Easy Pecan Pralines are a delicious and creamy Southern candy that's ready in about 30 minutes. No candy thermometer and no hassle!
For years and years I've made pralines but never Easy Pecan Pralines. You see - the recipes I used in the past required candy thermometers or microwaving with just the right bowl and a wooden spoon. They were always finicky and didn't always turn out right.
However, last year, after my microwave pralines recipe failed me again, I decided I had to find a recipe that was more reliable.
I started searching and trying and I finally landed on a recipe at Tasty Kitchen. I've made it 20+ times probably and it only failed me once.... it's now the only recipe I use.
I should mention... I'm not quite sure why the recipe failed that day (the pralines wouldn't set up). The only difference was I made them at my Mama's house and not mine. I even brought all of the ingredients from my house to hers... they just didn't work that day.
It probably had something to do with my whole family being there and I was running my mouth the entire time I was making them... I'm sure I mis-measured something or didn't let them boil quite a full minute. I don't know - it'll forever be a mystery 🙂
Oh wait - but I should make it clear that the day wasn't a total loss. Every single crumb of the pralines were still eaten - we just used spoons to scoop them up!
You see... this big ole family of mine wouldn't let pralines go to waste - even if they were sticky!! Hahaha.,.. I love my family!
Anyway, I've been making candy/cookie trays this Christmas season and in every tray, I've included some pralines. I thought it was about time I shared the recipe!
Christmas Candy Tray Ideas
You can see one of the trays I made here. Along with the Christmas Crunch Recipe, here's another I made this morning:
None of my trays have been exactly the same so far. This one included Pecan Pralines, Sugar Cookies with Vanilla Buttercream, Chocolate Peanut Clusters, Peppermint Bark & Graham Cracker Nut Roll.
Anyway... back to the pralines recipe. When I say it's easy - I mean, really, really easy.
Are you ready to make Easy Pecan Pralines?
Here's the printable recipe:
Print
Easy Pecan Pralines
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 24 1x
Description
No candy thermometer and no hassle! Delicious, creamy, and ready in about 30 minutes!
Ingredients
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ⅓ cup heavy whipping cream
- ¼ cups salted butter (half a stick)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 ½ cups pecan halves (or chopped pecans)
Instructions
- Line a large cookie sheet (or two) with parchment paper.
- Place the brown sugar, whipping cream, butter & vanilla in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil for about 1 minute, then remove it from the heat. Immediately whisk in the powdered sugar, then gently stir in the pecans.
- Allow the mixture to thicken and cool slightly, but it only takes a minute or two.
- Drop heaping spoonfuls of the praline mixture onto paper and allow it to cool and set up for at least 30 minutes. You can speed this up by popping the sheet in the fridge if you're impatient like me 😉
- Category: desserts
Keywords: easy, pecan, pralines, candy, southern, recipes, creamy
Can't wait to try these! I, too, make cookie trays for neighbors and friends. THANK YOU!
You're very welcome - I hope you love them as much as we do!
These melt in your mouth... mine turned out darker than yours but the texture these have, is what I have been searching for the past year or so. Thank you for sharing your recipe! I have saved it and it will be part of my Christmas baking this year!
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Oh Tanya - I'm SO happy to hear it!
I have been searching for a Praline recipe WITHOUT having to use a thermometer. We live at 6,200 ft. and recalibrating the candy thermometer can get complicated and I avoid using Math whenever I can! Thanks again!
Did you make these at high elevations & did they turn out?
I've never lived or worked in high altitude - I'm sorry.
Mmm the look SO good. We normally make cookie tins as well but it never occurred to me to add pralines in it, thats such a good idea.
Looks good to me. It is great that you have a large family.
Looks and sounds yummy! I love that tray of goodies you made too! Thanks for sharing with us at the Merry Monday link party. I hope you'll join us again next week. Sharing your post on Twitter!
LOVE...Pralines...Used to make caramels & fudge @ year with my Mom-in-law!! Miss her a lot..
Awww - have a blessed Christmas season!
Rose, could you please figure out how to make chocolate Pralines for us? Up here in Minnesota there was a store selling basically a chocolate praline candy but it was mixed with nuts and stringy coconut and the store burned down and I have never had it since BUT we went to New Orleans and had some and they were the same candy minus the nuts and coconut, I would like make your easy pralines with the added chocolate, coconut that comes in longer string pieces (do you know what that would be) and add tiny bits of nuts!! I miss that, Thank you Rose! Hannah
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I've never heard of chocolate pralines but I'll keep my eyes peeled for a recipe!
Hi Rose,
Thank you so much for getting back to me on this. Chocolate pralines are well known in New Orleans, One place that is famous for them is Aunt Sally's. They are also sold on Amazon and you can find them on google. I love Pralines but amazingly the chocolate pralines are even better than the pecan pralines. I think it will shock you how delicious they are! Please try some! You won't believe how delicious they are! I am a caramel/ praline type person and NOT a chocolate person at all and I LOVE chocolate pralines. They are unbelievable! REALLY.
