Have you ever tasted something and immediately, as soon as it hits your tongue, you know it is familiar?! That’s how it was when I first tasted these bourbon pralines. I found the recipe in my grandma’s old recipe journal and bookmarked it to make over the holiday season. Into the first bite I knew I had had these before. I must have snuck one from my grandma’s kitchen as a child!
The recipe is one typed out from a typewriter and taped into a old recipe binder. Beside it she has the date of 1977 handwritten. And below it she has the same recipe written on a recipe card taped it. I figured the double recipe must mean it was a favorite. And now I can easily tell why.
These bourbon pecan pralines are out of this world!! They are perfectly caramely- and crunchy with enough bourbon to not be disguised and perfectly sweet for a holiday treat. Our plans were to give some of these away as gifts to close friends but between us sneaking into the candy jar and friends coming over and spotting them in our kitchen, they were quickly gone, but enjoyed none the less. Guess we’ll have to make another batch.
Bourbon Pralines Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups white sugar or pure sugar cane
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup buttermilk
- pinch of salt
- 2 cups pecans
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 1/2 ounces bourbon whiskey
Instructions
- Prepare two large baking sheets by covering them in wax paper.
- In a large dutch oven or heavy bottom pan, combine the sugar, baking soda, buttermilk, and salt. Place a candy thermometer onto the side of the pan (if you have one). Cook for 5 minutes over moderately high heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. The mixture should get frothy. Add in pecans, turn heat to medium low, and continue to cook, stirring and scraping the sides of the pan. Stir until the mixture reaches 238 degrees or until a small drop of the mixture forms a soft ball when dropped into cold water. It should take 30-45 minutes to reach this temperature. Stir, stir, stir.
- Once temperature has been reached, remove the pan from the heat and stir in the butter and bourbon then spoon out onto prepared baking sheet. Work quickly as you drop the candy mixture by the tablespoon onto wax paper (the pralines harden and crystalize quickly!). Let cool and harden, then store in a tightly covered tin can or tupperware.
Notes
oooh! I can’t wait to try these. I have some bourbon in my pantry that I’ve been trying to figure out how to use, and I’m picking up some more pecans from my parents’ house this weekend, so this will be perfect!
Perfect Katherine!! These are my favorite new Christmas treats. Hope you like them too!
It’s like you read my mind! I was just looking for a bourbon praline recipe! Looks perfect!
Oh I’m so glad Katie!! And this one is SO good. We’ve already made it twice. Make sure you have a good candy thermometer. Enjoy
Grandmothers make the best candies and cookies! Totally craving bourbon pralines now, Becky. I might have to make some for last-minute Christmas gifts!
Kate, did you grow up with these too?! Must have been a TX/OK thing!
I like the way your grandma thinks – bourbon and praline are MFEO!!
Salted or unsalted butter? Thanks!
Great question! I used unsalted but use salted if you tend to like more saltiness!
Wonderful heirloom recipe. Delicious!!!!
Thanks so much Debra! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas season!
Thanks for sharing this recipe! Can’t wait to try. After you add pecans and continue to cook and stir for the 30-45 minutes, I assumed you turned the heat down from the “moderately high for 5 minutes”? Thanks:)
Christi, yes, thanks for catching that!! Turn to medium low and stir constantly!
Dark brown sugar, golden brown sugar, lite brown sugar or white sugar?
Gillian, thanks for the comment! Regular white sugar works best but pure cane sugar also works. I’ll make that change to the recipe too!