Easy Homemade Pralines

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5 from 1 vote

Sweet, crunchy, and creamy pecan candies!

Course Candy

Cuisine American

Diet Gluten Free, Vegetarian

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Total Time 30

Servings

Calories 86kcal

Author Tracy

Equipment

Ingredients

1 1/4 cup brown sugar 200 g
3/4 cup white sugar 153 g
3/4 teaspoon baking soda 3 g
3/4 cup half and half
2 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 cups pecan halves 8.3 oz
pinch fine ground salt

Instructions

Toast Pecans: Add pecans in an even layer to a parchment paper lined baking tray. Toast in the oven at 350℉ for 7 minutes, stirring at half way mark. Add pecans to a small bowl and set aside. Meanwhile, prep all of your ingredients and line another baking tray with parchment paper. Keep parchment and tray from pecans for the pralines.
Heat Sugars and Cream: Add sugars, baking soda, salt, and half and half to a saucepan. Whisk to combine and heat over medium heat, whisking often. Use a thermometer to monitor heat and heat to the soft ball stage of 235℉.
Add Butter and Pecans: Once the temperature of the sugar syrup has reached 235℉, remove from heat and add butter. Stir to melt butter, 1 minute. Add the toasted pecans and stir just so all of the pecans are coated.
Cool Slightly: Once the pecans have been added, let the mixture cool slightly for 2 minutes. Stirring again after 1 minute.
Drop on Trays: Use a spoon to drop scoops of the pecans and sugar syrup onto parchment paper. Let cool to set for 10-15 minutes.
Enjoy!

Video

Notes

Safety

Heating sugars to high temps can sometimes cause the sugars to "pop" and boiling sugar can cause painful sugar burns. We encourage long sleeves and also to be extra aware when making these candies with kiddos.

Storage

Counter: Store cooled pralines in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

Freezer: Store cooled pralines in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months.

Substitutions

Sugars: We love a higher brown to white sugar ratio for the flavor, but you can use any combination of brown sugar and white sugar that you would like, as long as the total is 2 cups of sugar.

Half and Half: You can also use a heavy cream or whole milk.

Pecans: Toasting is optional (although it does add a little more pecan flavor and crunch), and you can use your favorite nut of choice! Walnuts, cashews, or almonds are great, too.

Butter: This is a key ingredient! But you can use either salted or unsalted. If using salted, just omit the pinch of salt.

Optional: Vanilla extract. With the butter, you can add a little bit of vanilla extract, too. We've made it with it and without and we prefer it without, but it does add another nice flavor.

Nutrition