Only two more days until our big open house and we have been busy finishing up yard work, some home improvement projects and lots of cooking and baking. I am so excited about our menu! We couldn't decide what we wanted for dessert, so we decided to go with a dessert buffet.
Along with the standard cupcakes and sugar cookies we are having pecan tarts, lemon bars, chocolate covered pretzels and my favorite--pralines!
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Easy Pralines
1 C. brown sugar, packed
1 C. sugar
1/2 C. half 'n half or heavy cream
3 Tbsp. butter
1 C. pecan halves
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
Combine brown sugar, sugar and half 'n half in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Heat to 225 degrees (continuing to stir) and then add butter and pecans, keep stirring until temperature reaches 236 degrees. Remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes. Add vanilla and beat mixture with a wooden spoon until thick and pecans are coated but candy still has a shine. Quickly drop by tablespoonfuls unto parchment paper.
-Instead of the vanilla you can add spiced rum or bourbon for a little extra kick.
Looks so good! I have pecan trees, and have never made pralines... I'll definitely make these this fall, now.
ReplyDeleteYou are so fortunate to have pecan trees! Pecans have been really expensive this year so these are the first I have had in ages. I keep hoping the prices come down again so I can have some again--especially this fall when it is time for pumpkin pecan muffins!
ReplyDeleteI understand why the pecans are so high... it's been tough to get a good crop with the weather going crazy like it has the past few years! The year Hurricane Ike, I had green pecans dropping like crazy, very upsetting. THIS year my trees are infested with Pecan Phylloxera which may or may not affect the nut production... you know I'm hoping hard for NOT, lol!
ReplyDeleteI agree tho that we're fortunate to have them! Bags of candied pecans make great Christmas presents. :) This year I'm planting muscadine vines and hoping for plenty of those in the future... making my home more "profitable", so to speak.
Pralines are my all time favorite candy! This recipe looks a lot like mine! Thanks for all the posts. I have been having fun going through them all! God bless!!
ReplyDeleteI have a similar recipe that uses the microwave instead of stove-top method. Easy to do but you must make these on a sunny, low-humidity day for best results.
ReplyDelete