Pecan Pralines: A Delicious and Nutty Treat!

I remember the first time I had a pecan praline. I was visiting my Auntie in New Orleans and she made them for me. They were so good, I’ve been hooked ever since!

Pralines are a traditional Southern candy made with brown sugar, butter, and pecans. They have a rich, caramel-like flavor that is absolutely addictive. And once you start eating them, it’s hard to stop!

If you’re looking for a delicious treat that will make your taste buds dance, look no further than pecan pralines.

Pecan Pralines

Ingredients

• Pecan Pralines:
• 2 cups pecan halves
• 1 1/4 cups white sugar
• 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• Pinch kosher salt, optional (omit if using salted butter)
• 3/4 cup light cream or milk (I used 2%)
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter OR use 2 tablespoons of margarine if you don’t have unsalted butter on hand
• 1 teaspoon brandy or vanilla extract (optional)

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Spread pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet, and bake for 5 minutes. Watch carefully, as they will burn easily.
• In a saucepan over medium heat, stir together the white sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, and kosher salt until the sugars are dissolved.
• Stir in light cream and butter or margarine until well combined. If desired, add brandy or vanilla extract at this point.
• Bring to a boil, stirring constantly with a spatula or wooden spoon until mixture becomes thick and syrupy looking, this will take about 12 minutes total cooking time from when you first added the cream mixture. Remove from heat as soon as it reaches this stage so it doesn’t overcook and become too hard once cooled slightly later on.
• Gently fold in the roasted pecans until evenly coated with the praline mixture, be careful not to break them up too much as you mix them in since they’re already fragile from being baked earlier on.
• Immediately spoon mixture onto a Silpat mat or waxed paper to cool, and let stand until hardened before serving (this takes about 1 hour).

What are pecan pralines made of?

As their name suggests, pecan pralines are made with pecans. But that’s not all – brown sugar, sugar, butter, and cream are also essential ingredients in this delicious treat.

Pecans are native to North America and have been used in cooking for centuries. They’re a popular ingredient in desserts because of their natural sweetness. When combined with other sweet ingredients like sugar and cream, they create a rich and flavorful treat that’s hard to resist.

If you’re curious about how pecan pralines are made, the answer is simple: by combining all of the aforementioned ingredients into a pot and cooking them until they reach the desired consistency. Once they’ve cooled, the pralines can be enjoyed as is or used as an ingredient in other desserts like cakes or ice cream.

What is the difference between pecans and pralines?

The difference between pecans and pralines is one of both flavor and texture. Pecans are a type of nut, while pralines are made out of nuts and caramelized sugar. This gives pralines a distinctly sweeter taste than their pecan counterpart. Pralines can also be made out of almonds or other nuts, which further affects the flavor profile. In terms of texture, pecan pralines are not patty-shaped like many other types of praline. Instead, that praline flavoring is used to coat individual pecan nuts.

What are pralines?

Pralines are a type of candy made from sugar, nuts, and vanilla. Pecans are the most common type of nut used in pralines, but almonds and peanuts are also popular choices. Pralines can be ground into a paste and used as a filling for pastries or candies. Pecan pralines are a patty-shaped candy made from pecans, sugar, butter, and cream.

Pralines originated in France in the 17th century, but they gained popularity in the American South during the 19th century. The first recorded recipe for pecan pralines was published in 1813 by Amelia Simmons in her cookbook “American Cookery”. This cookbook was one of the first to be published in America and it heavily influenced Southern cuisine.

Pralines are often considered a traditional Southern candy, but they are enjoyed all over the world.

What is the difference between candied pecans and pralines?

Candied pecans and pralines are both sweets that feature pecans as a key ingredient. However, the two confections differ in terms of their preparation. Candied pecans are coated in egg whites, sugar, and spices, then baked until crispy. Pralines, on the other hand, are a drop-candy with a caramel-like base and crunchy pecans mixed in.