Famous New Orleans Pecan Pralines. A great Southern, New Orleans institution! Delicious buttery brown sugar candy type cookie in one, made of pecans, butter, sugar, and milk. Great for Christmas time too!
This delicious recipe has been generously shared by our Lovefoodies friend Sally.
Pralines are so famous in New Orleans they have become an institution!
What are pralines?
There’s a lot of history to these candies, and they’re famous in New Orleans.
True Pralines are made from sugar, milk (or cream), butter and almonds or hazlenuts.
Pralines were originally brought to Louisiana by French immigrants, and due to a large amount of pecans in the south, the original pralines were soon adapted to use pecan nuts instead of the traditional almonds or hazelnuts.
Pralines are crunchy, think along the lines of a peanut brittle.
They make for a perfect Christmas time treat, often gift wrapped and given to friends and family as presents over the festive season.
Sally’s Pecan Pralines are made every year ready for Christmas and they’re so delicious she usually has to make a few batches as one never lasts!
Jump to:
Do Pralines keep well?
These Pecan Pralines even travel well! The photo you see below is the pralines Sally made in her kitchen in America, and she kindly sent me a package with a mug all the way to Holland in Europe.
They were delicious, even after traveling all those miles in the post. Only one had broken in transit, so if you are thinking of mailing some to a friend, wrap them very well with bubble wrap!
Recipe by Sally Hall
⏲️ Prep time
5 minutes
⏲️ Baking time
Approx 20 minutes
👪 Serving size
24
🧈 Ingredients
1 1/2 cups Light Brown Sugar
1 1/2 cups White Sugar
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1 cup Milk + 2-3 Tablespoons
2 tablespoons Butter or Margarine
2 cups chopped Pecans
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
🔪 Instructions
1. In a large pan i.e. Dutch Oven, spray with non-stick oil. Mix both sugars, 1 cup of milk and salt.
Cook on medium high heat (start your timer when mixture begins to boil – set for 14 minutes) STIR CONSTANTLY.
2. Remove from heat and add butter and pecans. Stir mixture constantly – approximately 2-3 minutes.
As it begins to cool it will thicken and set. Now add your vanilla (you don’t want to add the vanilla while it’s so hot that it all evaporates.)
Keep stirring and add the remaining milk a teaspoon at a time.
3. Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper or parchment paper. Let cool and set, about 2-3 hours.
Store covered or individually wrapped in plastic.
💭 Sally’s Tips:
As with most candies you get familiar with the colors and textures to know when it’s right.
I wish there was a tried and true exact recipe, but so many variations on cooks, utensils, equipment that sometimes it takes a time or two to get it just right.
I have the times down pretty close, but if you find the praline mixture doesn’t thicken enough return to the pot which I’ve done many times to let it cook another few minutes. And worst case if it won’t harden or gets too hard, return to the pot adding more milk and butter and use as ice cream topping.
It will still be delicious!
Delicious Sweet Snacks for Christmas
Here's a selection of delicious Sweet Snacks for Christmas and Thanksgiving
Cherry Crescent Roll Cheesecake Bars. A.K.A Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars. An incredibly quick, easy recipe with cream cheese and cherries sandwiched between layers of flaky buttery golden pastry. Popular cream cheese crescent roll dessert
Honey Roasted Nuts, a delicious easy snack, perfect for parties and gifts too! Seasoned with honey and cinnamon and a pinch of salt.
Microwave Peanut Brittle. A super easy and fuss-free recipe. Perfect for the holidays and great for making ahead. Give as gifts or have all to yourself!
Almond Pastries. A very quick and easy recipe. Delicious almond filling wrapped in a buttery flaky pastry.
Orange Chocolate Truffles, luxuriously creamy and decadent, these are easy to make and perfect for gifts and parties! Options for the addition of spiced rum too!
Mini Homemade Pecan Pies. Delicious individual mini pies all made from scratch and super easy too!
Amaretti Style Cranberry and Orange Almond Cookies. These amaretti-style cookies use minimal flour and have a light airy finish, fit to accompany desserts and drinks light as a feather and fat-free too!
Double Chocolate and Orange Biscotti are lovely little Italian cookies perfect for having with a cup of coffee. Easy to make, and make perfect gifts too!
Cranberry and White Chocolate Cookies. A lovely easy recipe and great for gift packages at Christmas!
German Star Cookies, also known as Zimtsterne Cinnamon Cookies are a wonderful cookie for Christmas. They're crisp, chewy and spiced with all things nice!
Pecan Raisin Cookies. Delicious easy cookies perfect with a glass of milk or cup of tea! Also great for gifts!
French Almond Palmier cookies or Elephant Ears are a delicious little cookie filled with almonds and perfect for the holidays! Quick and easy to make too!
Macadamia and White Chocolate Cookies. Perfect with a cup of tea or glass of milk! A very easy cookie recipe.
Coconut and Rum White Chocolate Truffles, luxuriously creamy and decadent, these are easy to make and perfect for gifts and parties!
Bacon Crack. A.K.A Bacon Saltine Cracker Candy.
Christmas Crack. If you've never tried this you're missing out! Really easy recipe and always a hit at home!
Irish Cream Chocolate Bark! A delicious chocolate treat loaded with cranberries, cookies and honey spiced nuts. Perfect for the holidays and great for gifts.
Cream Filled Brandy Snaps - A wonderful cookie type treat, oddly enough, with no brandy! One is never enough so be sure to make plenty!
Easy Chocolate Party Pretzels, a great snack of delicious crunchy salted pretzels and a variety of chocolate. Once you start eating these you can't stop!
Salted Caramel Cashew Nut Popcorn, a delicious snack and all made from scratch!
📋 Recipe
Pecan Pralines
Pecan Pralines. A great Southern, New Orleans institution! Delicious buttery brown sugar candy type cookie in one, made of pecans, butter, sugar, and milk. Great for Christmas time too!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups Light Brown Sugar
- 1 1/2 cups White Sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 1 cup Milk + 2-3 Tablespoons
- 2 tablespoons Butter or Margarine
- 2 cups chopped Pecans
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- In a large pan i.e. Dutch Oven, spray with non-stick oil. Mix both sugars, 1 cup of milk and salt. Cook on medium high heat (start your timer when mixture begins to boil – set for 14 minutes) STIR CONSTANTLY.
- Remove from heat and add butter and pecans. Stir mixture constantly – approximately 2-3 minutes. As it begins to cool it will thicken and set. Now add your vanilla (you don’t want to add the vanilla while it’s so hot that it all evaporates.) Keep stirring and add the remaining milk a teaspoon at a time.
- Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper or parchment paper. Let cool and set, about 2-3 hours.
- Store covered or individually wrapped in plastic.
Recommended Products
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Silicone Baking Mat - Set of 3 Half Sheet (Thick & Large 11 5/8" x 16 1/2") - Non Stick Silicon Liner for Bake Pans & Rolling - Macaron/Pastry/Cookie/Bun/Bread Making - Professional Grade Nonstick -
Silicone Macaron Baking Mat - Set of 3 Half Sheet (Thick & Large 11 5/8" x 16 1/2") - Non Stick Silicon Liner for Bake Pans & Rolling - Macaroon/Pastry/Cookie Making - Professional Grade Nonstick -
Anolon 54717 Advanced Nonstick Bakeware with Grips, Nonstick Cookie Sheet / Baking Sheet - 14 Inch x 16 Inch, Gray
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
24Serving Size:
1 gramsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 169Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 38mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 1gSugar: 24gProtein: 1g
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