Authentic Southern-Style New Orleans Pralines Recipe (2024)

  • Candy
  • Desserts
  • American Desserts

By

Elizabeth LaBau

Authentic Southern-Style New Orleans Pralines Recipe (1)

Elizabeth LaBau

A professional pastry chef, cookbook author, and writer, Elizabeth LaBau has published more than 600 articles on baking and candy making.

Learn about The Spruce Eats'Editorial Process

Updated on 02/9/24

Tested by

Danielle Centoni

Authentic Southern-Style New Orleans Pralines Recipe (2)

Tested byDanielle Centoni

Danielle is a James Beard Award-winning food writer and editor based in Portland, Oregon.

Learn about The Spruce Eats'Editorial Process

Prep: 15 mins

Cook: 15 mins

Set Time: 30 mins

Total: 60 mins

Servings: 15to 20 servings

Yield: 15to 20 pralines

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Pralines are sweet confections made primarily of sugar, nuts, and butter. This hard candy is sometimes ground and used as filling in other candies, but it stands by itself as a delightful treat. Pralines are like a nutty version of fudge with a caramel-like flavor and designed to melt in your mouth, which is why they're so tempting.

In New Orleans, praline is an institution. Brought to Louisiana by French immigrants, the recipe quickly adapted to the plentiful amounts of pecans in Louisiana. Not only were the original almonds and hazelnuts swapped for the local Southern nut, but the recipes that developed also added cream or evaporated milk.

This Southern praline recipe produces sweet, slightly crumbly, brown sugar candies loaded with toasted pecans. It's important that the pecans are well-toasted so they impart maximum flavor and crunch to the candy. But more importantly, use a candy thermometer to make sure the sugar is cooked to the right temperature. Otherwise, you might end up with a gooey mess on your hands.

Authentic Southern-Style New Orleans Pralines Recipe (3)

what you'll need to make this classic southern pralines recipe

A Sturdy Baking Sheet
A Slick Silicone Mat
An Accurate Candy Thermometer

"Making homemade candy can seem intimidating, but this is a great entry-level recipe anyone can make. It's like brown sugar fudge with tons of toasted pecans to add nutty richness. The candies melt in your mouth and are great when crushed and added to vanilla ice cream." —Danielle Centoni

Authentic Southern-Style New Orleans Pralines Recipe (7)

A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1 cup granulated sugar

  • 1 cup packed brown sugar

  • 1/2 cup evaporated milk

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed

  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

  • 1 1/2 cups toasted and coarsely chopped pecans

  • 1/4 cup boiling water, if needed

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Authentic Southern-Style New Orleans Pralines Recipe (8)

  2. Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with aluminum foil and spraying the foil with nonstick cooking spray. Alternatively, use a silicone mat on top of the baking sheet.

    Authentic Southern-Style New Orleans Pralines Recipe (9)

  3. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the white sugar, brown sugar, and evaporated milk.

    Authentic Southern-Style New Orleans Pralines Recipe (10)

  4. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Once all is well mixed, insert a candy thermometer. Cook the candy, stirring occasionally, until the thermometer reads 240 F.

    Authentic Southern-Style New Orleans Pralines Recipe (11)

  5. Once the proper temperature is reached, remove the pan from the heat and drop the cubes of butter on top, without stirring. Allow the sugar mixture to sit for 1 minute.

    Authentic Southern-Style New Orleans Pralines Recipe (12)

  6. Add the vanilla extract and pecans.

    Authentic Southern-Style New Orleans Pralines Recipe (13)

  7. Begin to stir smoothly and constantly with a wooden spoon; the candy will begin to thicken and appear lighter in color. Continue to stir until the candy starts to hold its shape. It should still be easy to stir, but don't overdo it, as pralines quickly go from fluid to rock-solid.

    Authentic Southern-Style New Orleans Pralines Recipe (14)

  8. Once the confection has a lighter opaque-brown color and is holding its shape, work quicky and drop small spoonfuls of the candy onto the prepared baking sheet. Because the pralines will start to set in the saucepan, you need to spoon out the candy as fast as you safely can. If the candy stiffens before you’re done scooping, add a spoonful of boiling hot water and stir until it loosens, then continue scooping until you have formed all the pralines.

    Authentic Southern-Style New Orleans Pralines Recipe (15)

  9. Allow the candy to fully set at room temperature; it should take about 30 minutes for the pralines to harden. Store the pralines in an airtight container at room temperature. Enjoy.

    Authentic Southern-Style New Orleans Pralines Recipe (16)

Tips

  • You can line the pan with parchment paper if you prefer. Do not, however, use waxed paper for any hot candy as the wax coating can melt and transfer into the candy.
  • Watch the temperature carefully. If the syrup becomes too hot, the finished pralines may become grainy.

Recipe Variations

  • Although you need pecans to call this confection a New Orleans praline, the same recipe works well for other nuts. Simply swap the pecans for roasted almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios, cashews, walnuts, or even peanuts.
  • If you want to make a special praline for someone with a nut or peanut allergy, use pepitas or sunflower seeds to give the mixture that great crunch.

How Long Do Pralines Last?

Pralines will keep well for 1 or 2 weeks at room temperature. After that, the sugar will begin to crystallize and the candy will get harder and gritty. To ensure they stay fresh, proper storage is key. Pack them in an airtight container as soon as the candy hardens and use parchment or wax paper to separate layers. Avoid mixing them with other candies; some flavors may transfer and it can negatively affect the textures of both candies. You can also freeze pralines for up to 3 months but must ensure they're well packed in separate layers so they don't stick together. Guard against any potential frost as well because it will compromise the candy's texture. Let them thaw at room temperature before unwrapping.

