Pecan Pralines Recipe (2024)

Updated: By Katie Crenshaw 36 Comments

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Looking for an authentic, Southern pecan pralines recipe?

This Savannah pralines copycat recipe combines butter, sugar, vanilla, whipping cream, and pecans for a rich decadent sweet.

The creamy buttery flavors melt in your mouth with every crunchy bite.

Pecan Pralines Recipe (1)

They are perfect for a simple dessert, a special treat, Christmas candy, or a homemade hostess gift.

Pecan Pralines Recipe (2)

Ingredients

You will need the following ingredients for this praline recipe:

  • brown sugar-I prefer light brown sugar for pralines.
  • heavy whipping cream-Do not substitute with regular whipping cream.
  • butter- You can use salted or unsalted for this recipe. If you use unsalted butter, add a pinch of salt when cooking on stovetop.
  • vanilla extract
  • powder sugar
  • chopped pecans- Chopped pecans work best for this recipe. I found that the whole pecans are too big for the confection to bond onto correctly and some pieces ended up crumbly rather than whole.

Watch video how to make

Pecan Pralines Recipe (3)

Steps

Follow these simple steps to make homemade Southern pecan pralines.

  1. In a sauce pan, combine brown sugar, heavy whipping cream, butter, and vanilla extract.
  2. Cook over medium heat and bring to a boil stirring continuously. (Do not break on stirring or they will burn.) Boil for 1 minute.
  3. Remove from heat. Stir in powdered sugar.
  4. Stir in chopped pecans.
  5. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Drop heapingspoonfulsof praline mixture on parchment paper. Allow to cool to harden (approximately 30 minutes).
  6. Store in an airtight container until ready to eat.

How long do they last?

Pralines will last up to two weeks in an airtight container.

However, they are better fresh. Towards the end of the two weeks, they can become dry and crumbly.

Can you freeze pralines?

Pralines can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

It is best to align the container with wax paper to prevent the candy from freezing onto the container.

Pecan Pralines Recipe (4)

This recipe is featured in Women's View Magazine. I invited Alice (pictured above) to help make these with me.

Alice is one of my dear sweet neighbor friends.

She is a clever, spirited, beautiful 10-year-old who dreams of becoming a chef and running her own restaurant when she grows up.

In the meantime, I enjoy her company creating fun and sweet things in my kitchen.

If you enjoyed this recipe, try some of these other delicious homemade candies:

  • Peanut Butter Bon Bons
  • Crockpot Candy-Chocolate Peanut Clusters
  • Peppermint Oreo Truffles
  • Haystacks
  • Bourbon Brown Sugar Fudge

When you make these pecan pralines, tell me what you think in the comment section!I would love to hear back! My readers will too.

Also post your picture of your sweets onInstagramorFacebook, and tag @aforkstale with #aforkstale hashtags!I will share with my followers! xoxo!

Recipe

Pecan Pralines Recipe (5)

Pecan Pralines Recipe

Looking for an authentic, Southern pecan pralines recipe? This Savannah pralines copycat recipe combines butter, sugar, vanilla, whipping cream, and pecans for a rich decadent sweet. The creamy buttery flavors melt in your mouth with every crunchy bite.

4.84 from 75 votes

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Course: candy, Dessert

Cuisine: Southern

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cooling time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Servings: 24 pralines

Calories: 112kcal

Author: Katie Crenshaw

Equipment

  • cookie baking sheet

  • parchment paper

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup butter
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup pecans chopped

Instructions

  • Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

  • In a sauce pan, combine 1 cup brown sugar, ⅓ cup heavy whipping cream, ¼ cup butter, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Cook over medium heat and bring to a boil stirring continuously. (Do not break on stirring or they will burn.) Boil for 1 minute.

  • Remove from heat. Stir in 1 cup powdered sugar.

  • Stir in 1 cup chopped pecans.

  • Drop heapingspoon-fullsof praline mixture on parchment paper. Allow to cool to harden (approximately 30 minutes).

  • Store in an airtight container until ready to eat.

Video

Notes

Pralines can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months. It is best to align the container with wax paper to prevent the candy from freezing onto the container.

Nutrition- Nutrition info is based on estimation only.

Calories: 112kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 21mg | Potassium: 32mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 110IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 1mg

Tried this recipe? I want to see it!Mention @aForksTale or tag #aForksTale!

