These are seriously the BEST Southern praline pecans. With buttery brown sugar flavor and sweet, nutty crunch, they’re little bites of pure heaven! A little bit candy and a little bit cookie, these easy pralines melt right in your mouth, perfect for holidays and snacking.
I have been SO darn excited to share this pecan pralines recipe with you guys! After testing them for weeks with the help of my mother-in-law (a self-proclaimed pecan praline lover who tastes them wherever she goes), I’m telling you that these are the BEST pecan pralines. I’m completely addicted.
There are a fair number of pecan pralines that I would describe as being quite firm, even hard. And then some are more grainy or even super chewy. With this recipe, we set out to create something right in the middle. Pralines that are sweet, buttery, smooth, and melt-in-your-mouth.
Enjoy them!! These are seriously SO good. No store-bought pecan praline will ever be the same after trying this homemade pecan praline recipe, and they don’t take long to make. You might also love my praline pecan brownies and praline cheesecake. And if you need a little extra help, check out my video of the process below.
What’s the Secret to Perfect Pecan Pralines?
What you will find in common between various recipes is that pecan pralines consist of these main components: Pecans, sugar, butter, and milk or cream. There are a few additional things in these pralines that contribute to their flavor and texture and make them a step above the rest:
- Two types of sugar. Personally, I like my pralines not too soft, but definitely not hard. Not grainy and not chewy. And definitely melt-in-your-mouth with lots of butter and brown sugar flavor. Using a combination of brown sugar AND white sugar helps achieve this perfect middle ground.
- A helping hand from baking soda. Just a little, to keep the praline consistency smooth and not too firm, and the flavor rich and caramelized.
- The right cooking technique. I recommend a candy thermometer for this recipe. It’s super helpful in tracking the temperature, which is key in homemade caramel recipes. I cover the exact technique that I use to make buttery, perfect pralined pecans every time.
And last, but not least, this is the first in a series of cookies (even though this is technically candy) that I’ll be sharing over the next few weeks as we head towards Christmas. I’ve got some super fun things coming, and I can’t wait to share them with you! In the meantime, also check out more sweets like buckeyes, saltine toffee, and classic chocolate fudge.
Ingredients for Praline Pecans
Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make Southern praline pecans. Scroll to the recipe card below for precise measurements.
- Sugar – After much testing, I found a combination of white sugar and brown sugar to be the best for making pralines. All brown sugar yielded a grainy, unappealing texture. On the other hand, white sugar required baking soda to caramelize, and the flavor just wasn’t the same. Using both sugars was best for a rich, caramelized flavor without graininess.
- Heavy Whipping Cream – Half-and-half, cream (as I used), buttermilk, and even evaporated milk all worked well. I liked the extra creaminess and straightforward flavor of the cream, but I also really liked the evaporated milk. Whole milk doesn’t have the same fat content, so your pralines may turn out thinner.
- Butter – Butter is a key ingredient in terms of flavoring and keeping the pralines from getting too firm. I use unsalted butter. If you’re using salted butter, I’d suggest reducing the added salt in the recipe by about half, or to taste.
- Baking Soda – While not totally necessary, I include baking soda in my pralines. It not only enhances the brown sugar and caramel-y flavor and color, but it also keeps them tender. If you leave it out, you’ll have a firmer praline. Finally, it helps the sugars dissolve fully, so that you don’t have a grainy praline.
- Pecans – Clearly necessary here. This might seem funny, but make sure your pecans are at room temperature. If they’re cold, it can impact how the praline sets.
- Salt – For flavor. Never underestimate the power of a little salt. See the note above if you’re using salted butter, as you’ll need less.
- Vanilla Extract – Also for flavor. Vanilla paste makes a good 1:1 substitute if needed.
How to Make Praline Pecans
Making pralines from scratch really comes down to temperature control and proper stirring. Don’t worry if your praline pecans don’t come out exactly right the first time. Chances are, even if they’re not perfect, they’ll still taste delicious!
- Prepare your tools. To make these Southern pecan pralines, you’ll first want to set up your parchment paper and have a tablespoon-sized scoop ready to go. Once your mixture is ready, it can firm up quickly, so you want to be able to move fast.
- Make the glaze. Add the sugars, heavy cream, butter, and baking soda to a sturdy pot. Heat it over medium heat, stirring regularly. It’ll melt and may seem like it’s taking its time getting going, but it will finally begin to boil.
- Cook to 236ºF. When the mixture foams up and starts to boil, stir constantly until it reaches 236°F. You will want to have a candy thermometer or something similar handy. Candy is sensitive to temperature.
- Stir in the pecans. Once it’s at the right temperature, remove the pot from the stove. Add the pecans, salt, and vanilla extract. Stir vigorously with a rubber spatula for about 3 1/2 minutes. The mixture will begin to thicken, and the longer you stir it, the thicker it will get. The thicker it gets, the firmer your pralines will be. It may take 2-3 times of making these to get comfortable with knowing that it’s the right consistency, but generally the 3 1/2 minute mark works well.
