Learn how to make a buttery, brown sugar hinted Pecan Pralines recipe right in the comfort of your own home. These sweet, salty and slightly chewy nut candies are a classic Southern treat that anyone can enjoy!
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Alright y’all, ‘tis the season for SGGA (Severe Gift Giving Anxiety). I may have totally just made that up but it’s a real thing. Or at least it is for me. Every year the holiday season rolls around and instantly my brain is flooded with thoughts about gifts. Who am I getting gifts for? What should I get? What’s my budget?
Fortunately, I’ve got a solution that I can count on year after year: Pralines. These crunchy, delectable treats make for a personalized gift that no one will forget. I grew up eating these candies at almost every holiday gathering. There always seemed to be a bowl of pralines moving around the room for all to enjoy. This childhood treat is one that I continue to not only enjoy myself but one that I’ve chosen to share with my family, friends and coworkers every chance I get.
The Heart and Soul of the Best Pralines Recipe
Cuisine Inspiration: Southern Comfort
A nod to classic southern desserts passed down through generations.
Primary Cooking Method: Stovetop Simmering
Old-school cooking, with the magic unfolding right on your stove.
Dietary Info: Gluten-Free & Vegetarian
Fits seamlessly into gluten-free and vegetarian diets.
Key Flavor: Caramelized Brown Sugar
The rich, iconic taste that makes these pralines a crowd-pleaser.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Simple ingredients, but a touch of technique is needed.
Sweet Highlights:
- Traditional Touch: Classic southern dessert charm.
- Versatile Snack: Great with coffee or as a gift.
- Creamy Consistency: Smooth, melt-in-mouth experience.
- Nutty Surprise: The delightful crunch of pecans in every bite.
What Are Pralines?
For a Southerner, Pralines are a common treat made for holiday festivities. Born in France and transplanted to Louisiana, today’s modern version of the praline has become a Southern staple that you can find almost anywhere. But where did these little bites of delight come from?
Clement Lassange, a chef who worked at the Château de Vaux-le-Vic for Maréchal du Plessis-Praslin, a sugar industrialist, was the inventor of the praline. He coated almonds in sugar which were said to be used as gifts.
The praline came to America with the French settlers who came to Louisiana, but the recipe was changed to use local ingredients such as the pecan and brown sugar. Soon enough, the New Orleans version of Pralines became famous and the recipes became abundant.
Today’s recipe comes from my good friend Toni Tipton Martin’s latest and greatest cookbook Jubilee. Filled with more than 100 recipes that highlight the true history of African American cooking, Toni’s latest work is phenomenal. Through recipes and stories Jubilee takes you on a culinary journey through the culturally diverse roots of the South and beyond.
This Praline recipe is a celebration of a history I am proud to be a part of and am even prouder to share with you.
Ingredients
- Brown Sugar: The deep, caramel soul of our pralines. It’s all about that rich sweetness.
- Granulated Sugar: Giving our pralines their classic, sugary backbone.
- Molasses/Dark Corn Syrup: This right here? It’s the gooey, sticky magic that holds everything together.
- Heavy Whipping Cream: Making everything creamy and dreamy!
- Butter: A little slice of rich, melt-in-your-mouth goodness.
- Toasted Pecans: These babies bring the crunch and nutty flair to our sweet party.
- A Pinch of Salt: Just a touch to balance out the sweetness and elevate those flavors.
- Vanilla Extract: A dash of aromatic elegance to finish things off.
How to Make Pralines
- Set the Stage: Prep by lining your baking sheet with parchment or wax paper. It’s all about that smooth slide-off once your pralines are ready to chill.
- Mix & Melt: In a heavy-duty saucepan, combine brown sugar, granulated sugar, molasses, and cream. Keep that heat on medium-high and stir until the sugar dissolves. Wooden spoons are a praline-maker’s best friend.
- Bubble Up: Time for some boiling action! Cook for about 5 minutes. You’re looking for a thicker consistency. Do the cold water test by dropping a tiny bit into a bowl of cold water – you want it to form a soft ball. Or if you’re fancy, use a candy thermometer aiming for 240F. Caution: It’s sizzling hot!
- All Together Now: Off the heat, stir in butter, pecans, a pinch of salt, and that aromatic vanilla. Stir like you’ve never stirred before – until it’s thick.
- Scoop & Cool: Spoon that deliciousness onto your baking sheet and let ’em cool. Once they’re set, enjoy or store them in an airtight container for later indulgence.
