Easy Pecan Pralines: A Simple Southern Favorite

One of the joys of life for me is giving and receiving handmade gifts.  The holidays certainly provide ample opportunity to be generous with your gift of time to others.  These easy Pecan Pralines are a truly southern recipe that is timeless, delicious, and guaranteed to be remembered long after the season has passed.

Learn how to quickly make easy Pecan Pralines, for a delicious and thoughtful gift for celebrating this season.  You’ll want to be sure to make and keep some for yourself as well.

These easy Pecan Pralines are to simple to prepare and require just four ingredients and ten minutes of your time. They’re so simple to make, and healthier than processed pralines from the store.

Follow along to see how to make them, as well as a few ideas for gifting and storing!

Easy Pecan Pralines

These easy Pecan Pralines are so much better than store bought.  Yes, I said what I said!  Here’s why you’ll love them so much!

Why You’ll Love them!

• So Simple! – This is really a method more than a recipe.  Just a few simple ingredients and you will be well on your way to a happy mouth.
• Perfect for gifting! – These easy Pecan Pralines come together so quickly and simply you can make several batches to have on hand for last-minute gifts.
• Nutritious! – Totally loaded with protein, healthy fat, and real food ingredients.

 

Ingredients for Easy Pecan Pralines

All you will need for this quick treat is light brown sugar, salt, evaporated milk, and some shelled pecans.

Tools to Use

This recipe comes together quickly and easily with just a few kitchen tools:

• Saucepan – you’ll want a good heavy bottom for heating the milk well and caramelizing the sugar.
• Wax paper – parchment or plastic wrap will work too, just spray them well for easy removal later.
• Silicon spatula – this will aid in stirring and removal of the candy for hardening.

Method for Easy Pecan Pralines

All you are going to do is mix everything but the nuts together in the saucepan over medium heat.  Cook until soft ball stage.  Soft ball stage is a candy-making term that is used to signal when the correct stage is reached.  You will know you are at soft ball stage when you drop or drizzle a bit of the caramelized sugar mixture into some cool water and it forms a soft, squishy ball.  Do not overcook to hard crack stage.

Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in the nuts.  Mix very well to cut all the small broken bits.  Drop by rounded teaspoonful onto the wax paper.  Top with a whole pecan if desired and allow to cool.  Voila! Easy Pecan Pralines!!

Storage

These can be kept in an airtight container for a few weeks.  I doubt they will last that long before being eaten.  That is why I usually make a double batch and store the praline candies in layers on the wax paper in a lidded 9×13 container.

Tips

You can easily double and triple the recipe by choosing the 1x, 2x, 3x feature on the recipe card.  Add your favorite spice such as cinnamon or even cayenne pepper for delightful flavor infusion.

 

Classic and easy Pecan Pralines are a traditional southern treat that has stood the test of time.  There are many reasons to look forward to the holidays and Pecan Pralines are on many peoples list of must-have candies.

Speaking of candies, these are not quite the same as sugared pecans, the gooey caramel mixture hardens around the nuts forming a hard, but creamy-smooth candy coating that has no trace of sugar granules or powder.  All that is left is smooth, creamy nutty goodness melting on your tongue.