This commonly made confection has sugar, evaporated milk, butter, vanilla, and pecan halves.
We have two versions one that uses a candy thermometer and another verison without it, both are equally delicious.
The praline's origins may date back as far as the early 17th century.
The New Orleans style praline is similar to fudge but nuttier.
This is a simple old fashioned praline candy that's super popular all over the south.
The candy has a vanilla buttery taste loaded with pecans that's simply irresistible to pecan lovers especially on National Praline Day on June 24th.
For these instructions, scroll down to the printable recipe card and print off this easy candy recipe!
Candy Making Fun
Whether it's Valentine's Day, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Game Day, or Christmas, this easy confection just gets dropped on a cookie sheet and a lot easier than most fudge styles that require cutting.
The candy is loaded with sugar and nuts but has a creamy texture.
These are also great for gift giving for Easter baskets, in Christmas tins and you can even use them for treat bags at Halloween.
This recipe is not difficult and has just a few steps and lots of tips to keep in mind below.
Ingredients You Will Need(scroll to the recipe card for exact measurements)
- butter
- brown sugar
- white sugar
- butter
- evaporated milk
- toasted pecans
- vanilla
Quick Tips
- for a quick set of candy refrigerate for 30 minutes to cool
- these are perfect for gift giving
- always use wax paper or parchment paper for easy lifting the candy off
- substitute pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds for nut allergies
- any holiday can be transformed in colors just by using color-coordinated sprinkles can make this candy a festive treat to match the theme
- dark white or milk chocolate can be used and white chocolate drizzled over the top
- half and half or heavy cream can be used in place of evaporated milk
- these are perfect for fundraisers
- store in airtight tins
- keep in a cool dry place for around 3 weeks (refrigerator not recommended)
- while warm scoop them into paper liners into a mini muffin pan for gift giving
Try Some Of Our Other Favorite Holiday Recipes
Peanut Brittle
Baked Caramel Corn
Irish Potato Candy
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A Little More Special
This sweet praline treat is one of the most loved candy in the South and you can't visit without trying a piece, then get hooked.
The best part about pralines is they don't take long and both recipes are easy and delicious.
One last thing, decorate them for any holiday theme from Christmas to the 4th of July colorful sprinkles will give them all whole new look.
Don't forget to still treat folks with food allergies by substituting with sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds so they can enjoy old fashioned good southern style candy..
Pralines Recipe
Yield: 2 dozen
Prep time: 11 MinCook time: 1 MinInactive time: 30 MinTotal time: 42 Min
Here are two southern candy recipes old-fashioned pralines and the other is an easy no candy thermometer needed praline version.
Ingredients
- Old Fashioned Pralines (New Orleans Style)
- 1 - 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 - 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- 1/4 cup butter
- 2 cups toasted pecan halves
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- No Thermometer Needed Pralines:
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cups salted butter (half a stick)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 cups toasted pecan halves (or chopped pecans)
Instructions
- Old Fashioned Style Pralines
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or use mini muffin pan with paper liners
- Bring sugars and milk to a boil in a Dutch oven, stirring often.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring often, 11 minutes, or until a candy thermometer registers 228 degrees (thread stage).
- Stir in butter and pecans; cook, stirring constantly until the candy thermometer registers 236 degrees (softball stage).
- Remove from heat; stir in vanilla.
- Beat with a wooden spoon for 1 to 2 minutes or just until the mixture begins to thicken.
- Quickly drop by heaping tablespoonfuls onto buttered wax paper or parchment paper; let stand until firm.
- No Thermometer Needed Pralines:
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or use mini muffin pan with paper liners
- Place the brown sugar, butter, cream, vanilla in a saucepan bring to a boil then continue cooking for 1-minute stirring constantly.
- Remove from heat stir in the powdered sugar and fold in the pecans.
- Allow to cool a few minutes then drop onto the parchment paper.
- Let them set up to thicken for 30 minutes.
Notes:
Quick Tips
- for a quick set to cool the candy, place them in the refrigerator for 30 minutes
- these are perfect for gift giving
- always use wax paper or parchment paper for easy lifting the candy off
- substitute pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds for nut allergies
- any holiday can be transformed in colors just by using color-coordinated sprinkles can make this candy a festive treat to match the theme
- dark white or milk chocolate can be used and white chocolate drizzled over the top
- half and half or heavy cream can be used in place of evaporated milk
- these are perfect for fundraisers
- store in airtight tins
- keep in a cool dry place for around 3 weeks (refrigerator not recommended)
- while warm scoop them into paper liners into a mini muffin pan for gift-giving
Pin for Later
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Easy Fudge Recipe
Salted Caramel Bites