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Pecan Pralines Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients for pralines? ›

Why won't my pralines get hard? ›

But if your pralines are still gooey after 30-40 minutes, you may have to scrape them back into the pan and heat them again. Add a tablespoon of milk, melt the sugar, and as before, stir constantly while you bring them to a boil. When the mixture begins to thicken, begin dipping them out again and cross your fingers!

Why did my pralines come out grainy? ›

Plan to make your pralines on a cool, dry day. If it's humid or rainy, as it was the first time I made pralines, the candy might end up with a more sugary, grainy texture. While delicious, my first batch never did fully harden.

What is the difference between pecan candy and pecan praline? ›

What is the difference between candied pecans and pralines? 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.

How long do homemade pralines last? ›

Allow the pralines to cool completely, then store between layers of waxed paper in an airtight container. They will keep at room temperature, stored in a cool and dry place, for at least five days or longer. Pralines ship very well, so they make a good care package gift!

What is the difference between butter pecans and pecan pralines? ›

Butter pecan is a flavor combination of pecans, butter, and pure vanilla flavoring, making this a sweet treat you want to bite your teeth into. Pecan pralines are another popular treat option using pecans. However, pecan pralines are much sweeter and more sugar forward compared to butter pecan.

Why do pralines turn white? ›

Pralines are a much-appreciated festive treat, but come to think of it, they're simply delicious at any time of the year. When your pralines turn white, you are seeing the recrystallization of sugar. And you are right that honey does technically slow down the rate at which crystals form in candy.

How to soften pecan pralines? ›

Since the problem is mostly that the sugar in the pralines gets hard and crystallized, you might try softening them the way you'd soften hard brown sugar. Place a terracotta sugar saver in the container or something else that's slightly damp, like a few slices of apple or a slice of fresh bread.

Can pralines go bad? ›

They never go “bad,” but after a week or so the sugar starts to crystalize and they lose the characteristic snap that you enjoy when biting them.

Why is my praline bitter? ›

Just make sure you buy your nuts raw and not already roasted. The main reason for that is that we will cook the nuts in a pan for 10-15 min. If you do this with roasted nuts, they will end up being over-roasted and your praline will taste very bitter.

What are the ingredients in Aunt Sally's pralines? ›

How Pralines Are Made | Aunt Sally's Pralines. Our famous pralines are created from a short list of quality ingredients, starring Louisiana pecans, Louisiana cane sugar, milk, and butter. The pralines are cooked by hand over open flame in large, bowl-shaped copper pots.

How do you stop pralines from crystallizing? ›

A little crystallization in pralines is inevitable but adding a bit of corn syrup can help keep crystals from forming. In this recipe I also butter the sides of the pot and only stir before the sugar comes to a boil. After the candy reaches soft-ball stage, it is left to cool for 10 minutes without agitation.

Are pecan pralines good for you? ›

Being that pecans are the main ingredient; the snack contains essential vitamins & minerals, can aid in long-term heart health, can be enjoyed by gluten intolerant consumers, can provide a high number of antioxidants, and can supply a large amount of protein & fiber.

Which country invented pralines? ›

Praline may have originally been inspired in France by the cook of Marshal du Plessis-Praslin (1602–1675), with the word praline deriving from the name Praslin. Early pralines were whole almonds individually coated in caramelized sugar, as opposed to dark nougat, where a sheet of caramelized sugar covers many nuts.

Can u freeze pralines? ›

Yes, you can freeze your pralines, just like you can freeze fudge or caramels. Be sure to place them in an airtight freezer safe bag and they will last for up to 2 months in the freezer.

What is praline filling made of? ›

It consists of nuts, usually almonds and/or hazelnuts, coated with caramelized sugar. It results in sweet and crunchy nuts. Pralines is the name of the whole caramelized nuts, but also the name of the paste prepared from ground nuts.

What are New Orleans pralines made of? ›

New Orleans Praline Recipe

Most recipes include a few traditional base ingredients: sugar, milk, butter and pecans. The New Orleans School of Cooking teaches guests to make a traditional praline. Whether in the French Quarter or in the comfort of your own home, you can use this recipe to make a batch of your own.

What the heck is a praline? ›

praline, in French confectionery, a cooked mixture of sugar, nuts, and vanilla, often ground to a paste for use as a pastry or candy filling, analogous to marzipan; also, a sugar-coated almond or other nutmeat.

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