Pecan Pralines are a classic that you have to try! This buttery, brown sugar Southern candy is such a treat. Sweet and salty candy perfection!
For more homemade candy recipes, try my Homemade English Toffee Recipe and Cherry Fudge.
Why You’ll Love This Pecan Praline Recipe
Pecan Pralines are a caramelized confection made with nuts and brown sugar that originated in New Orleans. Some people choose to use almonds and you could really use any nuts you like, but I’m partial to the original: crunchy, slightly sweet pecans.
After giving this praline recipe a try, I can only say they are delicious. Melt in your mouth good.
Here’s why you’ll love them:
- The brown sugar caramelizes and firms up after you dissolve and boil the mixture, infusing every bite with that signature flavor.
- Like Homemade Marshmallows, this is a recipe that’s a bit of a project, but it’s satisfying and fun to make at home.
- Although I’ll take any pecan pralines I can get, fresh pecan pralines are really superior. And they don’t get any fresher than homemade!
Important Ingredient Notes
- Light brown sugar – While brown sugar is a supporting player in recipes like Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies, its flavor takes center stage in these pecan pralines.
- Heavy whipping cream – This is what makes pralines rich, with that chewy, melt-in-your-mouth quality.
- Light corn syrup – Light corn syrup is flavored with vanilla and it also helps with that chew factor.
- Unsalted butter – Using unsalted butter gives you more control over the flavor.
- Pecan halves – Or another nut, if you prefer.
How to Make Pecan Pralines
Prepare: Line your counter top or a baking sheet with parchment paper or wax paper.
Make the Praline Mixture:
- In a heavy Dutch oven set over medium heat, combine the brown sugar, heavy cream, corn syrup and butter.
- Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
- Boil for about 6 minutes, or until a candy thermometer reaches 235 degrees (soft ball stage).
Finish the Pecan Pralines:
- Remove the mixture from the heat and allow to cool to 150 degrees.
- Stir in the pecans.
- Quickly, using two spoons, drop spoonfuls of the mixture onto parchment paper.
- Cool for about 10-15 minutes, then enjoy.
Tips and Tricks
- Toast the pecans for the best flavor in your pecan pralines!
- As any Southerner would tell you, don’t make these on a humid day. For whatever reason, they just don’t turn out.
- When boiling the candy mixture, don’t use a thin-walled pot, as it tends to overheat and cause the candy to cook too quickly.
- Work fast when spooning the candy onto parchment paper. Just be careful as the mixture is very hot!
Recipe FAQs
Store pecan pralines in an airtight container with parchment or wax paper between the layers. They’ll keep for up to 5 days at room temperature.
On humid or rainy days, pralines may turn out grainy or never completely harden. This really is a recipe you have to plan by the weather!
This is the sugar crystallizing on the outside of the pecan pralines. They’re absolutely fine to eat!
More Candy Recipes
- Chocolate Fudge Recipe – perfect fannie may fudge!
- Peanut Butter Fudge
- Cookie Dough Truffles
- Peanut Brittle
- Red Velvet Cake Balls
- Candied Pecans
- Brickle Bars
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Pecan Pralines Candy
Ingredients
- 4 cups light brown sugar packed
- 1 ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
- 3 Tablespoons light corn syrup
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter
- 2 ¼ cups pecan halves
Instructions
- Line counter top or baking sheet with a sheet of parchment paper or wax paper.
- In a heavy dutch oven over medium heat, combine brown sugar, heavy cream, corn syrup and butter. Over medium heat, stirring constantly, bring to a boil. Boil for about 6 minutes or until candy thermometer reaches 235 degrees (soft ball stage).
- Remove mixture from heat and allow to cool to 150 degrees. Stir in pecans and quickly, using two spoons, drop by spoonful onto parchment paper. Allow to cool for about 10-15 minutes. ENJOY
Notes
- Toast the pecans prior to use for best flavor!
- As any southerner would tell you, don’t make these on a humid day. For whatever reason, they just don’t turn out.
- When boiling the candy mixture, don’t use a thin-walled pot, as it tends to overheat and cause the candy to cook to quickly.
- Work fast when spooning the candy onto parchment paper. Just be careful as the mixture is very hot!
