Louisiana Pecan 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.

LOUISIANA PECAN PRALINE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Grease and flour a tube or Bundt pan.
• Sprinkle 1/2 cup flour over the pecans and raisins in a large bowl and toss lightly.
• Add baking powder and nutmeg to rest of flour and reserve.
• At this point I like to beat the egg whites to soft peaks and reserve. Then I proceed without washing the beaters. Cream butter and sugar in another bowl. Blend in egg yolks. Add flour and Praline Liqueur alternately, ending with flour. Blend well.
• Pour batter over the nuts and raisins. Mix well. Fold in beaten egg whites.
• Pour into prepared tube or Bundt pan. Bake in preheated oven for 3 hours. Remove from oven.
• Let stand 1 hour. Turn onto cake rack. You may wish to dust with powdered sugar for presentation.

LOUISIANA PECAN PRALINES

Steps:

• Place all ingredients, except pecans, in a saucepan with a heavy bottom and cook over medium heat, stirring until it comes to a boil. Then stir occasionally and cook until soft ball forms when a small amount is dropped in cold water. Add pecans; beat well until lukewarm. Drop by spoonfuls over waxed paper.

PECAN PRALINES

Steps:

• Cook everything over medium heat to 240°F on a candy thermometer.
• Remove from heat and beat till it starts to thicken. This takes a while, so you have to have good arms!
• Drop by large spoonfuls onto wax paper.
• Cool and wrap individually in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container.

LOUISIANA CARAMEL PRALINES

Steps:

• Place 2 cups sugar & milk in a lrg saucepan. Cook slowly, stirring often.
• At the same time, put other cup of sugar in a 2nd saucepan on low heat & stir till melted.
• Pour 2nd mixture slowly into the sugar & milk that should be read to boil & stir while adding.
• Cook slowly till a firm ball forms when dropped into cold water (238°) & remove from heat.
• Add vanilla, pecans & butter. Stir till mixture begins to thicken.
• To avoid sticking as experienced by the 1st reviewer using waxed paper which was given as an option -- drop by spoonfuls in desired size onto a lightly sprayed baking sheet or buttered cookie sheet (candies should set up immediately).

SOUR CREAM PECAN PRALINES

Steps:

• Mix together the sour cream, light corn syrup, molasses, salt, rum (optional) and two cups of the granulated sugar.
• Melt the remaining cup of granulated sugar in a heavy bottomed pot, stirring constantly until it is caramelized.
• Pour the mixed ingredients into the melted sugar at first slowly, stirring rapidly, so that it mixes with the sugar.
• Then pour the rest of the mix in.
• Much steam will be released in this process, so it is advised to wear a cooking mitten on the hand that is used to stir.
• Cook without stirring until the mixture reaches a temperature of 250 F (midway between the softball and hardball stage.) To accurately measure the temperature, calibrate and adjust your thermometer for you elevation.
• Place the thermometer in a pot of water and bring it to the boiling point. Note the reading on your thermometer.
• Apply the difference between the boiling point shown and the true boiling point of 112 F to the 250 F true praline temperature. If, for example, the thermometer shows the water boiling at 202 F, then subtract 10 degrees from the praline temperature of 250 F to get the reading of 240 F at which the praline syrup is done. Add the cleaned pecans all at once. Fold and mix the pecans into the syrup until thoroughly mixed.
• Drop by spoonfuls onto oiled parchment paper or onto an oiled marble surface. If you wish to individually wrap your fresh pralines, use wax paper.
• Do not use plastic wrap, as it will stick to the candy.
• Notes:: * Do not use "lite" or "non-fat" sour cream