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
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 praline
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
Keywords: Old Fashioned Pecan Pralines, Southern candy, dessert recipe