Pecan Praline Recipe

This scrumptious Southern Pecan Praline Recipe is made easy on the stovetop with six ingredients. They are sweet brown sugar caramel-like candy treasures filled with roasted pecans. 

My friends and family just rant and rave over these candies.  They make perfect additions to your holiday candy and cookie trays. I love to include, Buckeye Balls, Best Butter Cookies, Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies, and Peppermint Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies on my holiday trays.

Why this recipe works!

• These easy candies are made with 6 ingredients in about 25 minutes making them perfect for gift-giving or hostess gifts.
• If you like pecans, you will fall in love with them.  The brown sugar, cream, butter, and vanilla come together to make a lip-smacking good creamy, buttery coating around roasted pecans,
• The ingredients are readily available in most grocery stores, and you may already have some of them on hand.

How to make Southern Pecan Praline Recipe

Start by toasting the pecans on a baking sheet in a single layer in the oven for about 7 minutes. Go ahead and set them aside for a few minutes.

Then combine the brown sugar, heavy cream, unsalted butter, and corn syrup in a heavy pot over medium heat with a candy thermometer attached to the side.   Stir the mixture constantly until the temperature reaches 235 degrees (soft ball stage).  Then remove from the heat and stir in the pecans and vanilla.  Stir just until the mixture begins to lose its glossiness. Then working very quickly, drop by rounded tablespoons onto a parchment-covered baking sheet.  Let them sit for about 20 minutes at room temperature or until they are set.

Recipe notes and helpful tips

• Use a heavy pot like a Dutch oven, as the thick metal will help control the heat better.
• Don’t skip the toasting pecans step.  It dramatically improves the pralines by bringing out the warm buttery taste and aroma of pecans.
• Once the mixture begins to bubble, you must stir it continuously.  Before that, it should be very frequent.
• This recipe moves very quickly.  You should have everything you need right there, ready to go.  So the toasted pecans and vanilla should be close to the pot. Your baking sheet should be covered with parchment paper before you even start, and it should be next to the pot.
• The mixture will bubble a little bit when adding the vanilla.
• There is a fine line with this candy and how quickly it sets up.  I prefer to quickly drop a heaping tablespoon of the mixture after stirring in the pecans and vanilla. If they spread too much, then give it 30 seconds and drop another tablespoon.

Southern Pecan Praline Recipe

Southern Pecan Pralines are a cross between a candy and a cookie with almost a fudge-like texture.  The sweet buttery caramel wraps around freshly toasted pecans for an over-the-top taste sensation.

5 from 20 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Southern

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 18 candies

Calories: 229kcal

Author: Beth Pierce

Ingredients

• 2 cups pecan halves
• 2 cups brown sugar
• ⅔ cup heavy cream
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spread pecans out in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet.  Toast for 7-10 minutes, stirring halfway through.
• In a heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, add the brown sugar, heavy cream, butter, and corn syrup, stirring frequently. Attach a candy thermometer to the side of the pot. Once the mixture starts to bubble, stir constantly, scraping the sides and bottom, so nothing sticks or burns.  Stir the mixture constantly until the temperature reaches 235 degrees (soft ball stage).
• Remove from heat and stir in the pecans and vanilla.  Continue stirring just until the mixture begins to lose its glossiness. Then working very quickly, drop by rounded tablespoons onto a parchment-covered baking sheet.  Let sit for 20 minutes at room temperature or until set.

Notes

• Use a heavy pot like a Dutch oven as the thick metal will help control the heat better.
• Don't skip the toasting pecans step.  It dramatically improves the pralines by bringing out the warm buttery taste and aroma of pecans.
• Once the mixture begins to bubble you must stir it continuously.  Prior to that it should be very frequently.
• This recipe moves very quickly.  You should have everything you need right there ready to go.  So the toasted pecans and vanilla should be close to the pot. Your baking sheet should be covered with parchment paper before you even get started and be next to the pot.
• The mixture will bubble a little bit when adding the vanilla.
• There is a fine line with this candy and how quickly it sets up.  I prefer to drop a heaping tablespoon of the mixture quickly after stirring in the pecans and vanilla.  If they spread too much than give it 30 seconds and drop another tablespoon.

Nutrition

Calories: 229kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 11mg | Potassium: 87mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 213IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 0.5mg

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