Tips
Wondering what the heck pralines are? Well, let me tell ya. Pralines are a classic candy made from brown sugar and pecans. They’re crunchy from the nuts, slightly fudgey with an added crumbly texture that somehow seems to melt in your mouth. Pralines are wonderfully complex and simple all at the same time.
The most difficult part about making pralines is securing that complex texture I just described to you. Stick with me and I’ll make sure you get it right.
Be Aware of Your Environment
Excess moisture in the air can contribute to the texture of your pralines. Humid air will almost always prevent your pralines from properly hardening. Be sure that you’re working in a cool, dry area.
How Long Are You Working Your Candies?
Beat your candies too little and they’ll be soft and runny. Go too hard and they’ll be so crumbly that they fall apart at your touch. I wish I had a magic tip that would give you the perfect pralines time and time again but I don’t.
The secret here is practice. Trial, error and patience will teach you everything you need to know about making pralines.
But if you find that your pralines are hardening before you can scoop them out of the pan, it’s not the end of the world. Add a teaspoon of hot water at a time and stir until your candy loosens up again.
Holiday Gifting Pecan Pralines and Candy!
Not only are pralines absolutely delicious but they make for one of the cutest and most thoughtful gifts. You can easily double or triple this recipe and once cooled, distribute the pralines into small cellophane bags. Tie up the bags with festive bows or even leftover twine from Thanksgiving.
In addition to pralines, I love to also give the following during the holiday season:
Giving someone a homemade edible gift is endearing and magical. Making a loved one feel special lasts much longer than any expensive gift.
Add Ins for Praline Recipe
I love how simple these pralines are. Using very few ingredients allows the pecans to shine in the way I know they were meant to. But if you’d like to spice things up, I’m here for it.
Add some flare by mixing bourbon or rum into your liquid mixture or tossing your pralines in cinnamon and chili powder while they’re still sticky. You can drizzle on chocolate, use almond extract instead of vanilla or even coat them in toasted coconut.
Make your pralines a personal statement or customize them for those you plan on giving them too!
If You Love New Orleans Pralines, You Will Love These New Orleans Recipes Too!
Pralines Recipe
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Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 3 tbsp molasses or dark corn syrup
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 4 tbsp butter
- 2 cups pecans toasted and coarsely chopped
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper.
- In a heavy bottomed medium saucepan, stir together the brown sugar, granulated sugar, molasses, and cream over medium high heat. Stir with a wooden spoon until the sugar dissolves.
- Bring to a boil and continue to cook for about 5 minutes, until the mixture begins to thicken and form a soft ball when a small amount is dropped from a spoon into a bowl of cold water, about 5 minutes. (Or using a candy thermometer; the temperature needs to reach 240F.) . Be very careful through this process, as the mixture is very hot and can burn severely.
- Remove the pan from the heat and use a wooden spoon to stir in the butter, pecans, salt and vanilla. Continue to stir vigorously until thick, 2 to 3 minutes. Working quickly, spoon heaping tablespoons of the mixture onto the lined baking sheet. Allow the pralines to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.
Notes
Nutrition
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Hi! How long do pralines last and what’s the best way to store them?
They should last 5 to 7 days are room temperatures. You’ll want to store them in an air tight bag or container – hope you enjoy!
I love pralines but have never made them. I used this recipe and found it both easy and tasty. Thank you so much for posting it. I will be putting a bag in our CHRISTMAS hampers for the family.
Excellent recipe. Followed it to the letter and no alterations. Everyone enjoyed them. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I made mine recently using 2 cups white sugar, 1 tsp. Baking soda, 1 cup of buttermilk. After boiling 5 min, add2 cups pecans and 1 tsp vanilla. Cook till temperature reaches 234 degrees. Remove from heat. Stir with wooden spoon till it starts to thicken. Moving fast, drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper. Cool. These are dark pralines. Got this from Southern Living cookbook, but I don’t think it had vanilla. Careful not to burn.
Awesome recipe! Delicious
I love these pralines! They are so delicious, and perfect for the holidays!
I haven’t had pralines in the longest time. These are amazing!
Pralines are one of my favorites! I love the idea of making them right at home and skip the pre-made box at the store.
Pralines are the best! I have to try yours! Perfect for this time of year!
I absolutely adore pralines. So much so that I want to keep them all for myself. I guess I need to do like you suggest and double or triple the recipe. This one looks awesome!