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
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
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Ann
Deeee lish us!! Was easier than I thought! They are PERFECT!! Takin to my small group Bible study this week.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Ann! I sure hope they like them!
Stephanie
I made this a couple of days ago only thing I spreaders them out on waxed paper and cut them into squares. Now it’s only the 2nd day and only have two left.
My family loves them😋😋🥰
Beth Pierce
Awesome Stephanie! Thanks for the tip and glad that you like them!
Delores Lewis
Excellent and Easy! Thank you!!
Beth Pierce
My pleasure Delores! So glad that you liked them!
Kevin
I have to get these on my dessert menu this Holiday! I love how easy they are!
Catalina
This is such an amazing snack! My family will love it!
Sara Welch
These look like little bites of heaven! Can’t wait to give these as gifts this year; they’re perfect!
Allyson Zea
These are my favorite over the holidays! Thanks for the easy recipe!
Haley Williams
This sweet and nutty snack is hard to resist! I keep going back for more.
Zainab
These are dangerously delicious! I could snack on them all day and will definitely be making these for Christmas!
Luci
These pecan pralines are delicious! I love the buttery caramel coating, it ties the pralines together. I’m glad I made two batches because they were gone so fast!
Toni Dash
Such an amazing dessert! This is really good!
Pam
You have found my weakness. The only issue I’ll have is giving them up for gifts. I want to keep them all myself.
Lizet Bowen
Made them this morning and they turned out great! making more this holiday to give as presents.
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert
This scrumptious Southern Pecan Praline Recipe is seriously making me hungry!
Kim
Love 💘
Dorothy Reinhold
I am adding this to my list of holiday treats. Delicious!