Even if you’ve never been to the South, you have GOT to try this recipe for my Perfect Southern Pecan Pralines! A cross between cookies and candy, this unique, melt-in-your-mouth treat is studded with pecans with a wonderful buttery flavor. Totally irresistible!
I have only been to the South a couple of times, but each time I have gone, I have actively sought out pecan pralines. They are by far one of my FAVORITE desserts in both flavor profile and just as-is.
However, I have only found Southern pecan pralines at the Atlanta airport, of all places. So you bet your booty I bought ALL OF THE PRALINES to take home and share with my California born-and-bred family. However, there was a small issue: I ate all the pralines on the plane.
Oops.
They truly are unlike anything I’ve ever had here in California. A cross between a buttery cookie and a melt-in-your-mouth candy, they’re totally unique and have an amazing butter and brown sugar flavor. Inside there are pockets of crunchy, salty pecans for an amazing toasted, nutty flavor.
And if you’re like me, you’ll instantly fall in LOVE with these delicious creations!
Pralines can be finicky little devils, but I think I have mastered this into an easy, nearly foolproof recipe. Some of the issues people have is that the pralines never set up, or they spread too much. But I have tips that will ensure your pralines come out perfectly round and utterly amazing each and every time with my tested recipe!
To make these baddies, simply bring together some pecans, granulated white sugar, brown sugar, butter, evaporated milk, vanilla, and a pinch of salt together and boil it until a candy thermometer reads between 235° – 240° degrees F.
Then, once the mixture hits the sweet temperature spot, beat the daylights out of it with a wooden spoon until it thickens and gets almost cloudy-looking. This will ensure the candy is firm enough to set up properly.
And to make those perfectly round morsels of heaven? Simply spoon the hot candy (be careful!) into cupcake liners and let cool completely. Once they’re cooled and set, simply peel back the cupcake liners and you have evenly round little pralines!
And oh my gosh, they’ll be impossible to resist!
Perfect Southern Pecan Pralines
Ingredients
- 1½ cups pecan halves or chopped pecans
- 1½ cups granulated white sugar
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp unsalted butter cubed
- 1/2 cup evaporated milk NOT sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
Instructions
- Line 2 cupcake tins with about 16-20 paper liners. Set aside briefly.
- In a large, heavy bottomed saucepan, combine the pecan halves, sugars, butter, evaporated milk, vanilla extract, and salt and bring to a boil over medium heat. Stick in a candy thermometer and stir constantly while boiling until temperature reaches 235° to 240° degrees F, about 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and working quickly and CAREFULLY, beat the mixture vigorously with a wooden spoon until mixture thickens and almost turns cloudy and opaque in color, about 2-5 minutes.
- Working fast, use a spoon or cookie dough scoop to portion the hot candy into each muffin tin, covering the bottom of the muffin cup. You should get about 16-20 candies, depending on how much you fill each cupcake tin. Cool the candy COMPLETELY. Candy is ready once it's reached room temperature and is firm and solid. Peel away cupcake liners before serving.
Buttery, toasty candies filled with crunchy pecans, brown sugar, and aromatic vanilla. There’s so much to love about these pecan pralines!
Have a super sweet day!
xo, Hayley
Cookbook says
Why did I have to see this recipe while I’m hungry! Oh my gosh they look simply amazing!
Michael Slezak says
Hartley,
Can this recipe be doubled when making them or must it be made,in single batches like most other candy recipes?
thedomesticrebel says
I would recommend making this in single batches. However, I’ll try to double it next time I make it and will report back!
A says
If you’re not familiar with making it try a small batch 1st because it’s harder to set once it starts cooling
Jo says
can you tell me are these soft and creamy ? Are they a little firm and hard ? Can you please let me know ?
thedomesticrebel says
Hi Jo! They are firm when you bite into them (but not tooth-breaking hard!) but once you’ve bitten through, they are almost creamy and basically melt in your mouth. Very delicious!
MarjorieDowden says
Soft and creamy, kind of like fudge. I’m from Louisiana and have made these many times. They are very much like fudge.
thedomesticrebel says
Marjorie, lucky you for living in the praline epicenter! They are like a fudge, cookie, and candy crossover and are so delicious.
Beth says
Atlanta Airport the only place you could find Pralines! You must not have looked for long or maybe Atlanta has seceded from the South. Try Savannah Candy Kitchen. They ship all over the world. And next time you travel to GA visit Savannah or any of the coastal cities. And the way we make pralines here is to pore the hot mixture onto a cookie sheet with wax or parchment paper lining. Then you break it apart like brittle.
Candi says
There’s a Savannah Candy Kitchen IN the Atlanta Airport! And they make pralines there just like at the store in Savannah. I’m a praline-connoisseur, and I scope them out all over the Deep South, because I grew up in the south but now live in South Florida. No pralines here. ? I even ordered pralines from Savannah Candy Kitchen for wedding favors WAY back in 2002! Love pralines so much!!
Misty says
They have a candy store at the underground in Atlanta. They’re amazing !!!
Jen says
These look SO good! I second the above, Savannah Candy Kitchen! I also live in CA, and when I visited my sister in Savannah, I brought them back pralines from there. They have a great website you can order from.
https://www.savannahcandy.com/category/Pecan-Pralines-Candy
Sandi says
Do you have to use a wooden spoon?
thedomesticrebel says
I would worry that a rubber spatula would melt!