What's the Difference Between Pralines and Brittle?

Made in a similar fashion and with common ingredients, pralines and brittle are closely related nut-filled candies. The main difference is the hardness of the candy. Pralines are cooked to the soft crack stage and should be semi-soft but not as chewy as soft toffee. The syrup used to make brittle, on the other hand, is cooked to a very high temperature until it reaches the hard crack stage, resulting in a much harder and "brittle" candy.

Almond Honey Nougat

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
145Calories
7g Fat
21g Carbs
1g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 15to 20
Amount per serving
Calories145
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7g9%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 3mg1%
Sodium 10mg0%
Total Carbohydrate 21g8%
Dietary Fiber 1g3%
Total Sugars 20g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 0mg1%
Calcium 30mg2%
Iron 0mg2%
Potassium 66mg1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

  • pecans
  • praline
  • dessert
  • american

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Authentic Southern-Style New Orleans Pralines Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are New Orleans pralines made of? ›

A basic praline recipe calls for brown sugar, granulated sugar, cream, butter, and pecans. Naturally, many other variations have cropped up, including pralines flavored with shredded coconut, rum, vanilla, chocolate, and peanut butter.

What is a creole praline? ›

In Louisiana, especially New Orleans, the name praline applies to candies made with pecans in a coating of brown sugar sold by Creole women known as pralinières. Even before the Civil War and Emancipation, pralines were an early entrepreneurial vehicle for free women of color in New Orleans.

Why won't my pralines harden? ›

Pralines won't harden up? Similar to the answer above, it has something to do with not reaching the correct temperature. Or maybe it's a rainy day. Or maybe the stars aren't aligned for you.

What are Southern Candymakers pralines made of? ›

Since 1992, Southern Candymakers pralines are made simply of fresh milk, cream, butter, sugar, and jumbo pecans halves the traditional way, each one scooped by hand to cool on a marble slab.

Why are my pralines grainy? ›

Don't Stop Stirring Until the Pot Talks – Here, she's referring to the step of cooling the syrup before dropping the candies to harden. It starts off very loose and liquidy. As you stir, sugar crystals start to form and the syrup will start to feel thick and grainy against your spoon.

What's the difference between a praline and a praline? ›

A praliné is a paste that is a mixture of nuts, chocolate and sugar. While in Belgium, a 'praline' is defined as a filled chocolate candy. Note that the term 'praline' is of Belgian origin.

Are pralines a southern thing? ›

Basic American pralines are made with brown sugar, granulated sugar, cream, butter, and pecans. Though they're popular across the Southern U.S., they're most associated with New Orleans, Louisiana.

What are the different types of pralines? ›

What different types of pralines are there?
  • Boilings: Filled with caramel, butterscotch, and like fillings, with milk products added.
  • Creams and fondants: Filling of sugar, sugar syrup, and more sugar, with flavorings added.
  • Croquant: Filled with a mixture of sugar and nuts.

Why do my pralines have white spots? ›

Why are there white spots on my pralines? The white spots are a natural process called crystallization.

Can you overcook pralines? ›

Pralines should be cooked to 236°F (soft ball stage) so that it is still pliable when it cools and so it maintains the smooth sandy texture typical of pralines. This is impossible to determine without a thermometer, and if you overheat the sugar, you are guaranteed to make pralines that are too firm and grainy.

How long do homemade pralines last? ›

Allow the pralines to cool completely, then store between layers of waxed paper in an airtight container. They will keep at room temperature, stored in a cool and dry place, for at least five days or longer. Pralines ship very well, so they make a good care package gift!

What is the secret ingredient in the candymakers? ›

The candymaker reveals that in the box with the “secret ingredient,” there is only a mirror: The secret ingredient in the candymaker's chocolate is that they put a little of themselves into the chocolate. All of the children decide to pursue their own interests instead of what their parents would have them pursue.

What is a New Orleans praline? ›

What are Pralines? A signature sweet of New Orleans, Pralines are unique candied treats adored by natives and visitors alike. Described as the nuttier cousin to fudge and known to melt in your mouth, pralines come in many shapes, sizes, colors and flavors.

Why are pralines pink? ›

In the 18th century, a Lyonnais pastry chef was apparently inspired by the rose gardens in the Rhône region and tinted his pralines in a similar pink in his copper-mixing machine. This proved to be a hit with customers and the rose-coloured praline tart was born.

What is praline filling made of? ›

It consists of nuts, usually almonds and/or hazelnuts, coated with caramelized sugar. It results in sweet and crunchy nuts. Pralines is the name of the whole caramelized nuts, but also the name of the paste prepared from ground nuts.

What is a praline made of? ›

What is a Praline? The praline is a southern tradition, commonly made with sugar, corn syrup, milk, butter, and pecan halves. It's a confection with a history as rich as its flavor. The praline's origins may date back as far as the early 17th century.

What's the difference between a pecan and a praline? ›

A pecan is a type of nut while a praline is a type of candy that is made with sugar and nuts. While pecans are the most common type of nut used in pralines, almonds or hazelnuts will work too.

Are pralines healthy? ›

Praline pecans are also a healthy addition as pecans contain vitamins and minerals, and are also free from cholesterol so you can much on them without worry.

References

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