It's easy to make homemade pralines, even without a candy thermometer! Make this Microwave Praline Recipe in just 15 minutes!
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
Add a teaspoon or two of hot water to the mix, stir, and keep scooping.
This microwave version is usually completely set in 20-30 minutes.
Keep these in an airtight container up to 3 weeks.
The white spots are the result of the sugar recrystallizing and simply mean you didn't stir the mixture enough during the cooking process.
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:
If you try this recipe, please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!
Print
Easy Microwave Pralines
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 9 mins
- Total Time: 14 mins
- Yield: 15 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: microwave
- Cuisine: American
Description
It's easy to make homemade pralines, even without a candy thermometer! Make these Microwave Pralines in just 15 minutes!
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups brown sugar
- ⅔ cup heavy cream
- 1 ½ cup pecan halves
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ⅛ tsp salt (optional)
- 2 tbsp margarine or butter
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.
Keywords: microwave, praline
*This post was originally published in November of 2013 and was updated with new pictures and additional instructions January 2021.
Taf says
Use caution with what bowl you use... My "microwave safe" bowl melted from the extreme heat the sugars develop.
Will try again when I find a more sturdy bowl.
Pat says
First time making pralines. Couldn’t get any easier. I plan to crumble them up o top of my sweet potatoes for thanksgiving. Great taste.
★★★★★
Melissa Riker says
So glad you liked them!
Sylvia says
Perfection! I have an 1100 watt microwave. I noticed the cooking time for the 1000 was 9 minutes and 8 for the 1200, so I did 4 minutes, stir. 2-1/2 minutes, stir, and 2 minutes and final stir. They came out great! Thank you!
★★★★★
Melissa Riker says
So glad you liked them, they are one of my favorites!
Alice says
Fabulous!!!! 💗💗💗
★★★★★
Melissa Riker says
Glad you liked them Alice!!!!
Cynthia Bliss says
I worked out the calories on my iPad and it comes to 3290 for the whole recipe. That devided by 36 equals 92 calories a piece.And this depends on how you size them. If you make them larger than in the recipe then the calories will be more. At least you have the accurate calorie count so that you can make them and then divide by how many you get
I also made them with evaporated milk and they came out looking and tasting just fine.The calorie count was 2926 for the Evaporated Milk .364 calories less and less fat also.
★★★★★
Cynthia Bliss says
I used double cupcake liners in muffin tins to pour them into. I also used evaporated milk since I had a couple of cans that I wanted to use. ( I still have one can left.).I waited for them to cool and then put in plastic containers to store.
★★★★★
Yogesh says
Look delicious ??
★★★★★
Melissa says
these turned out great!!
★★★★★
princess says
Good recipe thank gosh I can make pralines
Lizzie says
Very few recipes find themselves onto my "love and make over and over" list, but these are the BEST! No fail and delicious each time!!
Melissa says
I'm so glad Lizzie-I love them too, I like to make them as gifts around Christmas especially! Thanks for taking the time to let me know what you thought!
Spezielle Eheringe erschaffen aus Gold says
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Beth says
I think I will try these this weekend.
Melissa Riker says
I'm so happy to hear that Beth-they were so much easier than the traditional method for me and my family LOVED them!
Vanessa says
Totally craving these now at 6:30 in the morning!
keri @ shaken together says
Love that this is a microwave recipe - adding this to my no bake Pinterest board 🙂