Southern Pecan Pralines

Jul 10, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Candy confections Origin: Madagascar Vanilla: Extract Advanced

Old-fashioned Southern pecan pralines, just like the ones from the candy shop. Best with Madagascar vanilla (rich, creamy, classic); any pure vanilla works. Makes about 20 pralines.

Prep 10 min

Cook 15 min

Set 30 min

Total 55 min

Yield 20 pralines

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

pralines

1 ½ cups (150.0 g)pecan halves, toasted
1 ½ cups (320.0 g)light brown sugar, packed
¾ cup (180.0 ml)heavy cream
3.0 tbsp (43.0 g)unsalted butter
¼ tspfine sea salt
1.0 tsp (5.0 ml)VanillaGoods pure vanilla extract

Make it at home

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Instructions

Line a baking sheet with parchment.
In a heavy saucepan, stir the brown sugar, cream, butter, and salt over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.
Clip on a candy thermometer and cook, stirring occasionally, to 236°F (soft-ball stage), 8 to 12 minutes.
Remove from the heat, add the vanilla and pecans, and stir with a wooden spoon until the mixture thickens, looks creamy, and starts to lose its gloss, 2 to 4 minutes.
Working quickly, drop by tablespoons onto the parchment. If it stiffens, stir in 1 teaspoon hot water.
Let set until firm, about 30 minutes.

Tips

Test your candy thermometer in boiling water first; it should read 212°F at sea level. If it's off, adjust the target temperature by the same amount. Above 1,000 feet, lower every target by about 2°F per 1,000 feet.
Vanilla swap: use vanilla bean paste 1:1 in place of the extract for visible specks, or the seeds of 1 vanilla bean for each tablespoon of extract.
Best vanilla for this: Madagascar (rich, creamy, classic), or Mexican (spiced, warm, woodsy). Any pure vanilla works.
Storage: Store airtight in single layers between parchment at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make southern pecan pralines?

Plan on 10 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cooking, plus 30 minutes to set. It makes about 20 pralines.

How should I store southern pecan pralines?

Store airtight in single layers between parchment at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

use vanilla bean paste 1:1 in place of the extract for visible specks, or the seeds of 1 vanilla bean for each tablespoon of extract.

Old-fashioned Southern pecan pralines, just like the ones from the candy shop. Best with Madagascar vanilla (rich, creamy, classic); any pure vanilla works. Makes about 20 pralines.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 20 servings this recipe makes.

159 Calories / serving

10.3g Fat

17.0g Carbs

0.9g Protein

16.1g Sugar

Whole recipe (20 servings): ~3180 cal · 206g fat · 340g carbs · 18g protein · 322g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 159 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 30 min·1.8 mi·~3500 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 22 min·1.1 mi·~2200 steps
Moderate cycling 16 min·3.2 mi
Swimming laps 22 min
Jogging 16 min·1.3 mi·~2550 steps
Stair climbing 15 min·~1350 steps
Dancing 26 min
Bodyweight circuit training 16 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 37 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.