Southern Sour Cream Pralines Food

SOUTHERN SOUR-CREAM PRALINES

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment. Melt butter in a saucepan over low heat. Stir in granulated and brown sugars, salt, and sour cream. Raise heat to medium-low, and cook, whisking frequently, until sugar has dissolved. Raise heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring frequently and scraping sides of pan with a spatula, until mixture reaches the soft-ball stage (240 degrees), 10 to 15 minutes.
• Remove from heat. Carefully stir in bourbon and vanilla (mixture will steam and bubble). Let cool, without stirring, for 2 minutes. Add pecans, and beat vigorously with a spoon until slightly opaque but still creamy, about 2 minutes.
• Drop spoonfuls onto baking sheet. (If mixture in pan begins to harden, stir in 1 teaspoon hot water, as often as needed; if it becomes runny, stir until firm.) Let stand until set, about 30 minutes.

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.

SOUTHERN BUTTERMILK BOURBON PRALINE DOUGHNUTS

Steps:

• Place 2 cups of the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on low until combined, then add the shortening and mix until worked in. Whisk together the buttermilk, egg and yolk, and vanilla in a small bowl and then add to the flour mixture and beat until smooth. Beat in remaining 1 cup flour until combined. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 6 hours.
• Turn dough onto a floured surface and roll to 1/2-inch thickness. Using a 3-inch round cookie cutter, cut dough into rounds. Using a 1-inch cookie cutter, cut hole from center of each round. Gather scraps and re-roll dough, cutting additional doughnuts until dough is used up.
• Heat 5 inches of oil in a large pot to 350 degrees F. Add doughnuts, 3 at a time, and fry until golden on both sides, turning once, about 4 to 5 minutes total. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels.
• When doughnuts have cooled, dip tops of doughnuts in the mixture and place on baking racks until the praline sets up slightly. Sprinkle nuts on top.
• Combine sugar, water, vanilla bean and seeds in a medium saucepan over high heat and cook until dark amber color. Remove from heat and slowly whisk in the cream, butter and salt. Return to the heat and whisk until smooth. Remove from the heat and whisk in the bourbon. Strain. Let cool until slightly thickened.

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.

SOUR CREAM PRALINES

Steps:

• Lightly grease the inside of a 4-quart saucepan.
• Line a baking sheet with waxed paper.
• Stir the brown sugar, white sugar, baking soda, sour cream, and corn syrup together in the oiled pan; place over low heat.
• Cook and stir continually until the sugars are dissolved.
• Wipe any sugar crystals above the liquid line with a pastry brush moistened with cold water.
• Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
• Do not stir once the sugar syrup begins to boil.
• Heat to 240 degrees F (115 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.
• Remove from heat; stir in the butter, vanilla, and chopped pecans.
• Drop spoonfuls of the mixture 2 inches apart onto the prepared baking sheets.
• Press a pecan half into the top of each praline.
• Allow to cool completely.
• Store in an airtight container in a cool place.

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

PRALINES II

Steps:

• Lightly grease the inside of a 4-quart saucepan. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper.
• Stir the brown sugar, white sugar, baking soda, sour cream, and corn syrup together in the oiled pan; place over low heat. Cook and stir continually until the sugars are dissolved. Wipe any sugar crystals above the liquid line with a pastry brush moistened with cold water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Do not stir once the sugar syrup begins to boil. Heat to 240 degrees F (115 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. Remove from heat; stir in the butter, vanilla, and chopped pecans.
• Drop spoonfuls of the mixture 2 inches apart onto the prepared baking sheets. Press a pecan half into the top of each praline. Allow to cool completely. Store in an airtight container in a cool place.