Hannah
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I own a bakery in Savannah. Just add cocoa in the sauce pan. ..., depends on how dark of chocolate you want, start with a half a cup the first time and decided from there.
Hi. I only have unsalted butter. Will that work or should I add salt?
I haven't made them with unsalted, but I imagine it would work - just add a pinch of salt!
I have made different kinds of pralines in the past. I have pumpkin anything, but oh my goodness. Pumpkin pralines are the bomb. Also, pomegranate, chocolate, coconut, and others. I can't remember exactly how I did the chocolate. I think I followed original recipe and added whatever kind of chocolate I wanted. I buy those large chocolate bars and use them. Even Snicker bar pralines. Everyone loved them.
How long will these keep?
At least a few days, but I haven't tried longer than that... they're always eaten too fast at my house 🙂
Oh my waistline! I just made these and they are wonderful! I had never made pralines before but found this recipe and thought I'd give it a shot. So glad I did. The only thing I had a problem with was the powdered sugar didn't really melt in but who cares? So good! Thank you for putting this recipe out there.
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I'm so glad you loved them Sherry!! I'm sorry about trouble with the powdered sugar - maybe it needed sifting (that varies from brand to brand)!? Merry Christmas!
Made these quick pralines yesterday here in Austin, Texas - - they are fab! Used buttermilk instead of cream for a tangy taste. Delicious! Thank you for this great (and quick!!!) recipe.
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Oooh, so glad to hear it!! I'll have to try the buttermilk substitution. I used to make buttermilk pralines years ago (different recipe), so I bet that substitution is amazing!
Was wondering if half and half would work instead of the whipping cream? I was going to try another recipie for these but got lost after reading all the crazy instructions! Already bought the ingredients though and thought, maybe?
Hi Jennifer - I've never tried it, so I'm just not sure. But if you're not opposed to eating it by the spoon 😉 , you could always try and see how it goes. If you do - come tell me how it turns out!
I used half and half and it worked beautifully! Great recipe!
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Because I am lactose intolerant I tried this recipe using lactose free evaporated milk...oh my! It was wonderful!! I also use half brown sugar and half white sugar and add a pinch of baking soda. They turn out so smooth and creamy!! Thanks for this recipe Rose!
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Okay, so I realized after getting the stuff on the stove that I didn't have any powdered sugar. Panic mode ensued! I did find some white chocolate chips, so I substituted a cup of those for the powdered sugar and kept my fingers crossed. The pralines turned out wonderful!
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WOW - I'd have never guessed that that would work! #awesome
These look yummy..can you double the recipe? I too luv making Christmas treats for family and friends. These will be a lovely addition. Thanks Marie from Canada
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Yes - you just have to move fast enough to get them all dipped out before the candy starts to set up in the pan.
I love this recipe. It turns out great. I have used it the last few years and it works for me over and over. So glad I found it. Thanks for sharing it.
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I made this recipe today. They turned out great! I impressed myself. Can I freeze this candy? Thanks for sharing.
That's awesome!! 🙂
I tried it but didn’t measure my cream (putting in too much), so I ended up with gooey caramel pecans. Still delicious, but I’ll measure next time!
Candy making can be simple or challenging depending on the proceedures you are following. Any candy that cooks to a specific crack stage will never set up if there is too much moisture in the air. Which means that you should never attempt to make candy when it is raining or rain is in the forecast. My only disasters making peanut brittle, pralines, and fudge have been in my earlier days of candy making and I was unaware of how moisture can prevent certain candy from hardening. Choose a nice sunny day for candy making and you will always be ensured of good results.
Made these today - super easy! A little sweet for me, but still delicious. Any tips for a not-so-sweet version? I’m sensitive to overly sweet things, but I’m sure they’ll be a hit with those I’m serving them to! Just wondering what I could do next time to tone down the sweetness.
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Ms.Rose please forgive me for
Tweaking your wonderful recipe, but wife loves chocolate,
So I added 2 tbl.spoons of
usweetend chocolate by Hershey chocolate pecan pralines, she thinks I'm a genius .
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I made these 3 times. The first batch was perfect! But the second two times they didn’t set properly, I don’t know what I did wrong! I measured very carefully, and since they came out the first time I KNOW the recipe works!!! I just can’t figure it out!
These were such a hit at Christmas with my family. My grandson, who is 14 & loves to cook, made these Pralines EVERY DAY & they turned out perfect every time!
That's awesome Linda!! Happy Holidays!
I made these in 2016 for Christmas but forgot about them this last Christmas. Ugh! I have a strong urge for them RIGHT NOW but I don't have any butter. Could it be done with margarine?
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You know - I really don't know if that would work or not.
OMG..
I'm from the South....
Louisiana south where pralines are Not just a way of life it's a religion....
A religion that had many rules and regulations of what type Day to make them on , spoons to use and always always that Darn thermometer that won't stay on the side of the pan ryv...
This was a new Day leaving The thermometer cult....
I made these and they were easy and tasted wonderful...
I did do one thing a bit different
I used dark brown sugar and cooked it a bit over a minute to get the more caramel color and stronger flavor....
