Credit: What’s Cooking America
Pecan Pralines are a favorite candy of the South, particularly in Louisiana and Texas.
Pecan Pralines
Ingredients
- 2 cups pecan halves
- 2 cups granulated white sugar
- 2 cup light brown sugar firmly packed. may substitute dark brown sugar*
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter cut into cubes
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract may substitute bourbon
Instructions
- Important: Have all of your ingredients handy before you start making the pralines. Once you start the process of making pralines, it goes quickly. This technique is known as Mise en Place.
- Butter a large sheet of wax paper or parchment paper; set aside. You could also use a large silpad.
- Spread the pecans out in a single layer on a sheet pan. Roast in a 350 degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until toasted. Set aside to cool and until ready to use.
- In a large heavy pan over medium heat, combine sugar, brown sugar, and evaporated milk; cook, stirring constantly until the thermometer reaches an internal temperature of 235 degrees F. or when a small amount of sugar mixture dropped into very cold water separates into hard but not brittle threads.
- As soon as the internal temperature of the candy mixture reaches 235 degrees F. on your cooking thermometer, add the butter and vanilla extract. Stir until the butter is fully melted and the mixture is well combined (about 1 minute). Immediately remove the mixture from heat; set saucepan in a large pan of cold water to cool.
- This is the type of cooking thermometer that I prefer and use in my cooking. I get many readers asking what cooking thermometer that I prefer and use in my cooking and baking. I, personally, use the Thermapen Thermometer shown in the photo on the right.
- When sugar mixture has almost cooled, beat with a spoon 1 minute or until it begins to lose it gloss. Immediately stir in toasted pecan halves.
- Drop by tablespoonfuls onto prepared buttered wax paper, leaving about 3 inches between each ball for the pralines to spread. NOTE: Work quickly before mixture sets. If it thickens up, just place pan back on low heat to re-soften.
- Let cool until the pralines are firm, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
- When pralines have cooled and have become firm, wrap individually in aluminum foil or plastic wrap and store in a covered container.
Notes
* The type of brown sugar used will determine the color of the pralines.
Pecan Pralines are a favorite candy of the South, particularly in Louisiana and Texas.
Anyone who has ever visited New Orleans will remember the wonderful Pecan Pralines that are for sale all over the city. Pecan Pralines are a New Orleans tradition. They also are a holiday tradition in the Southern States, as this gourmet candy is often given as a gift to celebrate seasonal holidays like Christmas. This is a very easy candy to prepare candy that looks somewhat like a cookies, but they are not actually cookies, but a creamy candy with pecans.
History of Pecan Pralines: According to legend, pralines were introduced to the South by French settlers in the seventeenth century. The original treat featured almonds coated in sugar, however, pecans quickly replaced almonds due to their abundant availability in the south. African-American women throughout the 1800s could be found selling pralines in various parts of New Orleans. The praline women would become the most popular of New Orleans street vendors, and they were often found around Jackson Square. Source: Praline or Pecan Candy Vendors, by Chanda M. Nuntez
This is a very easy candy to prepare!
It is best to enjoy your Pralines with two to three weeks after they’re made. They will not exactly go bad after that, but the sugar begins to re-crystallize and they lose some of their delicious creaminess.
It is best to store pralines in an airtight container or storage bag.
White spots (not mold) is the sugar beginning to revert to its original crystalline form. The re-crystallization is what makes the white spots appear on Pralines. They won’t exactly go bad after that, but the sugar begins to re-crystallize and they lose some of their delicious creaminess
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