Chocolate Pecan Pralines
Inspired by our visit to River Street Sweets and Savannah Candy Kitchen in Savannah, Georgia, these Chocolate Pecan Pralines are loaded with rich cocoa flavor and the crunch of sweet pecans. They crumble and melt in your mouth in the most delightful way!
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time10 minutes mins
Total Time20 minutes mins
Course: Sweets & Treats
Cuisine: American
Servings: 24 Pralines
Calories: 200kcal
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 ½ cups light brown sugar packed
- 1 cup evaporated milk or half-and-half
- 6 Tablespoons butter
- ⅓ cup cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups pecan halves
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper and set aside.
In a medium-size heavy pot, combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, salt, evaporated milk, butter, and cocoa powder. Cook and stir with a wooden spoon over medium heat until the sugars dissolve and the mixture comes to a boil.
Continue to cook until the temperature reaches between 235-240 degrees F on a candy thermometer (soft ball stage). Remove from heat and allow the praline mixture to cool for 5 minutes.
Stir in the pecans and vanilla, beating by hand with a wooden spoon just until the candy begins to lose its glossiness and thickens slightly, about 2 minutes. If you beat too long, the candy will seize and start to crumble. If you don't beat it long enough, then pralines won't set properly and will stay soft and sticky.
Work quickly to drop heaping tablespoons (I use a small cookie dough scoop) of chocolate praline mixture onto the parchment paper-lined baking sheet. If the praline mixture begins to harden in the pan, add a teaspoon of hot water at a time and stir to keep the mixture loose enough to scoop and drop.
Cool completely until set and the pralines have reached room temperature. Store in an airtight container on the counter for 2 weeks or freeze for up to 2 months.
Calories: 200kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 65mg | Potassium: 104mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 118IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 1mg