I just wanted to say thank you so much for your wonderful recipe... You have gone in the recipe book alongside my grandmother and My mother
Recipes
Thanks again
Tess - that is easily the best compliment I've received in a long, long time! Living in Mississippi, I'm VERY familiar with pralines from New Orleans and surrounding areas and I'm so proud this easy recipe measures up!
My wonderful m-i-l in Baton Rouge used to make a ton of these at holidays and we would travel there from wherever we were living at the time. She was a wonderful cook and I couldn't stop eating them. I used her recipe and NEVER got them to set; always sticky and runny. I can't wait to try this recipe and think about how much I miss her. Thanks for the recipe, Rose!!!
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Deb.... I wanted to say that alongside your Pralines and other goodies at Christmas etc.. I played with the recipe and did everything the same but I've added different type nuts. My hubby's favorite is with mixed nuts.
Thought you might like to try and see if you like it. Just make sure you sift the can of nuts so the salt and hulld from bottom of can don't end up in the mix.... It was a big Hit at my hubby's work gathering and at bake sale. They sold First alongside the Pralines...
Also just in case you may like something very quick and simple but always makes a big Hit. Butterscotch haystacks.: Get one can of crunchy Chinese noodles (Chow Mein noodles)
1 PKG butterscotch chips....
Melt your chips then add crunchy noodles mix well place on wax paper in small mounds...
Let harden and keep in airtight container.. Loved by everyone..you'll look very clever
And only you'll know just how quick and simple..
Hope you like it
Tess
I made these today. Used buttermilk and also sifted the powered sugar. Turned out great. Thanks so much.
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Just as the recipe stated! Easy recipe- easy to follow! Never thought I could do this so quickly & have them turn out Perfect! Thank you!
You're very welcome - so happy to hear it 🙂
After making pralines the hard way for years with the thermometer with success decided to try this recipe. Made only half a batch. Wasnt sure about the accuracy i.e. half of 1/3 cwhipping cream (used 2 T plus 1/2 t. Best pralines ever. Will never make any other way. Will test on my Pastor (expert pralines man).
That's awesome to hear Ruthann! Thank you!
This recipe was so easy and quick! It actually started setting while I was adding pecans, so mine is more ball shaped, than clumps like yours but they are beyond yummy! I added salt to take the edge off the sweetness and just a bit of grated black peppercorns which gave it a lovely spiced background.
Thanks for the recipe!
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So happy to hear it Erika - Happy New Year!
So easy! Thanks! Now if I can only get them to everyone without eating too many! I did have to make some without nuts for my aunt but I used molds and they came out great!
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Hi Susan, thanks for stopping by and giving a review! Great idea to put the candy without nuts into molds!
Hi,looks like an awesome easy praline recipe,could you possibly use a can of evaporated milk instead of whipping cream??
I've never tried that substitution so I can't say for sure. I'm sorry.
Just tried as toppers for my pecan praline cupcakes! They were awesome!!! I HATE making candy though using thermometers, tryin to get the temperature perfect... these came out AMAZING! So happy I found this!!!
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Omg1 The best and easiest I have ever made! Love them.
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I'm SO happy to hear this!!
Made these justnow after working all day, in a busy before Christmas grocery store. They are just as delicious as easy to make. Thank you!
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Lovely recipe! I only had whole milk on hand and subbed it for heavy cream, I halved the recipe just to be sure It would work for me with. This recipe was absolutely delicious!!
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My husband and I had some pralines from a little shop in Natchitoches, LA last year when we were on vacation. They were amazing! I came across this recipe and gave it a shot and I really think these are just as amazing! Plus they’re so easy to make! I did try a few other recipes, both required the dreaded candy thermometer and both were a complete fail! This recipe is the only one I will ever use. My search is over! 🙂 Thank you!
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Oooh, I've had those pralines at Natchitoches and wow - what a compliment that you enjoyed these as much!! Of course, I agree 😉 And you're very welcome!!
Incredible! I made this after a fail with a candy thermometer recipe. I had given up hope (so much hope that I even froze the rest of the heaving whipping cream.) When I stumbled upon this recipe, I defrosted the heavy whipping cream and decided to make one last attempt! Not only did they set up and turn out perfectly, they tasted just like the pralines I remember eating from River Street Sweets in Savannah, GA! Thank YOU for sharing this recipe! It's in my recipe box as my number one praline recipe!!
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Your success makes me SO happy!!
Hi there!! I’ve made pralines using your recipe the last 2 years ( thank you)! Because of COVID I’m wanting to mail my Mimi’s package since we will not be together. How long will these last. If I make and ship today they should there in time for Christmas.
They keep really well for at least a week, usually longer if in an airtight container! Merry Christmas and I'm SO happy you enjoy them!
Thank you and Merry Christmas!!
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These are the best pralines !! I’ve been making them using this recipe (exact) for the last 2 years, so very grateful for the recipe!!
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OMG! This recipe is amazing! Made 2 batches- they came out perfect! I'll never go back to the old "candy thermometer" recipe! These are so much easier and just as delicious! Thank you!!!