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.
I am a regular visitor to your website and have always liked the kind of work that you do. I genuinely get new ideas and thoughts that help me a lot in my personal work as well.
I went to New Orleans last year for the first time and tried pralines. It was so awesome, this sounds like same. Thanks for providing the recipe, will try this at home.
Thank you for the information!
I often eat cake in the morning because i have less time to prepare. thanks for sharing. great recipe. yum ~!
The information that is provided on your web portal is amazing and I am always eager to catch hold of the new posts being published on your website
it is looking so yummy…. ,mouth watering recipe
Just Loved it. Thanks you so much for sharing it.
I just loved this recipe!!!! You have represented it so well with the perfect images.
Melt-in-your mouth, looks too yummy. Will try this at home this weekend. Thanks for the recipe.
~ john
I love this recipe! I have been searching for one that compares to Savannah’s Candy Kitchen in Charleston.
Love to try new foods. Pralines and cream growing up is delicious. Thanks for sharing great recipe, yummy!
How creative!. It is so delicious. Thank for sharing. I love chocolate . I’m going to try it now!!
Thank you for the information!
Delicious looking recipe. Thanks for sharing.
If your pralines thicken up before you get them all spooned out, just set your pan back over a very low heat and they will soften right up again!
looks delicious!!! will like to share it with my mum !!
Omg it’s looking so yummy
Will make it tonight
Thanks for sharing for sharing recipe
Awesome Recipe. Love to read the article. Thanks for sharing this Pecan recipe. yummy!
These were excellent and have gotten rave reviews from everyone who has tried them. I did make a few changes though. The way the recipe is, they come out to be nuts clumps in the midst of a pile…
Well, my favorite ice cream flavor is Pecan Pralines too. the recipe looks interesting. I cant wait to try it on my own. Hope, i dont mess it up anyway. Thanks for the recipe.