Dad's Pecan Pralines

Submitted by CarolAT

"This is my husband's family recipe for making pecan pralines. He is asked every Christmas to make these delicious pralines."

 

• Ready In: 40mins
• Ingredients: 7
• Yields: 20 (2 inch pralines)

ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups pecans, halves
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1⁄8 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla extract

directions

1. In a large 3 1/2 quart-size saucepan, combine sugar, baking soda, buttermilk, and salt. Cook over high heat for about 5 minutes or until the mixture reaches 210 degrees on a candy thermometer. Stir often scraping the bottom and sides. The mixture will foam up.
2. Add butter, pecans, and vanilla.
3. Over medium heat, continue cooking.
4. Stir constantly scraping bottom and sides until the mixture reaches softball stage (235 degrees on a candy thermometer or spinning a thread).
5. Remove mixture from heat.
6. Cool slightly (about 2 minutes). Beat with spoon until thick and creamy.
7. Drop from a tablespoon onto sheet of alumium foil or wax paper. Let cool. Store in an airtight container.

Reviews

[Dave of Tucson]

Wonderful - Great Directions! just added a pinch of Cinnamon.

 

[Debtex]

Your dad's got it exactly right! I was searching Recipezaar before I posted my grandmother's praline recipe to make sure I didn't double post. This is the ONLY way to make pralines -- with buttermilk and white sugar. The smell of this candy boiling means Christmas to me and my family. One tip: try dropping them on parchment paper instead of wax paper or tinfoil. Less likely to stick.

 

[Chef Sarita in Aust]

Loved it. My mother ate almost the whole batch! It was very easy to make. I will be making these for christmas 2009.