Pralines. It's That Time of Year!

Pralines

Few confections are so readily identified with the South as pralines–irresistible nuggets made of caramel and pecans. Different Southern cooks swear by a variety of recipes.  We tasted them all before determining our favorite recipe, a combination of white and brown sugars and evaporated milk.

History of the Pralines Recipe

This delectable Louisiana brittle candy dates back to 1750. Originally pralines were made with almonds–the preferred nut of the French–and was considered an aid to digestion at the end of the meal. However, the Creoles quickly found a better alternative in the abundant pecan and replaced the white sugar with brown. Today it's considered one of the paramount sweets in the South. In New Orleans, it used to be a tradition for young women to make pralines before going to a ball and then enjoy them with friends (and beau) at their homes afterward.