Southern Pralines Recipes

SOUTHERN PRALINES

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan, combine the brown sugar, cream, corn syrup and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Cook until a candy thermometer reads 230° (thread stage), stirring occasionally., Carefully stir in pecans and butter. Cook, stirring occasionally, until a candy thermometer reads 236° (soft-ball stage)., Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. Beat with a wooden spoon until candy thickens and begins to lose its gloss, about 4-5 minutes. , Quickly drop by heaping tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper; spread to form 2-in. patties. Let stand until set. Store in an airtight container.

QUEY'S SAVANNAH PRALINES

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment; spray the parchment with nonstick spray.
• Melt the butter in a Dutch oven, then add the sugars, milks and salt. Place a candy thermometer on the side of the pot, bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat and cook until it reaches soft-ball stage or 235 degrees F, about 10 minutes. Whisk in the pecans and cook, stirring constantly, until creamy and starting to thicken, 3 to 5 minutes; if it gets too thick too fast, add a splash of milk to loosen it up. Drop the pralines 1/4 cup at a time onto the prepared baking sheet. Rest at room temperature to cool, about 5 minutes.

PECAN PRALINES SOUTHERN STYLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Spread the pecans on a cookie sheet and place in the oven for 3 minutes.
• Stir and bake for 3 more minutes (Watch them closely so the don't get over toasted).
• Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
• Fit a heavy-bottomed saucepan with a candy thermometer.
• Over high heat, cook the cream, butter and brown sugar to 240 degrees (soft ball).
• If necessary, stir once to help dissolve the sugar.
• Remove from the heat and let sit for 15 seconds.
• CAREFULLY stir in the vanilla, bourbon, and toasted pecans.
• (It might spit and sputter) Stir until the mixture looks creamy and slightly thickened.
• Drop by tablespoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheet.
• Cool for 20 minutes.

SOUTHERN SOUR-CREAM PRALINES

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment. Melt butter in a saucepan over low heat. Stir in granulated and brown sugars, salt, and sour cream. Raise heat to medium-low, and cook, whisking frequently, until sugar has dissolved. Raise heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring frequently and scraping sides of pan with a spatula, until mixture reaches the soft-ball stage (240 degrees), 10 to 15 minutes.
• Remove from heat. Carefully stir in bourbon and vanilla (mixture will steam and bubble). Let cool, without stirring, for 2 minutes. Add pecans, and beat vigorously with a spoon until slightly opaque but still creamy, about 2 minutes.
• Drop spoonfuls onto baking sheet. (If mixture in pan begins to harden, stir in 1 teaspoon hot water, as often as needed; if it becomes runny, stir until firm.) Let stand until set, about 30 minutes.

SOUTHERN PRALINE PECAN CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 9 or 10 inch Bundt pan with non-stick cooking spray.
• Combine the cake mix with the frosting, eggs, oil, water and 1/2 of the pecan pieces. Mix until combined.
• Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 of pecans in the prepared Bundt pan then pour in the cake batter.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.