How to Cook Pralines: Cajun Candy Recipe

Make pralines to share.

Pralines are pecan candy from Cajun country. This recipe is easy to make and has an excellent flavor. Use it to make batches of pralines you keep on-hand. Use Karo syrup rather than corn syrup to avoid making these praline overly sweet. If you have an allergy to pralines, this recipe works for other types of nuts, such as almonds or walnuts.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• Dash of salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 Tbsp. Karo syrup
• 2 Tbsp. butter or margarine
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 cup pecans
• waxed paper
• Mixing bowl
• Sauce pan
• Candy thermometer
• Wooden spoon

1. Mix the sugars together in a mixing bowl using a wooden spoon. Add the salt. Add the milk and bring the mixture to a boil.

2. Cook until the mixture reads 235 degrees with a candy thermometer. This does not take long as there is not much liquid to boil down.

3. Add the Karo syrup and butter or margarine.

4. Let the candy sit for 15 minutes off the stove to cool. Place waxed paper or plastic wrap on the counter top.

5. Add the pecans. Stir until the candy is thickening. Test the first piece of candy and see that it does not run all over the waxed paper, using two teaspoons. Dip with one spoon and scrape the candy off the other spoon and onto 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.

6. Follow this process until you get the pecans 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 they cool, the pecans should turn dull.

Tips & Warnings

• This recipe allows for error -- if you overcook or undercook, make it edible by returning it to the stove.

• If the candy is thin and undercooked, do not add water -- just boil again. If it is too thick and overcooked, add water and boil again.

References

• FoodNetwork.com; Pralines Recipe; Paula Deen