- Shape the pralines. Finally, drop heaping tablespoons of the mixture onto the parchment paper and let them cool and firm up. You can spoon a praline or two and see if you like the amount they spread, and if they spread too much, just stir them for a little longer.
- Let them set. At this point, you just have to let them firm up. That’s probably the hardest part for me. They are so good, I just want to eat them all! They will be firm enough to handle within an hour, but do firm up more as they sit overnight.
Getting to the Soft-Ball Stage
While a candy thermometer is the easiest way to tell if your praline has reached the right temperature, you can also test that the praline reaches the “soft-ball stage”. Drop a small amount of the boiling caramel into cold water. Caramel that’s heated to 235ºF and 240ºF will form a soft, flexible ball that you can flatten between your fingers. At this stage, it’s ready to remove from the heat and stir.
Tips for the Best Praline Pecans
- Use a candy thermometer. You want to make sure you have the right temperature or your pralines will not turn out correctly.
- Don’t over-stir. Take care not to over-stir your pralines at the end of cooking. Even if they’re cooked to the right temperature, overmixing can make the pralines too firm once they cool down.
- Do a tester. On the other hand, not enough stirring or undercooking can make pecan pralines too soft. If you scoop one or two out and they seem to spread a lot, try stirring a little longer.
- Use a wooden spoon. Avoid plastic utensils when working with hot candy, as they run the risk of melting. I’m also not a fan of metal spoons as they tend to conduct heat. I recommend a sturdy wooden spoon or spatula.
- Have plenty of ingredients on hand. While I’m hopeful these will turn out great the first time around, they often take people 2-3 times to get just right.
- Work quickly when scooping out the pralines, so the mixture doesn’t firm up too quickly.
How to Store
- Store airtight. Homemade pralines can be stored airtight at room temperature for 2-3 weeks. They do start to dry out and crystallize with time. If you’re making these ahead for the holidays or otherwise, consider freezing them.
- Freeze. Pre-freeze the cooled pralines on a baking sheet, and then transfer them to a freezer bag or container. Use sheets of parchment paper to separate any layers. Freeze for up to 2 months and thaw at room temperature when ready to serve.
Watch How They’re Made
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Best Southern Praline Pecans
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Ingredients
- 1 cup (207g) sugar
- 1 cup (225g) packed light brown sugar
- ¾ cup (180ml) heavy whipping cream
- 4 tablespoons (56g) unsalted butter (cut into cubes)
- ⅛ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 ¼ cups (212g) pecan halves
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Set out parchment paper for making the pralines on and have a tablespoon sized scoop handy and ready to go.
- Add everything but the pecans, salt and vanilla extract to a medium pot and heat over medium heat. Stir regularly until it begins to foam and boil.
- When it begins to foam and boil, stir constantly until it reaches 236°F.
- Remove from heat and add the pecans, salt and vanilla extract.
- Stir vigorously with a rubber spatula for 3 ½ minutes, or until the mixture begins to thicken. The longer you stir, the thicker the mixture gets. You don't want it to get too thick, or it'll be hard to scoop the pralines and they'll dry more firm.
- Quickly drop heaping tablespoons of the mixture onto parchment paper and allow them to cool and firm. If the mixture is too thin and spreads more than you want, stir a little bit more. If the mixture starts to cool too much as you're scooping, place it back on the warm burner (but don't turn it on) and let it keep the mixture warmer. I find it helps to stir the mixture after every few scoops.
- When pralines are cool and firm, store in an airtight container.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
The nutrition facts provided are calculated using a third-party tool and are estimates only. Actual nutritional content may vary based on the ingredients and brands you use, as well as portion sizes. For accurate results, please consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.
Categories:
Christmas, Cookies, Holidays, Other Sweets, Recipes, Recipes with video, Sweets and Treats, Thanksgiving,
These turned out perfect for a party we are going to…I no longer have a candy thermometer, so I just cooked to soft ball stage and tested in a glass of cold water, like I have done for years when I make candy & fudge for the holidays. I also added about 2 T Steen’s cane syrup, and they are dark and delicious! I think the syrup helps to prevent crystallization.
I think that preparation is key. I researched and read recipe several times. Took me awhile to finally try this and had success first time .they taste great,it is very simple to make.thanks
This is the best recipe I’ve tried! I’d like to make an autumn version by adding a maple element. Do you think I would alter the consistency too much if I added maple extract in addition to the vanilla extract?
I don’t think it would make a huge difference, but you could always leave out the vanilla and add in the maple just to be sure.
