Pralines

Total Time: 55 mins Preparation Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 50 mins

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
• 1 cup light cream
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 -4 cups hazelnuts or 2 cups pecan halves

Recipe

• 1 butter the sides of a heavy 2-quart sauce pan.
• 2 in the buttered pan, combine the sugars and cream.
• 3 over medium-high heat, cook and stir the sugar/cream mixture to boiling.
• 4 clip a candy thermometer to the side of the pan, and turn the heat down to medium-low.
• 5 continue to cook and stir mixture until it reaches 234°f (soft-ball stage); about 16-18 minutes.
• 6 remove from heat.
• 7 add butter, but do not stir.
• 8 cool, without stirring until temperature reaches 150°f (about 1/2 hour).
• 9 stir in nuts.
• 10 beat until candy just begins to thicken, but is still glossy (about 3 minutes).
• 11 drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper.
• 12 if candy becomes too stiff, stir in a few drops of hot water.
• 13 when candy is set and cooled to room temperature, store in tightly covered container.
• 14 chocolate pralines: follow above directions, except add 2 squares (2 ounces) finely chopped unsweetened chocolate to the sugar/cream mixture with the butter.