Homemade Pralines Food

CREAMY PECAN PRALINES

Steps:

• Mix light brown sugar, granulated sugar, heavy cream, butter, water and salt in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until sugar dissolves. Stir in pecans and cook over medium heat until mixture reaches the soft ball stage, 238 to 240 degrees F on a candy thermometer. If you spoon a drop of boiling syrup into a cup of ice water, it will form a soft ball that flattens easily between your fingers.
• Remove pan from heat and stir rapidly until mixture thickens. Drop pralines by the spoonfuls, 1-inch apart onto parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Let cool completely until firm. Store in an airtight container.

NEW ORLEANS-STYLE PRALINES

Steps:

• Line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper. Have 2 small spoons ready for scooping. Bring the cream, sugar, corn syrup and orange zest to a gentle simmer in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally with a whisk or wooden spoon (do not let the cream mixture boil over). Simmer, stirring, until the mixture is thickened and light brown in color and a candy thermometer registers 240 degrees F (soft-ball stage), 20 to 30 minutes (start by stirring occasionally, then switch to stirring constantly when the mixture starts to stick to the bottom of the pan). Stir in the pecans and salt; the temperature will drop at least 5 degrees F to 10 degrees F.
• Continue to simmer, stirring, until the mixture begins to pull away from the sides of the pan (the thermometer should register 246 degrees F to 247 degrees F). To test for doneness, drop a quarter-size amount onto a prepared baking sheet: The mixture should hold a rounded shape and look dull; if it runs out flat, continue cooking.
• Use the small spoons to spoon about quarter-size mounds of the mixture onto the prepared baking sheets. Let sit until cool, set and dry, 30 minutes to 1 hour. If the pralines are still too soft to pick up after a few hours, let them sit in a cool, dry place, uncovered, for 1 or 2 days. Once dry, store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

PRALINES

Steps:

• Put 2 cups sugar, milk, and butter in heavy saucepan over medium heat. Cook to softball stage, 234 degrees F. When almost ready, caramelize the remaining 1 cup sugar in another heavy skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium heat, stirring often, so sugar does not get too dark. As soon as sugar granules are totally dissolved, turn off heat and carefully add a few spoonfuls of candy mixture to caramelized sugar liquid, stirring constantly and thoroughly. Pour all back into saucepan of candy and mix quickly with wire whip or cooking spoon. Remove from heat. Add vanilla and continue beating candy for 10 to 15 minutes or as long as it takes for candy to lose its sheen and begin to thicken. Quickly stir in pecans and, using 2 soupspoons, scoop small mounds onto papered cookie sheets. Let set. Store in covered tins.
• If candy gets too hard before it is all scooped, place in safe container and warm in microwave until of good consistency to finish scooping.

PRALINES

Steps:

• Place a large piece of parchment paper on a flat surface, preferably granite or wood.
• Put all the ingredients in a large pot and attach a candy thermometer to the side. You need to be sure the thermometer goes deep into the mixture. Turn the heat to medium high.
• Fill a bowl that's larger than the pot halfway with ice water and set it aside.
• Stir the mixture with a wooden spoon. When everything has melted together, start checking the temperature. When the thermometer reaches exactly 236 degrees F, remove the pot from the heat and stick it in the bowl of cold water to stop the cooking process. Stir for 45 seconds while the pot is in the ice bath to evenly cool the entire mixture.
• With a large spoon, start dropping puddles of the mixture onto the parchment. Make sure you're getting some pecans in every spoonful. If you feel like it, sprinkle just a bit of salt on top. Let them cool all the way. If you're in a humid environment, they might stay sticky, but put them in front of a fan and they should get dry.
• Store them carefully in a tin, and don't stack them very high-three layers max, separated by wax paper.
• Find this recipe and more in Duff Bakes: Think and Bake Like a Pro at Home ($27.50, William Morrow).

PECAN PRALINES

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment.
• Combine the pecans, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cream, butter, corn syrup and vanilla in a large Dutch oven fitted with a candy thermometer. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Cook until the candy thermometer registers 236 degrees F, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and continue stirring for 1 minute; the mixture will begin to thicken. Working quickly, carefully pour the praline mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and spread thin before it starts to set. Allow to cool and harden for at least 10 minutes.
• Break into serving-size pieces. Store in an airtight container.

