How to Microwave Praline Candy

A praline candy formed in a candy mold.

Praline candy is a sweet and simple confection made from sugar, cream and pecans. Traditionally, pralines are made by simmering the ingredients on the stove, which can heat up your kitchen fast, especially on a hot summer day. Instead of using your stove, though, you can prepare pralines in your microwave. This technique makes the process of making homemade candy as easy as making rice cereal treats. Best of all, you only need to dirty one bowl.

Things You'll Need

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1 tbsp. butter
• Microwave-safe bowl
• Potholders
• Wooden spoon
• 1 cup pecan halves
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• Waxed paper

Instructions

1. Combine 1/2 cup of brown sugar, 1/2 cup of granulated sugar, 1/4 cup of heavy cream and 1 tbsp. of butter in a large, microwave-safe bowl.

2. Heat the ingredients on high for approximately five minutes and remove the bowl from the microwave using potholders when the time is up.

3. Stir the mixture with a wooden spoon and return it to the microwave for an additional five minutes.

4. Examine the mixture to make sure everything is completely melted. If the ingredients are not a uniform color and texture after stirring, return the bowl to the microwave and heat in one minute increments until the mixture is a uniform color.

5. Stir 1 cup of pecan halves or chopped pecans and 1 tsp. of vanilla into the mixture.

6. Drop the praline candy by spoonfuls onto a sheet of wax paper. The candy will harden as it cools and should be firm enough to pull off the wax paper and enjoy when it reaches room temperature in approximately one hour.

Tips & Warnings

• This recipe makes approximately 24 pralines if dropped from a tablespoon.

• You can pack the praline candy into candy molds while it is still hot to create shaped candies.

• The praline mixture is extremely hot when it comes out of the microwave. Be very careful handling the mixture because it could cause severe burns.

References

• "Guide to Microwave Cooking & Recipe Book"; Diana Williams Hansen; 1977