Desserts | Holiday Baking | Recipes
ByMelissa Riker Updated
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It’s easy to make homemade pralines, even without a candy thermometer! Make this Microwave Praline Recipe in just 15 minutes!
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When I lived down in Charleston, SC I would love walking around the cobblestone streets of the market taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of my favorite city. From the beautiful sweetgrass baskets to the clip-clop of horses toting tourists on carriage tours, I can almost take myself back there if I close my eyes!
If we were lucky as we walked down Market Street they would have samples of pralines to try outside the candy shops…sweet, melt in your mouth pralines are one of my favorite treats and perfect for holiday gift giving!
How to make pralines without a candy thermometer
Today I’m going to share with you the easiest way to make pralines-no candy thermometers here, just perfect pralines in 15 minutes! I hope you love this easy microwave praline recipe! (full printable recipe at bottom)
- Mix all ingredients
- Microwave 4 minutes
- Stir
- Microwave 5 minutes
- Let sit 1 minute
- Remove from microwave and stir until thickens
- Spoon onto buttered parchment paper and allow to cool
Tips for best results
- Use a larger bowl than you think, the mixture bubbles up a lot in the microwave and you don’t want it to spill and create a mess in the microwave.
- Times listed below are for a 1000 watt microwave, which is what I had when I first published this post in 2013. In my current 1200 watt microwave, I use 4 minutes for the first time, stir, then 2 minutes, stir, and a final two minutes before letting it rest in the microwave for one minute.
- Bowl will be HOT when you remove it from microwave, please use caution!
- The mixture will thicken quickly as you stir after removing from the microwave. When the texture changes from shiny to more powdery you need to put the spoonfuls on the prepared sheet quickly.
Most Important Microwave Praline Tip:
I mentioned in the recipe but want to reiterate, this is not a recipe to pop in the microwave and walk away from. Doing so could lead to burnt candy which is no fun. Microwaves vary a lot and you need to keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn’t overheat and burn. But that’s about the most labor-intensive part of this recipe!
FAQs
What if my pralines start to harden before I can scoop them out onto the parchment paper?
Add a teaspoon or two of hot water to the mix, stir, and keep scooping.
How long does it take the pralines to harden?
This microwave version is usually completely set in 20-30 minutes.
How long do pralines last?
Keep these in an airtight container up to 3 weeks.
Why do my pralines have white spots?
The white spots are the result of the sugar recrystallizing and simply mean you didn’t stir the mixture enough during the cooking process.
Can I freeze pralines?
Yes, freeze in an airtight freezer container up to 3 months. Pralines are delicate and should not be frozen in a freezer bag.
Do you love pralines? Have you tried this microwave version before?
You might also like these fast dessert recipes:
- Microwave Peanut Brittle
- Peanut Butter Pie
- Christmas Crack Recipe
- Dark Chocolate Toffee
If you try this recipe, please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!
Easy Microwave Pralines
5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star
5 from 7 reviews
- Author: Melissa Riker
- Total Time: 14 mins
- Yield: 15 1x
Description
It’s easy to make homemade pralines, even without a candy thermometer! Make these Microwave Pralines in just 15 minutes!
Ingredients
Units Scale
- 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
- 2/3 cup heavy cream
- 1 1/2 cup pecan halves
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp salt (optional)
- 2 tbsp margarine or butter, plus additional for greasing parchment paper
Instructions
- Prepare a baking sheet by lining with parchment paper and greasing with butter.
- Mix all ingredients in a large microwave-safe bowl.
- Microwave 4 minutes, stir.
- Microwave an additional 5 minutes-times are for 1000 watt microwave, watch your praline mixture closely as time may vary
- Let sit in microwave one minute.
- Remove from microwave, mixture will be bubbling.
- Stir for 3-4 minutes until thickened.
- Spoon by teaspoonfuls onto buttered parchment paper and allow to cool.
Notes
- Use a larger bowl than you think, the mixture bubbles up a lot in the microwave and you don’t want it to spill and create a mess in the microwave.
- Times listed below are for a 1000 watt microwave, which is what I had when I first published this post in 2013. In my current 1200 watt microwave, I use 4 minutes for the first time, stir, then 2 minutes, stir, and a final two minutes before letting it rest in the microwave for one minute.
- Bowl will be HOT when you remove it from microwave, please use caution!
- The mixture will thicken quickly as you stir after removing from the microwave. When the texture changes from shiny to more powdery you need to put the spoonfuls on the prepared sheet quickly.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 9 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: microwave
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 praline
- Calories: 72
- Sugar: 6.2 g
- Sodium: 10.7 mg
- Fat: 5.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 6.6 g
- Protein: 0.5 g
- Cholesterol: 6.7 mg
*This post was originally published in November of 2013 and was updated with new pictures and additional instructions January 2021.
