Pecan Pralines

Pecan pralines are the bee’s knees! They are rich, candy-coated morsels of your sweetest dreams.

You can make them for your favorite holiday dessert.

Or, you can pop them in a jar and gift them to your friend. It’s a win either way. And I have just the perfect pecan pralines recipe here for you.

They are rich, candy-coated morsels of your sweetest dreams.

Scroll to bottom for printable recipe card.

Why I Love Pecan Pralines?

• They teleport me to the South right away. The rich, buttery, and sugary flavors and the sweet aroma of honey make me want to sit out on a porch with a glass of iced tea.
• Yum! I also love the crunchiness that pecan pralines offer and their chewy texture.
• They are a super quick fix, and the recipe yields enough in a go.

How to Serve Pecan Pralines?

This sweet Southern classic goes great with all types of desserts. You can serve it on ice cream, in cakes, pies, and brownies. Pecan pralines also make an amazing topping for a warm bowl of oatmeal. Activate your creative chef mind to find the best ways to serve.

Pecan Pralines Cooking Tips:

• Don’t over-stir: This recipe requires stirring, but don’t do it for too long. Over-stirring will make your pralines too chewy and not crunchy.
• Roll it always: Rolling your pecan pralines in granulated sugar will give them a sweet crunch before you even bite into them.
• Use a deep pan: Candy mixtures triple in size when heated. So, use a deep, heavy-duty pot that can hold all the ingredients without overflowing.
• Use an oiled spoon to remove it: Your praline won’t stick to an oily spoon. Make your life easy.

Variations:

• Add a bag of chocolate chips to your praline mixture and stir until melted. Then, drizzle over the pralines after they’ve cooled on parchment paper.
• Add a pinch of pumpkin spice to the sugar and butter mixture before heating. It will add a delicious depth of flavor.
• Add a cup of shredded coconut to the sugar, butter, and cream mixture before cooking. The result is a chewy, nutty treat that everyone will love!

Ingredients:

• Butter
• Granulated sugar
• Evaporated milk
• Vanilla extract
• Pecan halves

How to make Pecan Pralines:

Step 1. Add the butter, evaporated milk, and sugar to a saucepan over medium heat on the stove.

Adding the sugar.

Adding the milk.

Step 2. Whisk until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved.

Step 3. Continue to cook the mixture over medium heat until it begins a low boil. Whisk often, and keep boiling until the mixture reaches a temperature of 235. This will take some time. Do not raise the temperature higher than medium on the stove.

Step 4. Remove the mixture from the heat and let it cool.

Step 5. Whisk every so often while cooling, and wait until the mixture thickens a bit and loses its glossy-like appearance.

Step 6. Stir in the vanilla and mix to combine.

Step 7. Add the pecans to the mixture, and stir to combine.

Step 8. Drop the mixture by the tablespoonful onto sheets of parchment paper.

Step 9. Allow to sit until hardened, or chill more quickly in the fridge.

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How to Store Pecan Pralines?

Let your homemade pecan pralines cool first. Completely. Then pack them in an airtight jar between layers of waxed paper. You can also freeze them. Wrap them in aluminum foil and pop them into a freezer bag. NEVER stack them in a container. The weight of the upper layers will flatten out the bottom ones. And they’ll all stick.

How to Reheat Pecan Pralines?

The microwave is the easiest way. Wrap the pecan pralines in waxed paper and heat them in bursts of 15 seconds at a time until they are warm and chewy. You can also reheat them in a preheated oven (350°F) for 10 minutes.

How Much Does Pecan Pralines Last in the Fridge?

You can store pecan pralines in the fridge for up to two weeks. If you leave them at room temperature, they’ll be good for five days easily.

Can I Make-Ahead Pecan Pralines?

That’s the best bit about this pecan praline recipe. You can easily make it ahead. Refrigerate the melted butter and sugar mixture for up to two days before using. It is great if you want to get a head start on baking for an event.

Why Didn’t My Pecan Pralines Harden?

The secret to the perfect pecan praline is in the syrup. Pay extra attention when you’re making your syrup, and be sure it reaches soft ball stage. If you undermix it, your praline will be runny and won’t harden. Also, moisture is a killer here. So, make sure your candy reaches the right temperature.

Should I Soak Pecans Before Baking?

You don’t need to. But if you do, it’ll enhance the natural, nutty flavor of pecans. Twenty minutes is good enough to soak the pecans in warm water. Soaking them also cuts through the bitterness. If that’s what you want to eliminate from your nuts, soak ’em.

Don’t add salt or sugar. It’ll change the flavor of your pralines.

Why are My Pecan Pralines Gritty?

Blame the sugar! If it doesn’t dissolve properly, you’ll have a gritty texture. Take help from your candy thermometer here. If the temperature is close to 300F, it’s time to remove your pralines from heat. You can also avoid this issue by deciding the amount of sugar you want to add beforehand.

Related Recipes You Might Enjoy

If you try this homemade pecan pralines recipe and love it, I’m sure you’ll also enjoy the:

Pecan praline cake – I can’t tell you how much I need you to make this.

Praline crunch – This is perfect for a bbq, a picnic, movie night or just sitting around a campfire!

New Orleans praline – Indulge in some classic southern New Orleans pralines, and your heart will skip a beat.