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.)

Equipment:

Slow Cooker Chocolate Covered Peanuts Instructions:

  1. 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 ).
  2. Cook on low for 2-3 hours until the chocolate chips have melted.
  3. Stir in peanuts and make sure they are completely coated in chocolate.
  4. Place a large sheet of parchment paper or wax paper on the counter or on a tray.
  5. Scoop the chocolate-covered peanuts out of the slow cooker using the wooden spoon. Place spoonfuls onto the parchment paper.
  6. Let the chocolate covered peanut clusters cool and harden.
  7. 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.

Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies | Pretty Handy Girl

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 | Pretty Handy Girl

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:

(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.)

Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies | Pretty Handy Girl

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.

Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies | Pretty Handy Girl

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.

Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies | Pretty Handy Girl

Pour mix into mixing bowl.

Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies | Pretty Handy Girl

Add softened butter and egg.

Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies | Pretty Handy Girl

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

Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies | Pretty Handy Girl

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.

Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies | Pretty Handy Girl

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

Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies | Pretty Handy Girl

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

Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies | Pretty Handy Girl

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

Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies | Pretty Handy Girl

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

Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies | Pretty Handy Girl

Mmmmmm. Santa is going to love these this year!

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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.

Quick & Easy Peppermint Oreo Recipe : Great for last minute cookie exchanges or gifts

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 in glasses topped with lemon slices

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.

Sun tea brewing outside in a glass 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.

Closeup glass with sun tea and lemon slice with pitcher in background

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.

Sun tea in glasses topped with lemon slices

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 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.

foolproof oven roasted asparagus

Easy Oven Roasted Asparagus Recipe

It’s Amanda from Domestically Creative and this month I am back with a new and EASY recipe! It’s full-on asparagus season here, and I recently purchased a few fresh bunches from our local farmer’s market. My favorite way to enjoy cooked asparagus is by roasting it in our oven. This recipe is incredibly simple and foolproof, so anyone can copy it. You can even cook this recipe on the grill with a grill pan to make some steaks or chicken. My favorite way to enjoy oven-roasted asparagus is paired with my favorite chili lime Salmon recipe.

prepped asparagus

Ingredients:

  • 1 bunch of asparagus
  • 2 tbsp olive oil (or melted butter)
  • 1 tsp coarse sea salt
  • 1 tsp fresh ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp chili powder
  • Optional: grated parmesan cheese

Equipment:

(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.)

Instructions:

  1. Wash the asparagus well and set aside on a paper towel to dry.washed asparagus ready to cook
  2. Preheat the oven (or grill!) to 400 degrees, and line baking sheet with parchment paper.
  3. In a small prep bowl, mix the salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and chili powder together.
  4. With a sharp knife and cutting board, slice woody ends off of the asparagus.cut ends off of asparagus
  5. Place asparagus in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
  6. Brush olive oil or melted butter on top of the asparagus, coating evenly.prepped and seasoned asparagus
  7. Sprinkle spice mixture over the asparagus.
  8. Bake or place on the grill for 7-9 minutes or until the asparagus turns bright green and the tops get slightly wilted.finished roasted asparagus
  9. Remove from oven and top with grated Parmesan cheese.

Tips for Oven-Roasted Asparagus

Try to pick a bunch of asparagus that is more even in diameter to ensure that it roasts evenly. Getting a mixture of skinny and fat asparagus will yield varying crispness after roasting.

bunch of asparagus

For crispier roasted asparagus, bake, or grill for only 5-7 minutes, just until the asparagus turns bright green. Baking longer will create a chewier texture that is still delicious!

finished oven roasted asparagus

Avoid picking asparagus bunches that have a lot of “woody” stems. You can tell this by color. The asparagus should be all green, with just a slight turn of pink/yellow towards the bottom.

Give this easy roasted asparagus recipe a try. It just might become your new favorite veggie!

If you love this recipe make sure you pin it to save for later!

foolproof oven roasted asparagus

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.

Lemon Zest Popcorn {Gift Idea} | Pretty Handy Girl

What could be more summery than the taste of lemon zest popcorn? If you’ve never tried lemon zest on your popcorn, you are seriously missing out!Lemon Zest Popcorn {Gift Idea} | Pretty Handy Girl

Lemon Zest Popcorn Recipe

Want a summer recipe for popcorn? One that has that tangy zest and sweet buttery flavor. You’ll definitely love this recipe for Lemon Zest Popcorn. And as a bonus, you can make a big batch and give some in mason jars as a gift. This is an idea I had for an end of the year gift I gave my sons’ teachers. I included the mason jar full of popcorn in a tote bag with a few more summer-inspired gifts. (You can see the embellished tote bag I made here.) But, after you sample this popcorn, you may decide it’s too good to share. Let’s make this super simple summery treat!

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.)

Lemon Zest Popcorn {Gift Idea} | Pretty Handy Girl

Optional: Drinking Mason Jar Mugs, Sip & Straw lids and Mason Jar lids

Instructions:

Melt butter in saucepan. Add 6 drops of DoTerra Lemon Essential oil (or you can add about a tablespoon or lemon juice). Add sugar. (I used coconut palm sugar, but you can use regular granulated sugar if you wish.) Mix well.

Lemon Zest Popcorn {Gift Idea} | Pretty Handy Girl

Meanwhile, grate one lemon for zest.

Lemon Zest Popcorn {Gift Idea} | Pretty Handy Girl

Add grated lemon peel to melted butter mixture and stir.

Lemon Zest Popcorn {Gift Idea} | Pretty Handy Girl

Spoon melted butter mixture over popcorn a little at a time.

Lemon Zest Popcorn {Gift Idea} | Pretty Handy Girl

Toss to coat after each lemon butter drizzle. Add salt to taste.

Lemon Zest Popcorn {Gift Idea} | Pretty Handy Girl

I purchased these adorable mason jar mugs with lids and straws. These have easily become my favorite glasses this summer. Did you know iced coffee tastes amazing in mason jars? You can make a healthy sugar busters iced coffee using this recipe.

Lemon Zest Popcorn {Gift Idea} | Pretty Handy Girl

Spoon popcorn into the mason jar mugs and add a lid plus a sip and straw lid. Tie the straw on with some butcher string and gift it to a friend.

The initial review for this popcorn came in from my kids’ principal. She ate it all within minutes of receiving the gift and said it was delicious!

Lemon Zest Popcorn {Gift Idea} | Pretty Handy Girl

Do you like lemon and butter? Do you have any ideas for other flavor combos? Do tell!

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