Pecan Pralines: the easy Southern dessert recipe for old-fashioned New Orleans pralines

If you're looking for an incredible homemade sweet treat you can whip up in a flash, Southern pecan pralines are perfect for you. This old-fashioned dessert comes from New Orleans but has spread throughout the American South because their irresistible taste.

Pecan pralines are amazingly buttery, sweet, and nutty, with the perfect amount of crunch. Pecan pralines make a great homemade gift to give over the holidays, but they're fantastic all year round as a delicious snack or lighter dessert.

What are Pecan Pralines?

Pecan pralines are a classic Southern sweet. They're somewhere between a cookie and a candy and are always a delicious treat. It's made with butter, pecans, sugar, and some type of dairy either whipping cream, buttermilk, half-and-half, or evaporated milk.

Southern pecan pralines have a wonderful buttery, nutty, sweet flavor and a melt-in-your-mouth texture, plus a little crunch, thanks to the pecans. Pralines themselves date back to 17th century France. This tasty version comes from New Orleans, courtesy of French chefs who came to the USA.

Pecan Pralines vs. Candied Pecans

Candied pecans are made by combining sugar, water, spices, and other flavorings to make a syrup, then stirring the nuts in the mixture until they're completely coated.

Pecan pralines are more like a type of candy, made by preparing a rich, buttery caramel then stirring the pecans into the mixture and dolloping the whole lot onto parchment paper to cool. The result is more like a pecan caramel.

Easy Pecan Pralines Ingredients

All you need to make Southern pecan pralines at home are a few common ingredients.

For the caramel mixture, you'll need white sugar, brown sugar, whipping cream, baking soda, and butter.

To this, you'll add a dash of vanilla and salt for flavor and balance, and of course, pecans!

How to Make Pecan Pralines

Even if you've never whipped up a batch of homemade candy before, making these easy pecan pralines is a total cinch. Start by lining two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Grab a saucepan and add the sugar, brown sugar, whipping cream, butter, and baking soda. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring regularly. Keep stirring until the mixture reaches 236F – you'll need a candy thermometer to know when it's ready.

Take the saucepan off the heat and stir the pecans, salt, and vanilla into the mixture. Using a rubber spatula, continue stirring for 3 ½ minutes until the mixture thickens. You don't want to stir it too much. If you do, you'll wind up with dry pralines. Scoop generous tablespoons of the mixture onto the baking parchment. As soon as the mixture is off the heat, it'll start to harden, so be sure to work fast! Leave the pralines to cool, then tuck in.

Tips for Making Southern Pecan Pralines

Use a candy thermometer to make your pralines. While it isn't completely essential, it'll make the process so much easier.

Make sure to work fast when you're scooping the praline mixture onto the baking parchment. You don't want it to firm up too quickly.

Don't overmix the praline mixture. It'll thicken up too much, resulting in dry pralines.

If your mixture is too thin, stir it more.

Dip your pecan pralines in melted chocolate to make chocolate pecan pralines.

You can swap the pecans out for other types of nuts.

How to Store Pecan Pralines

Store your pecan pralines in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. For longer storage, keep them in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.

Can You Freeze Pecan Pralines?

You can definitely freeze homemade pecan pralines. Pop them in a freezer-safe container and enjoy them within 2 months.

Instructions

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Cook sugar, brown sugar, whipping cream, butter, and baking soda into a saucepan over medium heat.

Bring to a boil, stirring regularly. Continue stirring until the mixture reaches 236F.

Take the saucepan off the heat and stir in the pecans, salt, and vanilla.

Using a rubber spatula, continue stirring for 3 ½ minutes until the mixture thickens.

Scoop generous tablespoons of the mixture onto the baking parchment.

Leave the pralines to cool.

Serve and enjoy!

Notes

If your praline mixture starts to harden up before you've had the chance to form all the pralines, put it back on the warm hob to soften it.