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,
Please, could you tell me for how long (approximately), I should cook all that goodness? Don’t have thermometer.
Thanks, Jolanta
I don’t have a time, I’m sorry. I’d try testing with the soft ball method and dropping a bit in water.
A total failure! Used half & half. The end result was a crumbly blotch that ended up as candied pecans instead of pralines. I’ll stay with my tried and true recipe with evaporated milk and all brown sugar with adding baking soda at the end.
Unfortunately half and half is not a proper substitute for heavy whipping cream. My mom worked for years to find the best praline recipe and this one is the best! I wish you’d at the very least try one time to follow this recipe the way its written. I promise you won’t be disappointed!
Dude… like… c’mon, smh.
What if you do t have candy thermometer, what is water method?
I’d do a quick search of the “soft ball stage”. You basically drop a bit of mixture into very cold water to test it.
How many days in advance can I make these for a party and have them still taste super fresh?
They honestly keep really well and should be good for a week or two. They’re probably *best* during the first 3-4 days though.
I have been looking for a GOOD recipe for pralines and this is it! Easy to make and they are buttery, smooth, and melt in your mouth candy. So glad I found a recipe that mimics the pralines I used to buy in Charleston, SC
So glad you enjoyed them!
These pralines are the absolute best!
The recipe is simple and easy to follow.
Mouth watering, creamy delight!
Just made a batch. I’m completely sold! Even though the battery on my thermometer died while stirring, and I used the cold water method, they are perfect. I think I’ll roast the pecans next time. Thank you!
I just made these for the first time and they were still slightly grainy. I reached the correct temperature so I am wondering what I did wrong? Would love some feedback. Otherwise they were great!
All stoves can run a little bit differently. I might try to lower the heat a little bit so that it comes to temperature more slowly and see if that helps.
I love theses pralines, I add a dollop of dark chocolate on top, and use mini cupcake pans, when making my family and friends love them
So glad to hear that!
The first time I followed the recipe exactly but found the pralines were still a little grainy and sugary. Went from 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda to a full teaspoon and that fixed the graininess on the 2nd batch. Now, for my 3rd batch, I roasted the pecans first and used a larger proportion , 3+ cups. Overall this is an excellent and simple recipe and I thank the originator.
I followed the recipe exactly but used half and half. They turned out perfect. I always make pralines and cream ice cream at Thanksgiving, so some of these will be used in that…. YUM
Amazingly good! It was my first time making candy, so I adjusted expectations accordingly. I was so surprised to get a creamy praline bursting with flavor that just melts in your mouth. I will definitely be making these again. Thank you!
So glad you enjoyed them!
I want to put the praline top of my sweet potato casserole for Thanksgiving. Would this work for that?
No, because it firms up. But you could use the topping from this cheesecake. https://www.lifeloveandsugar.com/pecan-praline-cheesecake/
My friends are going to love this Christmas since these candies will be gifts. Great combination that I had not thought of. Video is a great help. Thanks for your time to post this terrific recipe.
I remember having Pecan pralines when I was a child and a family friend made them and I fell in love with them. Ive been dreaming of them ever since and their is my first time having them in 18 years! They were amazing. Thank you!