Johns Orange Praline Pecans Recipes

JOHN'S ORANGE PRALINE PECANS

Steps:

• Line 12 muffin cups with square sheets of waxed paper.
• Heat white sugar, brown sugar, evaporated milk, and frozen orange juice concentrate together in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over low heat; cook and stir until sugar dissolves, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir vanilla extract into the sugar mixture. Fold pecan pieces through the mixture. Cook without stirring until the mixture reaches a temperature of 235 degrees F (113 degrees C), 5 to 10 minutes; remove from heat immediately.
• Stir candy mixture until it begins to turn opaque and stiff but can still be spooned easily; spoon into prepared muffin cups.
• Cool pralines completely before serving.

ORANGE PRALINES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Spread pecans on baking sheet and lightly toast for about 7-10 minutes.
• Remove from oven and set aside.
• In large saucepan combine sugar, half and half, salt, butter and corn syrup.
• Cook over medium heat stirring constantly until mixture reaches 235 degrees on candy thermometer.
• Add orange juice and zest and cook until it again reaches 235 degrees.
• Remove from heat, add vanilla and stir for 1 minute.
• Add pecans and stir briefly.
• Working rather quickly drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper.
• Store in covered container.

ORANGE-SUGARED PECANS

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, water and orange juice concentrate. Cook over medium-high heat, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reads 238° (soft-ball stage). Remove from the heat; stir in pecans and orange zest. , Beat until mixture thickens and loses its gloss, about 2 minutes. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper to set. Store in an airtight container.

PRALINES II

Steps:

• Lightly grease the inside of a 4-quart saucepan. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper.
• Stir the brown sugar, white sugar, baking soda, sour cream, and corn syrup together in the oiled pan; place over low heat. Cook and stir continually until the sugars are dissolved. Wipe any sugar crystals above the liquid line with a pastry brush moistened with cold water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Do not stir once the sugar syrup begins to boil. Heat to 240 degrees F (115 degrees C), or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms a soft ball that flattens when removed from the water and placed on a flat surface. Remove from heat; stir in the butter, vanilla, and chopped pecans.
• Drop spoonfuls of the mixture 2 inches apart onto the prepared baking sheets. Press a pecan half into the top of each praline. Allow to cool completely. Store in an airtight container in a cool place.

JOHN'S PECAN-LACE COOKIES

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, heat sugar, butter, corn syrup, and a pinch of salt over medium, stirring, until sugar has dissolved, about 7 minutes.
• Remove pan from heat; stir in orange zest, pecans, and flour. Transfer to a bowl; cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until dough is firm, about 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two large baking sheets with parchment. Drop dough by teaspoons, about 2 inches apart, onto sheets (6 per sheet); roll into balls.
• Bake until cookies are golden brown (they will harden as they cool), 9 to 10 minutes. Transfer cookies on parchment to a wire rack. Repeat with remaining dough. Let cookies cool completely.