How to Cook Pralines: Cajun Candy Recipe

Member

By cajunc
User-Submitted Article

Article Rating: (5 Ratings)

pralines are Cajun candy with pecans

Pralines are pecan candy from Cajun country, and after years of living in Louisiana, we developed a recipe that is easy to make and has an excellent flavor.
We hope you agree.

If you like Cajun cooking, there are more recipes in Resources below.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

1 cup white sugar
1 cup dark brown sugar
dash of salt
1/2 cup milk
a couple of tablespoons Karo syrup
a couple of tablespoons of butter or margarine
a teaspoon of vanilla
a cup of pecans (or more) walnuts work, too
waxed paper

Step 1

Mix one cup of white sugar with one cup of dark brown sugar and a dash of salt. Add 1/2 cup of milk, and bring to a boil.
Step 2

Cook to soft ball stage or about 235 degrees with a candy thermometer. This does not take long because there is not much liquid to boil down.

Once the candy is cooked, add a couple of tablespoons of Karo syrup--I use the light Karo--and a couple of tablespoons of butter or margarine.
Step 3

Let candy sit for 15 minutes or so off the stove to cool. Add pecans. Place waxed paper or plastic wrap on the counter top. Stir until candy is thickening. Using two teaspoons, dip with one and scrape the candy off the spoon and onto the waxed paper with the other one.
Step 4

Test the first piece of candy and see that it does not run all over the waxed paper. If the candy is too thin, stir until cooler. If it is too thick and you cannot get the drops off the spoon, add a tablespoon of water and put it back on the fire until it is boiling again.
Step 5

Follow this process until you get the candy to make smooth mounds on the paper. They should not be thin and shiny, and should not be rough and hard. They may be shiny once you drop the candy, but as soon as it cools, it should turn dull. "Sha, dat's good."