Praline Food

PECAN PRALINES

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients except the pecans in a heavy saucepan. Over medium heat stir mixture until it comes to a boil. Turn heat down to medium-low and continue to stir. Spoon mixture up on sides of pan to melt any sugar that hasn't melted.
• Cook until mixture reaches 238 to 241 degrees F on a candy thermometer or soft ball stage. Stir in the pecans. Remove from heat. Stir until the mixture begins to thicken and becomes creamy and cloudy. Drop onto parchment paper, buttered pan or buttered marble slab, using a spoon or ice cream scoop. Let cool.
• A viewer, who may not be a professional cook, provided this recipe. The Food Network Kitchens chefs have not tested this recipe and therefore, we cannot make representation as to the results.

PRALINE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F.
• Crush 50 wafers finely; mix with 1/4 cup sugar and margarine. Press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Stand remaining wafers around edge of pan, pressing gently into crust to secure.
• Beat cream cheese and remaining sugar in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add sour cream and vanilla; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating on low speed after each just until blended. Pour over crust.
• Bake 45 to 50 min. or until center is almost set. Run small knife around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim. Refrigerate cheesecake 4 hours.
• Microwave caramels and milk in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 min. or until caramels are completely melted, stirring every 30 sec. Cool slightly. Pour over cheesecake; top with nuts.

PRALINE RECIPE

Steps:

• Roughly chop the nuts of your choice. Set them aside. Grease a plate with butter or keep a parchment paper ready.
• Add sugar to a heavy bottom pan.
• Begin to melt on a medium flame.
• Avoid stirring the sugar. Swirl the pan as needed for even distribution.
• When the sugar begins to melt, gently swirl the pan as needed for the sugar to melt evenly.
• You can use a spoon to push the sugar stuck towards the edges inside.
• Reduce the flame to the lowest. Keep a tbsp of butter ready.
• When the sugar melts completely and begins to smoke, take off the pan from the heat. Do not allow the sugar to smoke up for longer.
• Immediately add butter and mix well.
• The mixture froths up and reduces.
• Add the chopped nuts. Mix well.
• Pour this to the parchment paper or plate.
• Cool it completely. Remove the brittle and break it to small pieces.
• You can keep the brittle in a zip lock bag or cloth. Cover the brittle well.
• Using a rolling pan, crush it to a small pieces. You can add it to a blender and make a coarse powder.
• Store praline in a glass jar and use as needed to top your desserts.

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.

HOW TO MAKE PRALINE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Place almonds on a baking sheet, and toast until golden brown and fragrant, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven, and set aside to cool.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Butter the parchment. Set aside for later.
• In a medium sauce pan, combine the sugar and water over medium-low heat. Allow the sugar to dissolve and once it does you can then bring the mix to a simmer. Brush down the sides of pan with a pastry brush dipped in water to prevent crystals from forming.
• Simmer without stirring until the caramel is deep amber in color, roughly 10-15 minutes.
• Straight away turn off the heat and add in the butter and almonds, coating them in caramel.
• Immediately pour the praline onto the prepared baking sheet. Be careful not to touch the caramel.
• Once hardened break into pieces and either eat as-is or add it to my Homemade Praline Fudge (COMING SOON!). Store the praline in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

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.

NEW ORLEANS PRALINES

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with aluminum foil and spraying the foil with nonstick cooking spray. Alternatively, use a silicone mat on top of the baking sheet.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the white sugar, brown sugar, and evaporated milk.
• Stir until the sugar dissolves. Once all is well mixed, insert a candy thermometer . Cook the candy, stirring occasionally, until the thermometer reads 240 F.
• Once the proper temperature is reached, remove the pan from the heat and drop the cubes of butter on top, without stirring. Allow the sugar mixture to sit for 1 minute.
• Add the vanilla extract and pecans.
• Begin to stir smoothly and constantly with a wooden spoon; the candy will begin to thicken and appear lighter in color. Continue to stir until the candy starts to hold its shape. It should still be easy to stir, but don't overdo it, as pralines quickly go from fluid to rock-solid.
• Once the confection has a lighter opaque-brown color and is holding its shape, work quicky and drop small spoonfuls of the candy onto the prepared baking sheet. Because the pralines will start to set in the saucepan, you need to spoon out the candy as fast as you safely can. If the candy stiffens before you're done scooping, add a spoonful of boiling hot water and stir until it loosens, then continue scooping until you have formed all the pralines.
• Allow the candy to fully set at room temperature; it should take about 30 minutes for the pralines to harden. Store the pralines in an airtight container at room temperature. Enjoy.

PRALINE POWDER

Steps:

• Grease a small baking pan.
• In a small heavy saucepan heat sugar over moderate heat, stirring, until melted. Cook melted sugar, swirling pan occassionally, until deep golden. Immediately stir in almonds and pour praline into prepared baking pan.
• Cool praline until hardened completely and break into large pieces. Praline may be made 1 day ahead and kept in an airtight container.
• In a food processor grind praline to fine powder. Praline powder may be made 2 days ahead and chilled 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.

FOODCHANNEL EDITOR

Steps:

• 1 Combine 2 cups of sugar and the evaporated milk in a large saucepan and cook, stirring over low to medium heat. 2 Meanwhile, heat 1 cup of sugar in a small saucepan until the sugar melts and caramelizes and turns an amber color. Immediately add it to the large saucepan of evaporated milk and sugar. 3 Cook this mixture slowly until it measures 239°F on a candy thermometer (this is the soft-ball stage). 4 Take off heat and add the vanilla, pecans, and butter. 5 Drop by tablespoons onto waxed paper. Let sit, and they will harden.