Aileen says
how can you store these?
thedomesticrebel says
Hi Aileen, at room temperature!
Pam says
Can these be frozen?
thedomesticrebel says
Probably! Just bring them to room temperature before eating.
Bex says
I’ve been terrified to try and make candies like this since I was little and tried to make toffee (which ended in disaster and a VERY angry sister at me LOL) But you made this sound so easy, so I tried it tonight. And holy cow! Despite my arm feeling like it was going to fall off by the end of it, it was surprisingly easy and I couldn’t stop eating the quickly-drying left overs in the pot! Thank you for this recipe! It’s so delicious and surprisingly so easy!! I’ll be making these for my daddy when he comes home from his back surgery 🙂
Rhondi says
I’m from Texas and these pecan pralines were a huge hit with my family. They were easy to make and your notes of how to get the right texture helped. Using cupcake tins and liners was a great idea and made it easier to store. Thanks for a great recipe!
Marcy says
Never made candy before but these seemed too good not to give them a try. They were delicious and a big hit with all my guests. I poured them out onto a silpat mat and broke into pieces when set.
Linda says
Can you beat these in a kitchen aid mixer instead of using a wooden spoon? Thanks.
thedomesticrebel says
Hi Linda, I would recommend beating with a wooden spoon so you do not accidentally over-mix with a mixer.
Supermom1875 says
Make these in single batches. If you double it, you won’t be able to drop it on your parchement paper fast enough and it will set up inside your pot!
Sincerely,
Supermom1875
New Orleans, Louisiana
Ken White says
Made these today and I must have cooked them too long…they turned to a fineish dust which would not scoop, nor stick together. It will make a topping for ice cream.
Marcia says
Do you toast the pecans?
thedomesticrebel says
I personally did not, but you totally could!
Janith says
I have sore shoulders from fubro. Can I start mixing with a mixer for a few seconds and then switch to wooden spoon when starting to get thick?
thedomesticrebel says
You could try that, but be very judicious with the mixer because you don’t want to over-beat it!
Nick says
Hi I make these all the time here in Louisiana and I must say that’s a great idea about the muffin paper thanks ill have to try that!
Alicia says
I made these and they stuck to the cupcake liners! I bought the white Wilton ones. Is there something you do to make them not stick?
thedomesticrebel says
Hi Alicia! Sorry about that. It sounds like the mixture wasn’t properly beaten well enough. It has to be really cloudy and thick before you pour it into the cupcake liners.
Anne says
Hey. I tried double batch,but it never really firmed up. It’s a lot like a warm starburst. Any suggestions? We are coastal so it is humid. Tastes delicious though.
thedomesticrebel says
Hi Anne, I personally think candy is best made in a single batch, even though the process will take longer. Maybe try letting it dry out overnight?
P.J. says
Can I use margarine instead of butter? My candy thermometer got broken can I use another method?
thedomesticrebel says
No, you cannot use margarine instead of butter.
Kristen Pike says
What I would like to know is is it possible to make pralines without any nuts in it whatsoever? I have bad teeth and cannot to the nuts but love the candy mixture that creates the praline. But every time I try to make it excluding the pecans from the mixture it won’t solidify but instead stays gooey. Any tips or thoughts?
thedomesticrebel says
I think just making sure to beat the mixture properly is the key for the pralines to maintain the right texture, Kristen! I believe you can omit the nuts but just make sure your beat the mixture with the wooden spoon well so it holds its shape well when you drop it onto the baking sheets. Maybe test one by dropping a smaller piece down and see if it hardens pretty quickly.
Robin says
There is a microwave recipe that comes out perfect. Will pass it on when I find it.. that recipe is the one I use now. I am from Louisiana, New Orleans. Our family has always made pralines on special occasions as well every time we have a taste for it. I was lucky.
1/2 pt of heavy whipping cream ( not canned or cool whip).
1 lb box of light brown sugar
2 tablespoons of real butter only
1 teaspoon of real vanilla
1 1/2 – 2 cups pecans
Mix 1/2 pt of whipping cream with sugar. Stir until all lumps are gone.
Microwave 13 minutes WITH OUT STIRRING.
Remove from microwave and quickly add butter, vanilla and pecans beat with wooden spoon.
Drop on wax paper to set.
I found this recipe sets faster than stove top method.
I’m going to try the cupcake tins.
Thank you for your recipe.
Jana says
Warning!!!! DO NOT TRY THE MICROWAVE RECIPE!
I really believe people post recipes they have never tried just to have something under their name. 13 minutes is too long and brown sugar will burn, wasting food. People you should only post recipes you have tried!
Jizody says
She said she uses it and it comes out perfect
Eileen says
Do you use regular size cupcake liners or the mini size? Definitely am going to try these. I love pecans.
thedomesticrebel says
Hi Eileen, regular size!
Kathy says
Once the mixture gets to the required temperature do you keep it on the heat for 10 minutes or do you immediately take pot off the heat?
thedomesticrebel says
Hi Kathy, the 10 minutes is the approximate time it takes for the mixture to come to temperature. Your stove may take longer or shorter. Once it reaches that temperature, remove it from the heat and continue with the directions. Hope this helps!