Creamy brown sugar pecan candy patties
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
20 min
Total Time
30 min
Servings
24
24 pralines
Difficulty
Medium
Cost
Moderate
$$
Creamy brown sugar pecan candy patties
Buttery, melt-in-your-mouth pecan pralines with a creamy brown sugar base. The signature candy of the French Quarter, sold on every street corner.
10m
Prep Time
20m
Cook Time
30m
Total Time
24
Servings
Medium
Difficulty
Moderate $$
Cost
(Updated )
New Orleans pralines are nothing like the crunchy European version—they're creamy, crumbly, and loaded with toasted pecans. One bite and you're standing on Bourbon Street.
Combine both sugars and cream in a heavy saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring until sugars dissolve.
Add butter and bring to a boil. Cook until a candy thermometer reads 236°F (soft-ball stage).
Remove from heat, add vanilla and pecans, and stir vigorously for 2-3 minutes until mixture begins to thicken and turn opaque.
Working quickly, drop by spoonfuls onto parchment-lined baking sheets, forming 3-inch patties.
Let cool completely until set, about 20 minutes. The pralines should be creamy and slightly crumbly.
Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream
Dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with chocolate sauce before serving
Produces equally creamy pralines
Not traditional but both make delicious pralines
Test Kitchen Pick
Vanilla Extract
Helpful Pantry Staple
For baking and desserts, vanilla is often carrying more aroma than people expect. A better bottle gives the whole recipe a cleaner finish.
This is a small pantry move that usually makes baked goods taste more complete.
Vanilla extract is one of the easiest pantry upgrades to keep using.
Shop vanilla extract for this recipeWork fast once you start spooning—the mixture sets quickly and becomes too thick to drop.
If the mixture sets in the pot, add a tablespoon of hot water and stir over low heat to re-soften.
Store in a single layer in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 weeks.
Serve at room temperature. Not typically reheated.
Per serving (10mg) · 24 servings
A light, low-calorie option · based on a 2,000 cal daily diet
Nutritional values are approximate and may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.
Sarah Chen is a professional recipe developer and food editor with over a decade of experience in test kitchens and food media. She trained at the Culinary Institute of America before spending six years developing and testing recipes for national food publications, where she honed her ability to translate restaurant techniques into approachable home cooking. At RecipePool, Sarah leads recipe development, ensuring every dish is tested at least three times for clarity, accuracy, and genuine deliciousness. When she is not in the kitchen, she is browsing farmers markets and collecting vintage cookbooks.
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