PRALINES

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan combine the sugar, brown sugar, and cream and bring to a boil. Cook on medium heat to softball stage (238 degrees F), then add the butter and pecans. Continue cooking until hardball stage (245 degrees F). Spoon large dollops of it onto a silicone mat or parchment lined baking tray. The pralines will spread and crystallize as they cool.

PRALINES

Steps:

• In a saucepan heat sugar and corn syrup over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves. Boil until golden-brown and caramelized, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove pan from heat and carefully pour in cream. Mixture will bubble up. Stir in pecans until well-coated. Use a spoon to drop 2-inch rounds onto waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Let harden before serving.

NEW ORLEANS-STYLE PRALINES

Steps:

• Line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper (important to have these ready because you'll have to work fast when they're done).
• In a large saucepan, simmer cream, sugar, corn syrup and orange zest slowly over low heat, until reduced (watch carefully for boil over).
• Stir continuously as soon as the mixture starts to stick to the bottom of the pan(the mixture will become thicker and turn light brown as is reduces and the sugar carmelizes).
• Stir in pecans when the mixture reaches the soft-ball stage (240 degrees), and continue to stir until the mixture starts to pull away from the sides of the pan.
• Test by dropping a quarter size amount onto the lined baking sheet, and if it holds a nice rounded top (instead of running out flat), and if it is dull looking (rather than oily/shiny)it is ready (approximately 248 degrees).
• Use two dessert spoons to spoon out the pralines onto the baking sheets (one to dip, and one to scrape off) - they're hot, be careful!
• Depending on the humidity, temperature, and luck - they may be ready in about 30 minutes, but don't worry - it could take up to a day or two.
• Store in an airtight container up to a week.

WALNUT PRALINES

Steps:

• Combine sugars and milk in saucepan over medium heat. Stirring, with a wood spoon, do not scorch milk.
• Spray baking non-stick spray on cookie sheet or aluminium foil laid on top of thick towels.
• Once mixture boils, stir in butter, walnuts, spices and honey. Continue to heat, without stirring, until between 235 to 240 degrees F. (113 to 116 degrees C) Recommended you purchase a digital thermometer-great investment!
• Once temperature has been reached, remove from heat and let cool 5 minutes.
• Beat until thickened until liquid poured from wooden spoon starts to pour slowly.
• Immediately drop by one spoonfull onto sprayed cookie sheet or foil.
• Let cool and freeze in small bags of 3 to 4 per bag. THESE ARE SOO GOOD YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO EAT JUST ONE!

SOUTHERN PRALINES

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan, combine the brown sugar, cream, corn syrup and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Cook until a candy thermometer reads 230° (thread stage), stirring occasionally., Carefully stir in pecans and butter. Cook, stirring occasionally, until a candy thermometer reads 236° (soft-ball stage)., Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. Beat with a wooden spoon until candy thickens and begins to lose its gloss, about 4-5 minutes. , Quickly drop by heaping tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper; spread to form 2-in. patties. Let stand until set. Store in an airtight container.

PRALINES

Steps:

• Bring first 4 ingredients to a boil in a 3 quart saucepan over medium heat, stirring mixture constantly.
• Cook, stirring occasionally, 6-8 minutes, or until a candy thermometer registers 236 degrees (soft ball stage).
• Remove mixture from heat, and add butter (do not stir).
• Let stand until candy thermometer reaches 150 degrees.
• Stir in pecans and vanilla, using a wooden spoon, and stir constantly until candy begins to thicken.
• Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls, working rapidly, onto wax paper.
• Let stand until firm.

PRALINES

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• In large saucepan over medium heat, combine pecans, sugar, butter, brown sugar, milk and vanilla. Heat to between 234 and 240 degrees F (112 to 116 degrees C), or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms a soft ball that flattens when removed from the water and placed on a flat surface.
• Drop by spoonfuls onto prepared baking sheet. Let cool completely.

ANNIE'S PECAN PRALINES

Steps:

• Combine in a large pan the sugar, soda, buttermilk and salt.
• Cook briskly, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.
• Add butter and pecans.
• Cook for approximately 5 minutes more, or until mixture reaches softball stage (234ºF).
• Remove from heat and beat until just creamy.
• Drop by spoonsful onto waxed paper.
• Store in airtight containers.
• NOTE: If you put newspapers under the waxed paper, it is easier to remove candy without breaking.