Praline Pecans
Flavor of New Orleans
In Louisiana, a land of creativity and spontaneous celebration, praline pecans are more than an indulgent candy, they are the lifeblood of New Orleans. This treat is a result of a Southern twist on a French-style candy that takes the earthiness of pecans and covers them in sugar.
With every crunch and pop, you experience various textures from nutty crunch to the glossy feel of the sticky sweet caramelized sugar coating. The recipe has a storied history that is easily envisioned while walking through the French Quarter.
Praline pecans are not just a confection, they are a cultural phenomenon that is beloved as a delight during gatherings and and a sweet symbol of Creole hospitality. While praline pecans primarily draw attention because of the candy itself, they are simple but yet the full flavor complexity is fairly deep.
Characters of Caramelized Crunch
What is it about praline pecans that keeps people coming back? It’s the process of turning sugar and cream, along with pecans, into a treat that is both rich and cozy at the same time. The freshly caramelized sugar coating has a delicate crunch that provides a great contrast to the buttery pecan flavor. The subtle flavor of vanilla adds just a hint of more flavor to the party.
This treat keeps you coming back for more mainly because of the balance between sweetening and saltiness. Praline pecans are great for sharing or just individually indulging! Whether you are alone or surrounded by a group of friends, the crispy and chewy experience stays with you and could lead to wanting to eat more!
Preparation and Cooking Times
Time-saving
Making praline pecans is time-efficient! Only 10 minutes to prepare – simply gathering the ingredients and getting the equipment set up. The cooking should only be about 15 minutes, caramel at that stage needs your focus!! When you factor in the cooling time, it does take another 30 minutes, but this is passive time! In less than an hour you can have a batch of praline pecans which makes this a great last minute recipe whether for unexpected guests or gifts!
Plan for Success
To achieve success with your recipe, planning is essential. You will “want” to prep and measure out all your ingredients before you get started as the caramel part needs your attention. A candy thermometer will be invaluable for monitoring the temperatures.
When you portion out your praline pecans on parchment paper you need to account for the cooling time, so they “set” properly. If you can plan ahead, what is normally a straightforward process, becomes a straight forward process and you will get rewarded with perfect praline pecans every time.
Praline Pecans Recipe
Standard Ingredients
If you want to make a truly authentic snack of praline pecans, there are specific ingredients required. The base is simple but particular:
Pecans (2 cups, halved),
granulated sugar (1 cup),
packed brown sugar (½ cup),
unsalted butter (4 tablespoons),
heavy cream or evaporated milk (½ cup),
and vanilla extract (1 teaspoon).
These ingredients give culinary magic to the true texture and flavor. The pecans provide the nutty depth, the sugars and cream caramelize for the coating, the butter provides richness, and the vanilla lends its fragrant touches.
Optional Ingredients
For those willing to change the flavors slightly or take it a step further, these are optional ingredients. A pinch of sea salt will give your praline the perfect sweet/savory contrast. Ample dusting of cinnamon or nutmeg will provide warmth.
Some even carry the fervor to use a dash of bourbon for a spirited depth! While these might be delectable choices, don’t forget that they are not necessary and are just an opportunity for you to express yourself without disrupting the overall spirit. Ease down on any solid ingredients to avoid overpowering the familiar.
Step-by-Step Directions
Getting Ready
Assemble your tools, such as a heavy-bottomed saucepan, candy thermometer, wooden spoon, and a baking sheet lined with parchment. Have all of your ingredients weighed out in advance. Getting good at mise en place, or prepping everything in advance, is a good idea because sugar needs precise timing, especially when dealing with molten sugar. Lastly, be sure to set up a cooling area where your praline pecans can set undisturbed, or be avoided so they hold their shine.
Making the Caramel Base
In the saucepan, combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, butter and cream. Turn the burner on medium and stir the mixture. Once the mixture is melted and combined into a syrup, attach the candy thermometer, and monitor the mixture as it heats up; at this time begin stirring and watching the syrup to prevent burning.
Your thermometer should read 240°F (your soft-ball stage for candy), and this time should take about 8-10 minutes. When your sugar mixture is bubbling, you will be able to determine that the sugar is caramelized by the delicious sweet smell wafting from your saucepan.
Coating and Cooling
Remove the sugar from the heat and add the vanilla and pecans, stir quickly but uniformly to coat all the nuts. While the mixture is still warm, drop spoonfuls of the mixture onto the parchment-lined baking sheet into little clusters. Let the praline pecans cool for a full 30 minutes, until completely firm. Once ready to enjoy, they should be glossy and crunchy.
Helpful Hints for Perfect Praline Pecans
Be Mindful of the Temperature
The most important thing to remember is to get to the soft-ball stage. Use a candy thermometer to prevent graininess or to ensure it doesn’t harden when you pull it off the heat. If you don’t have a thermometer, you can drop a little of the syrup in some cold water to see if it makes a soft, pliable ball. Using the thermometer makes it easy to get the signature chew that praline pecans are known for.
Be Aware of Storage and Freshness
Once they’ve cooled completely, store praline pecans in an airtight container at room temperature. They will stay fresh for about two weeks. Be mindful of humidity because they will lose their crispiness if the caramel is soft. Don’t put them in the fridge. If you are giving them away, put them in a decorative tin to remain fresh. Check for crispiness before serving as they lose their fabulousness when stale.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
Praline pecans have about 200 calories per serving (about 2 pieces). The calorie density is based on the sugars used and the fats that are naturally occurring in the pecans. Be mindful of how much you consume because this is a treat.
Nutrient Breakdown
For each serving:
Total Fat: 14g
Saturated Fat: 4g
Cholesterol: 15mg
Sodium: 10mg
Total Carbohydrate: 18g
Dietary Fiber: 1g
Sugars: 17g
Protein: 2g
As you can see, praline pecans are on the rich side, and I would suggest using portion control. On the other hand, pecans do have their benefits: healthy fats and antioxidant properties.
Serving Suggestions
Pairing Ideas
While praline pecans can definitely stand on their own, they are even better when paired with something else. They are especially good with a strong coffee or chicory blend coffee, reminiscent of the café culture in New Orleans. They pair well with many desserts, like vanilla ice cream or bread pudding, as the soft texture of the desserts complements the crunchy pecans. For savory pairings, you could incorporate them into a cheeseboard as a sweet alternative.
Presentation Tips
How you present a dish matters. It is nice to gently place individual praline pecans on little paper liners to display on a table for an elegant touch at a gathering. If giving as a gift, you can put them in glass canning jars tied with pretty ribbon to give that handmade look. You can even sprinkle crushed pralines over the top of vegetable, fruit, or other desserts for decoration, which makes all the difference in taste aesthetics and presentation.
Cultural Significance of Praline Pecans
New Orleans Heritage
The creation of praline pecans can be traced back to 17th century France and adapted as a French Creole classic in New Orleans. The classsic initially employed almonds as the nut of choice, but the pecan nut developed from the early economic agriculture of the region and became popular and prominent in praline making.
Street vendors and candy shops helped to turn praline pecans into an integral part of the New Orleans culinary landscape.
A Sweet Tradition
In New Orleans praline pecans are associated with a tradition. Whenever you share a praline pecan with someone on a special occasion, you remember that the treat is more than a sweet treat, but rather synonymous with shared experiences. Whether it is for Mardi Gras, weddings, holidays, etc, praline pecans symbolize a warm belonging amongst community. Praline pecans are still made in home kitchens and by candy shops today as a reminder of this tradition.
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