These Mexican pralines are a super rich and decadent kind of homemade candy that only take 10 minutes to prepare! They are sweet, creamy, and loaded with delicious pecans! Not to mention, this beginner-friendly recipe is super easy to make!
Easy Mexican Pralines Recipe
If you've never tried pralines before, they are an extremely popular confection in the South. There are actually a handful of different varieties of pralines, depending on where in the world you are!
These specific pecan pralines have a texture that is extremely similar to fudge, are very sweet, and are ready to eat in about 10 minutes! Don't worry about difficult techniques or needing a candy thermometer, this recipe is totally beginner-friendly!
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🥘 Mexican Pralines Ingredients
These pecan pralines have a very simple ingredient list! If you don't already have everything at home, you can easily find these items during a quick grocery trip!
- Brown Sugar - 2 cups of light brown sugar, packed.
- Butter - 1 cup of butter that is softened at room temperature.
- Half & Half - ¼ cup of half & half. I really recommend using the half & half as opposed to substituting it for milk.
- Confectioners' Sugar - 2½ cups of confectioners' sugar (or powdered sugar).
- Vanilla - 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract.
- Pecans - 1½ cups of chopped pecans. If you only have pecan halves, you can easily give them a rough chop with a sharp knife!
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
🔪 How To Make Mexican Pralines
The key to making perfect Mexican pralines is to bring your candy to a full boil and cook for exactly one minute before removing it from the heat! To get started, go ahead and get a couple of baking sheets, some parchment paper, a large saucepan, a silicone spoon or whisk, and a tablespoon for scooping!
This recipe will make approximately 30 pralines, depending on how heaping your scoops are!
Mix & Boil Candy
- Prepare. Prepare 2 baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper and then lightly spritzing them with nonstick cooking spray.
- Combine. In a large saucepan, mix together 2 cups of brown sugar, 1 cup of butter, and ¼ cup of half & half, and bring the mixture to a full rolling boil.
- Cook. Cook, stirring continuously, for 1 FULL minute, and then remove the mixture from the heat.
- Add remaining ingredients. Whisk in 2½ cups of confectioners' sugar and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract until smooth. Then, stir in 1½ cups of chopped pecans.
Portion & Set The Mexican Pralines Candy
- Scoop. Use a tablespoon to drop rounded scoops onto the prepared baking sheets (there will be about 30 in total).
- Set. Allow the candy to harden and set before serving.
Serve these Mexican pralines just how they are or with a cool glass of milk (they even make fantastic gifts!) Try out some of my other Mexican desserts for a really delicious dessert lineup! Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
- Timing is everything! Once your mixture gets to a full rolling boil, let it boil (while stirring) for exactly one minute (set a timer)! If you don't cook the mixture for long enough, your candy won't be able to set. However, if you cook it for too long, it becomes dry.
- My pralines were set and ready to go in just a few minutes. However, this can vary based on humidity. Your candy should take no more than 30 minutes to fully set.
- This recipe is quick, so make sure you have everything you need ready to go before getting started.
- If necessary, spritz your tablespoon with cooking spray to make it easier to scoop out the candy without it sticking!
🥡 Storing
Make sure your pralines are completely cool and set before storing them in a sealed container at room temperature for up to a week (if they last that long)!
To freeze, wrap your pralines in aluminum foil and then place them into a Ziploc freezer-safe bag. They can be frozen for up to 2 months, just allow them to thaw at room temperature before eating.
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❓ Recipe FAQs
This actually depends on who you are asking! The French version typically uses almonds, however, you will more commonly see pecans used in America. Of course, feel free to use whichever nut variety is your favorite!
The key to these tasty cookies is to bring the mixture to a full rolling boil and allow it to boil (while constantly stirring) for one full minute. If you don't boil it for long enough (or boil it for too long), you will have issues with your candy setting up.
You may have seen some recipes for pralines that involve using a candy thermometer to ensure that your mixture is heated to a very specific temperature. This is common in candy-making! However, this super simple recipe does not need a candy thermometer! Just bring the mixture to a full boil and set a timer for one minute before removing it from the heat!
🍬 More Homemade Candy
- Divinity - An airy, old-fashioned candy that is popular in the South!
- Chocolate Billionaires - Pecans and Rice Krispies are coated with caramel and then dipped in chocolate!
- Christmas Nougat - This chewy nougat is packed with gumdrops for a festive touch!
- Tanghulu - Candy-coated strawberries are an extra special treat!
- Jello Grapes - Vibrant and colorful grapes are coated in sweet Jell-o mix!
- Chocolate Frosting Fudge - Rich and decadent fudge that is made in your microwave with only 2 ingredients!
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📖 Recipe Card
Mexican Pralines
Ingredients
- 2 cups light brown sugar (packed)
- 1 cup butter (softened at room temperature)
- ¼ cup half & half
- 2½ cups confectioners sugar
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1½ cups pecans (chopped)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Prepare 2 baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper and then lightly spritzing them with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large saucepan, mix together your brown sugar, butter, and half & half, and bring the mixture to a full rolling boil.
- Cook, stirring continuously, for 1 FULL minute, and then remove the mixture from the heat.
- Whisk in the confectioners' sugar and vanilla extract until smooth. Then, stir in the chopped pecans.
- Use a tablespoon to drop rounded scoops onto the prepared baking sheets (there will be about 30 in total).
- Allow the candy to harden and set before serving.
Notes
- Timing is everything! Once your mixture gets to a full rolling boil, let it boil (while stirring) for exactly one minute (set a timer)! If you don't cook the mixture for long enough, your candy won't be able to set. However, if you cook it for too long, it becomes dry.
- My pralines were set and ready to go in just a few minutes. However, this can vary based on humidity. Your candy should take no more than 30 minutes to fully set.
- This recipe is quick, so make sure you have everything you need ready to go before getting started.
- If needed, spritz your tablespoon with cooking spray to make it easier to scoop out the candy without it sticking!
- To store: Make sure your pralines are completely cool and set before storing them in a sealed container at room temperature for up to a week (if they last that long)!
- To freeze: Wrap your pralines in aluminum foil and then place them into a Ziploc freezer-safe bag. They can be frozen for up to 2 months, just allow them to thaw at room temperature before eating.
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