Texas Pecan Pralines

Name: Texas Pecan Pralines
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 18 servings
Cuisine: Southern
Ingredients: 2 cups Pecans; 1.5 cups Sugar; 0.75 cup Brown sugar; 0.5 cup Evaporated milk; 4 tbsp Butter; 1 tsp Vanilla extract; 1 pinch Salt

Creamy, sugary candy studded with toasted pecans, cooked to a soft-set caramel and dropped into rounds to cool.

🇺🇸United States· Texas

Prep: 15 min
Cook: 20 min
Total: 35 min
Servings: 18
Difficulty: Medium
Calories: 190 kcal

Equipment

•Heavy saucepan
•Candy thermometer
•Wax paper

Nutrition

Per serving, approximate

Calories: 190 kcal
fat: 11
carbs: 24
protein: 2
calories: 190

Instructions

1
Line a sheet pan with wax paper. Set the toasted pecans nearby.
2
Put the granulated sugar, brown sugar, evaporated milk, and butter into a heavy saucepan over medium heat.
3
Cook and stir occasionally until a candy thermometer reads 235–240°F, the soft-ball stage.
4
Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the vanilla, salt, and pecans.
5
Beat the mixture with a wooden spoon for 1–2 minutes. Stop when it thickens slightly and loses its shine.
6
Quickly drop spoonfuls onto the wax paper. Work fast before the candy hardens in the pot.
7
Let them cool completely at room temperature until firm before serving.

Chef's tips

Work quickly once the mixture reaches the soft-ball stage and thickens. Pralines set fast, so have your pecans and wax paper ready before cooking.

Storage

Store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 weeks.

Reheating

No reheating; if pralines harden too much, a few seconds in the microwave can soften them slightly.

Common mistakes to avoid

•Stirring the boiling sugar too much, which makes the candy turn grainy.
•Not reaching the correct soft-ball temperature, leaving the pralines too soft to hold shape.
•Waiting too long to scoop the candy, so it hardens inside the pot.