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!
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.
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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!
Do Pralines keep well?
These Pecan Pralines even travel well! Just make sure you put them in an air-tight food bag and bubble wrap so they don't break.
Recipe by Sally Hall
Prep time
5 minutes
Baking time
Approx 20 minutes
Serving size
24
Ingredients
1 ½ cups Light Brown Sugar
1 ½ cups White Sugar
¼ 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!
We'd love to hear from you and what you thought of our recipe. Did you make any changes or add some other ingredients? Let us know in the comments below. Thanks for reading and happy cooking!
Recipe Card
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 ½ cups Light Brown Sugar
- 1 ½ cups White Sugar
- ¼ 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 ⅝" x 16 ½") - 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 ⅝" x 16 ½") - 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: 24 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 169Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 38mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 1gSugar: 24gProtein: 1g
Nutrition information isn’t always accurate
Delicious Sweet Snacks for Christmas
Here's a selection of delicious Sweet Snacks for Christmas and Thanksgiving
Pecan Caramel Monkey Bread, Easy recipe for how to make it. Sticky caramel-coated pieces of bread with a sprinkling of chocolate chips & pecan nuts baked in a bundt pan. A great pull-apart bread recipe using store-bought biscuits.
Mini Almond Pastries.
These Mini Almond Pastries have a deliciously smooth, sweet, almond paste filling and are wrapped in crispy, light puff pastry. Quick and easy to make, and perfect for a tea time treat.
Scotcheroos, an easy no-bake cereal bar similar to rice krispie treats. Peanut butter, chocolate & butterscotch with a chocolate butterscotch topping. A chewy, soft, and crispy treat
Easy Sesame Brown Sugar French Palmier Cookies, AKA Elephant Ears. These are a very easy to make crispy puff pastry cookie, filled with sesame seeds and brown sugar. Great for the holidays!
Pani Popo (Samoan Coconut Bread Rolls).
Pani Popo are deliciously soft, fluffy Samoan coconut bread buns, baked in a sweet and thick coconut sauce. Sticky soft bread rolls, ideal for breakfast, dessert or as a snack
Honey Bun Cupcakes are lovely and soft with great flavors of cinnamon and brown sugar and topped with a homemade honey buttercream frosting
Mini Donut Balls.
Delicious homemade mini donut balls, rolled in cinnamon and sugar, using a poolish starter to give tender and flavorful dough. Easy recipe and great for parties
Easy English Tiffin is a delicious no-bake British colonial recipe, made of chocolate, crushed cookies, syrup, and raisins, often served at English afternoon tea.
Easy Honey Baklava. Baklava is a Middle Eastern classic sweet treat, filled with a variety of nuts, honey, citrus, and spices, between layers of crunchy phyllo pastry. Ideal for serving at parties, or to have as a snack. An easy and simple recipe for the best baklava!
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!
Easy Chocolate Truffles. Creamy, rich homemade chocolate truffles are easy to make and perfect for gifts.
Cappuccino Chocolate Truffles. Creamy, rich chocolate and coffee-flavored homemade truffles are easy to make and perfect for gifts.
Almond Pastries. A perfect treat to have with a cup of tea!
Orange Chocolate Truffles, luxuriously creamy and decadent, these are easy to make and perfect for gifts and parties!
Mini Homemade Pecan Pies. Delicious individual mini pies all made from scratch and super easy too
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! Naturally Gluten - Free too!
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 are a great snack made up of delicious crunchy salted pretzels and a variety of chocolate. Once you start eating these you can't stop!
Florentine Cookies are a wonderful cookie type treat, with delicious nuts & fruit and coated on one side with white or dark or milk chocolate. Easy recipe!
Salted Caramel Cashew Nut Popcorn.
A delicious combination of salt and caramel coating homemade popcorn. Easy recipe for popping corn
White Chocolate Peanut Clusters! These little chocolate bites are quick and easy to make. You can also add raisins, your favorite nuts, cranberries, whatever you like! You choose!
Nanny's Chocolate Nut Fudge. A tried and true family recipe and great for gifts! Use a cookie cutter to make pretty shapes too!
Homemade Lemon Mints are just like the famous Altoid mints, and have a curiously strong flavor. Easy and fun to make little candies!
Homemade Cinnamon Mints are just like the famous Altoid mints, and have a curiously strong flavor. Easy and fun to make little candies!