Cooker Chocolate Covered Peanuts Instructions:

Place both bags of chocolate chips, and 1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter in the pot of a slow cooker ( I used my Instant Pot on slow cook mode ).
Cook on low for 2-3 hours until the chocolate chips have melted.
Stir in peanuts and make sure they are completely coated in chocolate.
Place a large sheet of parchment paper or wax paper on the counter or on a tray.
Scoop the chocolate-covered peanuts out of the slow cooker using the wooden spoon. Place spoonfuls onto the parchment paper.
Let the chocolate covered peanut clusters cool and harden.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.

How to Chocolate Covered Peanuts in the Microwave

Place chocolate and peanut butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at 30-second intervals stirring between each one, until all of the chocolate has melted. Stir in peanuts and follow steps 4-7 above.

How to Chocolate Covered Peanuts on the Stovetop

Place chocolate and peanut butter in a saucepan. Fill a second, larger saucepan with water, and place the first saucepan inside (creating a double boiler). Turn the heat up to medium-high, and let the chocolate melt. Keep stirring so it doesn’t burn or stick to the bottom of the pan. When the chocolate has melted, remove from heat and stir in peanuts. Follow steps 4-7 above.

What other types of candies and goodies does your family love to enjoy for the holidays? If you like this recipe, you may want to check out these Dark Chocolate Peppermint Cookie Bars too.

Love this easy recipe? Don’t forget to pin it for later!

I’m Amanda, and I am the creator and voice behind the food and DIY blog, Domestically Creative. What started as a place to share updates with friends and family after we moved from Illinois to Tennessee and then to Texas, turned into a passion for finding creative and frugal ways to feed us and decorate our homes.

I have always had the “make it myself” attitude and I’m not afraid to bust out the power tools or get creative when it comes to decorating our home on a budget. You can usually find me scouring the local thrift stores, garage sales and estate sales looking for my next makeover (like this litter box cabinet), or dreaming up ways to make our new house feel more like home. My most recent project was giving my home office a much-needed facelift. Some of the plans included creating a fun inspirational accent wall and adding pegboard to store my craft hoards.

I currently call Missouri home, where I live with my husband, dog, and 2 cats in a pretty dull, late 90’s split level. My husband and I both love to travel the U.S and recently purchased a small travel trailer to tag along in our journeys. In our free time together we can usually be found working together on a home project, exploring a new place, or just lounging with our pup, Delilah.

I’d love for you to connect with me on social media via Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter!

See all of Amanda’s tutorials HERE.

December 9, 2020/0 Comments/by Domestically Creative

recipe

Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies

It’s that time of year! Time to bake some delicious cookies for Santa (and friends, of course. Oh okay, and for me!) I don’t bake sweets often, but when I do I like quick and easy recipes. That’s how I created this simple Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe.

Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies

I can’t take all the credit, because Betty Crocker did most of the work by making the cookie mix, But, I dressed it up a little with some sea salt and Wether’s Original caramels. Oh and I enlisted the help of my boys (who never turn down the opportunity to make cookies.) You can use your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe or store-bought dough for this sweet dessert. Here’s how I make my ordinary chocolate chip cookies into extraordinary salted caramel chocolate chip cookies!

Ingredients:

Betty Crocker Chocolate Cookie Mix (Gluten Free or Regular) makes approx. 24 cookies
Bag of Werther’s Original chewy caramels
1 tsp. Sea Salt
1 Egg
1 Stick of butter

Having a mixer and a chopper makes this cookie making event even easier!

Instructions:

Unwrap the caramels. I used approximately 1 bag per cookie mix.

Cut the caramels into small pieces. Let the kids smack the chopper for extra fun (hold the base and let them smack the top.) Set aside the caramels.

Pour mix into mixing bowl.

Add softened butter and egg.

Mix in 1 tsp full of sea salt. Add more if you like it super salty.

Mix cookie dough in the mixer until it forms a big clump. Stop the mixer and pour in half the caramels. Mix the caramels in and stop the mixer again and add the rest of the caramels.

Spoon out teaspoon size balls onto a cookie sheet. Follow the package directions depending on your oven and trays.

I love how they like to watch the cookies spread and can hardly wait until the cookies are ready!

Remove the cookies when the edges start to turn golden brown. Don’t worry if they look soft, they’ll continue to bake.

Let the cookies cool for a few minutes before removing them from the tray. Be sure to eat them while they are still warm!

Mmmmmm. Santa is going to love these this year!

Do you have any other quick hacks to dress up ordinary desserts? Do share! In the meantime, I think we’re going to make a batch of these Quick & Easy Peppermint Oreos too.

November 23, 2020/4 Comments/by Brittany Bailey

recipe

How to Make Sun Tea

Sun tea is an easy way to beat the heat of summer. Learn how to make sun tea with this simple recipe and tips for enjoying the refreshing summer drink.

How to Make Refreshing Sun Tea

Hey there, It’s Amanda from Domestically Creative back again with another simple recipe perfect for summer. Have you ever tried sun tea? Sun tea is just a simple way of brewing tea to make into iced tea using the sun to heat water instead of boiling.

Growing up my mom always made sun tea in the summertime, and it quickly became a staple in our refrigerator! Sun tea is really simple to make. You just need some tea bags, a glass pitcher, and water. Set it outside and let the sun do all of the work.

Sun tea is also versatile, just like making regular iced tea. You can serve it as is, with some lemon slices or enjoy a glass of this peach raspberry iced tea. You can even add simple syrup to the tea after steeping to sweeten.

Ingredients:

2 Family size tea bags, or 4 regular
8 cups of water
Lemon slices (optional)

Equipment:

Glass Pitcher (not plastic)
Spoon to stir
Hot afternoon sun

Instructions:

Fill a glass pitcher with 8 cups of water. Add 2 family-sized tea bags or 4 regular tea bags to the pitcher and give it a stir.

Place the pitcher outside in the hot sun for 3-4 hours. The tea will steep as the water temperature rises inside the pitcher.

When the tea has reached your desired strength, remove the tea bags, and move it to the refrigerator.

Add some lemon slices to flavor the sun tea if desired. You can also add simple syrup to sweeten it or add other fruit for flavoring.

Some notes about Sun Tea

It’s important to use a glass pitcher or container when making sun tea, as it inhibits bacteria growth more than plastic.
Make sure the container has a lid to keep bugs and debris out while the tea steeps.
The tea will be smoother, and less bitter to taste than traditional iced tea because of the slow steeping time.
Some say that drinking Sun Tea can make you sick. The water temp does not get hot enough to kill any bacteria that may be on the tea leaves, which could cause illness if you consume it. Do your own research before trying out this recipe if you are concerned.

I hope you give this easy sun tea recipe a try!

Don’t forget to pin this recipe for later

I’m Amanda, and I am the creator and voice behind the food and DIY blog, Domestically Creative. What started as a place to share updates with friends and family after we moved from Illinois to Tennessee and then to Texas, turned into a passion for finding creative and frugal ways to feed us and decorate our homes.

I have always had the “make it myself” attitude and I’m not afraid to bust out the power tools or get creative when it comes to decorating our home on a budget. You can usually find me scouring the local thrift stores, garage sales and estate sales looking for my next makeover (like this litter box cabinet), or dreaming up ways to make our new house feel more like home. My most recent project was giving my home office a much needed facelift. Some of the plans included creating a fun inspirational accent wall and adding pegboard to store my craft hoards.

I’d love for you to connect with me on social media via Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter!

See all of Amanda’s tutorials HERE.

August 12, 2020/0 Comments/by Domestically Creative