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Pecan Pralines are a traditional Southern with crunchy pecans and a soft, buttery-sweet base. And they’re only 5 ingredients!
Pecan Pralines have a similar texture to fudge, but studded with crunchy pecans. The result is a cluster candy that is sweet and delicious, a classic New Orlean’s confection that is most popular at the holidays.
If you love the flavor of brown sugar and butter together, these are for you! They are pretty enough for a homemade food gift, too, stored in a pretty box or Christmas tin tied with a bow.
Table of Contents
Recipe ingredients
Ingredient notes
- Pecans: Or substitute walnuts for Walnut Pralines, almonds for Almond Pralines, or peanuts for Peanut Pralines.
Step-by-step instructions
- Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan over low heat, combine sugar, brown sugar, butter, half-and-half, and pecans. Cook until sugar dissolves, about 2-3 minutes, stirring gently. Increase heat to medium and cover.
- Cook until sugar dissolves from the side of the pan, about 2-3 minutes longer. Uncover and cook until praline reaches soft ball stage, 235 degrees on a digital thermometer, while stirring constantly.
- Remove from heat. Using a wooden spoon, beat the mixture until it begins to thicken. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto the prepared baking sheet, and allow to stand at room temperature until firm.
Recipe tips and variations
- Yield: This recipe makes about 24 Pecan Pralines.
- Storage: Store pralines covered at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
- Freezer: Arrange cooled pralines on a plate or tray and freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer safe plastic bag or container and freeze up to 2 months.
Recipe FAQs
Candied pecans are pecans coated in egg whites, sugar, and spices, then baked until crispy. Pralines are a drop-candy with a caramel-like base and crunchy pecans mixed in.
Drop a small amount of candy mixture in a bowl of cold water. If it can easily be molded into a ball, and then falls flat out of water, you have reached the soft ball stage.
Candied Pecans
Candied Pecans are deliciously crunchy and decadent thanks to brown sugar, cinnamon, and a few other holiday spices. This recipe is lightning fast, kid-friendly, and a snap to make for a last-minute gifts or bake…
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Pecan Pralines
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 3/4 brown sugar firmly packed
- 1/4 plus 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup half-and-half
- 2 cups pecan halves
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan over low heat, combine sugar, brown sugar, butter, half-and-half, and pecans.
- Cook until sugar dissolves, about 2-3 minutes, stirring gently. Increase heat to medium and cover. Cook until sugar dissolves from the side of the pan, about 2-3 minutes longer.
- Uncover and cook until praline reaches soft ball stage, 235 degrees on a digital thermometer, while stirring constantly.
- Remove from heat. Using a wooden spoon, beat the mixture until it begins to thicken. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto the prepared baking sheet, and allow to stand at room temperature until firm.
Notes
- If the praline mixture becomes hard in the pan, hot water a teaspoon at a time and stir until loose enough to scoop.
Nutrition
Meggan Hill is a classically-trained chef and professional writer. Her meticulously-tested recipes and detailed tutorials bring confidence and success to home cooks everywhere. Meggan has been featured on NPR, HuffPost, FoxNews, LA Times, and more.
