Southern Pralines Recipe
Indulge in the sweet, nutty goodness of Southern pralines! A delightful treat that’s easy to make and perfect for sharing.
Servings: 12 servings
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 3/4 cup brown sugar firmly packed
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup half-and-half
- 2 cups pecans
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Before you dive into cooking, make sure your workspace is clean and organized. Lay out all your ingredients and tools so you can easily reach them as you cook.
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the 4 tablespoons of butter. Allow it to become bubbly but not browned, which will add flavor to your pralines.
- Once the butter is melted, add the 3/4 cup of firmly packed brown sugar, 3/4 cup of granulated sugar, and 3/4 cup of half-and-half to the saucepan. Stir continuously until the sugars dissolve completely.
- Raise the heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. You’ll want to cook it until it reaches the soft ball stage, which is about 236°F (113°C) on a candy thermometer.
- Once the mixture has reached the correct temperature, remove it from the heat. Stir in the 2 cups of pecans and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Mix well until the nuts are evenly coated.
- Using a spoon, drop heaping tablespoons of the mixture onto the parchment paper-lined cookie sheet. Leave space between each praline as they will spread slightly while cooling.
- Allow the pralines to cool completely at room temperature. This usually takes about 30 minutes. Once set, they should have a firm yet slightly soft texture.
Equipment
- Medium Saucepan
- Wooden Spoon
- Candy Thermometer
- Parchment Paper
- Cookie sheet
Notes
- Store pralines in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks.
- Freeze pralines between layers of parchment paper for up to three months.
- Experiment with different extracts for unique flavors.