Texas Pralines

 "Chewy Texas pralines we make every year for Christmas! Delicious!"  Original recipe yield: 56 pralines.

INGREDIENTS:

nonstick cooking spray
2 cups white sugar
2 cups light corn syrup
1 pound butter
2 cups heavy cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
8 cups pecans

DIRECTIONS:

Line 2 baking sheets with aluminum foil. Coat with nonstick cooking spray.
In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar and corn syrup. Heat to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Remove from heat, and stir in butter until melted. Gradually stir in cream. Return to heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until temperature reaches 242 degrees F (116 degrees C). Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla and pecans.
Drop by spoonful onto prepared pans. Cool completely, then wrap with plastic.

Yummy Pecan Pralines

 "Pecans are cooked to the soft ball stage with brown sugar, white sugar, evaporated milk and butter and then beaten and poured on a slab to firm up in these sweet, chewy candies."  Original recipe yield: 20 pralines.

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup evaporated milk
2 tablespoons butter
1 1/4 cups pecan halves
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

Generously grease a large slab or baking sheet.
In a saucepan over medium heat, combine brown sugar, white sugar and milk. Bring to a boil. Stir in butter, pecans and vanilla. Heat, without stirring, to between 234 and 240 degrees F (112 to 116 degrees C), or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms a soft ball that flattens when removed from the water and placed on a flat surface. Remove from heat and let cool 5 minutes.
Beat until thickened, then pour immediately onto prepared surface and let rest until firm and completely cool before cutting.