Butterscotch Pralines
A heavenly, melt-in-your-mouth Butterscotch Pralines recipe straight from my grandmother’s recipe box, believed to have circulated in a 1950’s home economics class.
I talk about pralines a lot around here. I make cakes with. I set them on top of cookies. I crumble them onto ice cream. I package them as neighborhood Christmas gifts. I am to pralines as Forrest Gump is to shrimp. But what I haven’t talked about, however, are my grandmother’s Butterscotch Pralines that she whips out each holiday season.
The recipe for these Butterscotch Pralines is also in my book, The Traveling Apron Cookbook along with the story about how growing up, there were ALWAYS pralines (several types), spiced pecans, candied pecans, sometimes fudge and chocolate covered something or other on the crystal platter in the corner of my grandmother’s kitchen for Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations.
Always.
And if you’re wondering if they’re always on a tray in the corner?
They are.
Always in the corner.
It’s the few times of the year where she made sugary desserts and indulged.
What makes these pralines unique is that they’re made with a butterscotch pudding mix. They’re rich and buttery with a distinct brown sugar flavor, similar to butterscotch candies but not overpowering thanks to the nuttiness of the pecans.
Handwritten recipes are not the norm these days when recipe sharing websites are so abundant, but I had my grandmother hand write her recipe years ago because I knew that one day, not only would I cherish the recipe, I would also cherish her handwriting.
Butterscotch Pralines
Butterscotch pudding mix is used in this heirloom recipe for Butterscotch Pralines. As my grandmother says "this is a can't miss recipe".
Ingredients
- 1 package (3.5 ounce) butterscotch pudding mix (not instant)
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup evaporated milk
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 ½ cup chopped pecans (or more if desired)
Instructions
Mix sugar, pudding mix, milk and butter in a medium saucepan. Cook until sugar is dissolved and mixture boils, about 3-5 minutes. Cook gently, stirring until soft-ball stage (234 degrees on a candy thermometer). Remove from heat and add nuts. Beat until thickened. Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper.
Notes
Added note from my grandma: “Do not worry if pralines seem soft. They will firm if left out overnight. This is a can’t miss praline recipe”.
Storage: According to Aunt Sally's (candy shop in New Orleans) pralines should be stored in an airtight contained and consumed within 3 weeks.
I encourage you to do the same.
These pralines look ready for a tea party! Each praline is so perfectly round. Did you do something besides plop down a spoonful on wax paper? Could you tell me how you store these and how long they stay fresh? Thanks!
Good eye!!!! Yes, I totally cheat. I plop them down in oversized circles, then right before they’re completely set, I use a round cookie cutter to whack off the clumpy ends. Press, pull straight up. I eat mine quickly so storing them in airtight containers works and they disappear like magic. When I give them as gifts, I layer them in parchment paper and also use a container with a sealable top. Aunt Sally’s (praline shop in New Orleans) says to eat theirs within 3 weeks. No way mine stick around that long. If I was wanting them to last more than 2 weeks though, I think I’d wrap them individually in saran wrap. Sorry for the lengthy reply!!!
we had a bumper crop of pecans here this year. so i had to make these for thanksgiving. this is a great recipe! my mmil used to make these but i had lost her instructions. soooo good!
I’m so glad you enjoyed these pralines!
My mother-in-law used to make butterscotch pralines but I lost the recipe. Since there are 2 sizes of mix, what size pudding mix do you use?
Oh Aimee!!!! Thank you SO much! This is the same recipe my grandmother and mother used and I can not find the little 3×5 card any longer… I was in tears!!! And then… I found you. Many thanks. I can’t get through the holidays without making and sharing these yummy treats!
This makes me so very happy and even more so because it is MY grandmother’s recipe. I hope they make your holidays so very special!
I was given this recipe 50 years ago in a junior high school Home-Ec class. I am glad to find it again after so many years. I’ve made these pralines before, and they were wonderful. I’ve just checked my pantry for ingredients, and will be able to make them again tomorrow. I am grateful for your time making Southern recipes available.