The title is correct, these are the best Southern pralines! I was hoping it was close to store bought but assumed it would not be quite the same quality, as they have the machines, the know how, and maybe other ingredients. This recipe makes them better than store bought. I nailed them the first time, possibly because I’ve made gumbo roux, and slow boiling the sugar mix until you know it’s ready is similar. I did the double amount recipe which is very handy thank you, just select the 2x. I did the brown sugar white sugar combo, I used the butter, organic heavy cream, the baking soda, and the other ingredients as listed.
The local store sells Pralines like these for $30 a pound, and the 2x version of this recipe makes +/- 5 pounds, so about $150 worth of delicious pralines! They are fresh, the same consistency as store bought, but tastier which I think by using organic heavy cream and grass fed cow butter mine had the extra edge here.
My 5 year old, a tough critic, said I don’t like, them, I LOVE Them!
thanks for the recipe, I didn’t see the video until after my son and I made these together, but the video is helpful. I give this recipes 6+ stars!
also, this is dangerous knowledge, knowing how to make the Best pralines! However, it makes so much that I’m making them as gifts. They are easy to store, and to ship just package carefully. When our real estate clients close on a house, or our big art buyers purchase fine art, they get a package of pralines.
LOVEEEEEEE just one question- how long can they be stored??
Thank you for sharing your recipe with us. It was very easy and turned out really good!
So glad to hear it!
First time making these, super easy and so good!! Substituted heavy cream with coconut milk because that’s all I had in the pantry; weighed the sugars and used an infrared thermometer (point the laser where you’re stirring and you’ll get the internal temp) and they came out great!
How much of each ingredient do you need? I don’t see that anywhere
There’s a little recipe card at the bottom of the post. If you’re having trouble finding it, there is a jump to recipe button at the top underneath the title.
I grew up about an hour north of New Orleans and we Louisianan’s come out of the womb cooking! Pralines were a staple y’all! I remember helping my grandma make them all of the time! I moved away, got married, had children, 25yrs later-I decide I want to make a batch but I feel rusty. This my dear is the perfect mix of ingredients and perfect instructions!! They came out just as I remember from growing up! My children had them for the first time and are now addicted! I’m glad I stumbled upon this recipe!
I made these for dessert after a shrimp creole dinner for a few ladies last night. They flipped for them (despite the fact that they were ugly as sin.) It was my first time making pralines at high altitude (6300ft). I need to adjust the boiling temperature a little more next time. But the texture and flavors were still incredible. One friend said, “I have a friend who sends me pralines from a special shop in Savannah and these are better.” I mean, that’s high praise! I felt like I did my New Orleans heritage proud. I’ve only been there a few times but my grandma grew up there and Aunt Sally’s is our baseline comparison for all pralines. Even my dad gave the flavor serious praise when I gave him one as a guinea pig. Thanks for a great recipe! Looking forward to perfecting the high altitude effects so they look prettier next time but the buttery/caramelly flavor of these can’t be beat.
That is definitely high praise! So glad everyone enjoyed them!
This recipe is so easy and delicious. I made 2 batches, 1 without toasting pecans and 1 with toasting the pecans, and I would have to say they both are delicious but toasting the pecans brought it to the next level.
This is a GREAT recipe. Thanks for sharing. But you actually does NOT say when to add “salt” in your “How To Prepare” section. It’s only if people scroll further to see another section called “Instructions” that it says “salt” in section 4.
Below, I copied & pasted the exact wording from step 4 in the “How to” section of your article so you can see the omission of the word “salt”. You may want to go back & update/add it for consistency in directions.
4. Once it’s at the right temperature, remove the pot from the stove and add the pecans and vanilla extract. Stir vigorously with a rubber spatula for about 3 1/2 minutes. The mixture will begin to thicken and the longer you stir it, the thicker it will get. The thicker it gets, the firmer your pralines will end up. It may take 2-3 times of making these to get comfortable with knowing that it’s the right consistency, but generally the 3 1/2 minute mark works well.
I am so excited to make these!!
how long ahead can you make them? do they freeze well?
Wish I could give it 10 stars. Hands down perfect. I tried another recipe first. It turned out grainy. Probably something I did wrong. So I went on a search for another praline recipe. Thank goodness your reviews were so good. And I agree. Creamy, chewy and perfectly perfect. Even better than what used to be my favorite from local Mexican restaurant. Made them for a neighborhood gathering and everyone who tried them loved them. Thanks for the video too. This is the one. The search is over.
Yay! So glad to hear that! Thanks Cindy!
I absolutely love this recipe!! Thank you for sharing. Ive been making “Pecan Candy” for years with much more sugar and milk and it always made a huge mess. The clean up for this recipe was a snap and the result was delicious!!! Great way to make smaller batches and to have anytime☺
I have never ever ever had a praline better than these! Girlllll, I can make a fortune from these pralines. Too bad I burned my pinky finger.
So glad you enjoyed them! Sorry to hear about the finger though!
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