Video
Nutrition
This buttery, brown sugar Southern candy is such a treat. Pecan Pralines are a classic that you have to try! Sweet and salty candy perfection.
Tried this Pecan Pralines Recipe yesterday. My kids really liked this one. Thanks for sharing Pecan recipe with us. Now, I have one more dish to serve my kids as an evening snack.
Awesome Recipe, it looks really delicious. I love cooking for my family every week I try to cook a new recipe. So next weekend I will try to cook your recipe.
Thank you for the great post.
I love this recipe! I have been searching for one that compares to Savannah’s Candy Kitchen in Charleston, SC and I have to say this is almost exactly like their recipe! It is super easy to make! Thanks and I am looking forward to making some for friends and family this Christmas Season!
yay, enjoy the pralines 🙂
Love to try new foods. Pralines and cream growing up is delicious. Thanks for sharing great recipe, yummy!
Yummy! Pecans are one of my favorites to cook with. thanks for the delicious recipe!
How creative!. It is so delicious. Thank for sharing. I love chocolate . I’m going to try it now
love to read the article,anyhting with chocolate is yummy
Made this yesterday. Everyone loved the pecan pralines! Thank you for the recipe. 🙂
I went to New Orleans last year for the first time and tried pralines. They were so good! I never thought to make them at home!
I tried to find the Thermapen candy therometer, but the link only showed BBQ and meat ones. Can you share more information about a good candy thermometer (does it clip to the pan too)? thanks for all you share and I’m looking forward to trying this delicious sounding recipe!!!
The thermapen (which looks like a meat thermometer) can also be used as a candy thermometer. I find it incredibly accurate!
Melt-in-your mouth yummy! And so easy to make. I will add more pecans next time. I will also spread the mixture faster because it firms very quickly.
The Chocolate Peanut Butter Pralines were a milk chocolate color and the most decadent chocolate peanut butter combination I’ve ever tasted. They reminded me of the Chocolate Peanut Butter fudge my Grandmother used to make from scratch ….. Cocoa, Sugar, Butter, Milk and Peanut Butter.
The flavors were totally combined. I can imagine drizzling Peanut Butter Pralines with chocolate but they wouldn’t be the same.
I’ve never tried a pecan praline either, so I definitely need to start! Your description of these is making my mouth water. It sounds like the brown sugar really gives these a decadent touch. Sounds so delicious and easy, too!
Many years ago I had Chocolate – Peanut Butter Pralines from a shop in Myrtle Beach, SC. They were awesome ….. but I haven’t been able to find a recipe. Please keep that combination in mind if you ever decide to make another version and share the recipe with all of us.
Your pralines look decadent !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ooooh interesting. We’re they dipped in chocolate, or the actual praline tasted like chocolate peanut butter?
I just got back from a vacation in SC where these are very popular. I bought some at a local sweet shop and OMG, were they delicious!
I am anxious to try your recipe; if they taste as yummy as they look from the pictures on your site, I’m in for a treat!
Let me know if you try them what you think 🙂
I’m from South Louisiana, I love these. Since I have Psoriasis Arthritis I pour these in a foiled and well greased pan. Then once firm lift the foil and cut them, like fudge. Hope this helps someone who’s like me, not fast at candy dropping anymore. But fast at making them disappear. Ha ha
I was thinking about that yesterday, wondering if it would work. So happy to hear someone has tried doing that 🙂
These look really good!!! I haven’t made homemade pralines- so now I think I must give these a try!
Warning: they are addicting 🙂
I usually eat breakfast at home. however although i like to eat soup or other dishes. I often eat cake in the morning because i have less time to prepare. thanks for sharing. great recipe. yum ~!
Yes, I’ve also loved pralines and cream growing up, but never actually had a plain pecan praline! So glad you decided to give this recipe your own version 🙂
I’m not a southerner, but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a good praline. I’m so psyched to give these a whirl. And I love that your readers asked for them. I need more specific requests like that on my site!
I get requests for different candy and fudge recipes ALL. THE. TIME. It’s actually quite helpful 🙂
Can I ask you for more? I really love candy :3
Just joking thank you for this recipes!