Description
Classic Old-Fashioned Pecan Pralines are creamy, buttery, and packed with crunchy pecans. This traditional Southern candy recipe uses evaporated milk and melts together sugars and butter for a perfectly textured sweet treat that’s easy to make and delightful to savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Praline Mixture
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 ½ cups packed light brown sugar
- 1 cup evaporated milk (not sweetened condensed milk)
- ¼ cup butter (salted or unsalted, both work)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups pecan halves (chopped pecans also fine)
Instructions
- Prepare Baking Sheet: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Set out a spoon or small scoop for forming the candies later to ensure easy shaping and transfer.
- Cook Sugars and Milk: In a heavy saucepan, combine the granulated sugar, light brown sugar, and evaporated milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly to prevent burning, until the mixture reaches 228°F (thread stage) on a candy thermometer.
- Add Butter and Pecans, Continue Cooking: Stir in the butter and pecan halves, then continue cooking and stirring the mixture until it reaches 236°F (soft-ball stage), which ensures the right consistency for the pralines.
- Remove from Heat and Stir in Vanilla: Take the pan off the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Continue stirring the mixture vigorously until it thickens slightly and loses its glossy sheen, indicating it is ready to be shaped.
- Shape and Cool Pralines: Quickly drop spoonfuls of the thickened mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. Allow the pralines to cool completely and firm up before serving or storing.
Notes
- Using evaporated milk instead of sweetened condensed milk is essential for achieving the correct texture and sweetness.
- Cook the sugar mixture slowly and stir constantly to avoid burning and ensure smooth candy.
- Use a reliable candy thermometer to reach the precise temperature stages required for perfect pralines.
- If chopped pecans are used, the texture will be slightly different but still delicious.
- Store pralines in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece (approx. 25 g)
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 30 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
