Easy Microwave Pralines Recipe (2024)

Posted: May 8, 2015 · Updated: Oct 12, 2023 · By Chrysa

This Easy Microwave Pralines Recipe takes only minutes to make and creates a delicious candy treat for anytime snacking or gift-giving.

Do you have a favorite nut? Pecans are definitely one of my favorites. I lovedit when my sister lived in Texas and she had a big ‘ol pecan tree in her front yard.

She would get SO MANY pecans from that one tree that she would have plenty to send to me. I had them stocked in the freezer!

While I now have to buy my pecans from the store I still love them and love pecan recipes like my butter pecan cake, pumpkin pecan crisp and, of course, these pralines!

What Are Pecan Pralines?

Pecan Pralines are a classic candy especially popular in the South. They’re a patty-shaped candy featuring crunchy pecans in a mixture including sugar, butter and cream.

They’re not too hard to make even the traditional way, but this microwave method is even easier. You can have them finished and ready to cool in about 15 minutes.

The hardest part is waiting for them to cool before you eat them!

Giving Pralines As a Gift

These pralines make a great snack and they look so special that they also make a great gift. Just package them in a mason jar or a cute tin.

Christmas Nesting Cookie TinsHallmark Home Holiday Round Nesting Tins3D Christmas Gift BoxesChristmas Holiday Round Nesting TinsOctagon Shaped Christmas TinsHoliday Snowflake Bakery Boxes

Personally, some of my favorite Christmas gifts are the kind I can eat!! As long as its something delicious (like this fudge is), it makes me happy to know that someone took the time to put their own effort into making me a gift.

Food gifts are even more fun when they are presented in a special way. While I am happy to take yummy treats that are just on a plain paper plate or packed in an old cool-whip container, it’s a lot more fun when they are bundled in pretty packaging!

I did a little bit of browsing and found all of the fun food containers listed above that are perfect for gifting your microwave pralines.

🧾 Ingredients Needed

• Brown Sugar
• Heavy Cream
• Salt
• Butter
• Pecan Halves
• Vanilla Extract

📌 Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full ingredients list with quantities and step-by-step instructions!

🥣 How to Make

Cover a baking sheet with wax paper and grease with butter.
Combine sugar, cream, salt and butter in a large microwavable bowl.
Microwave for 3 minutes, add pecans and stir.
Microwave 6 more minutes or until temperature reaches about 240-245, stirring every 3 minutes or so.
Let mixture sit for 1 minute before adding vanilla and stirring.
Continue stirring for 2 more minutes.
Drop spoonfulsof mixture onto prepared sheet.
Let cool.

If you’re lucky enough to have a source of fresh pecans still in the shell (like we did when my sister lived in Austin), you will still have to shell them, which can be hard work!

A nut cracker can make that a lot easier and quicker. It protects you from beat-up fingers too. This is a pretty cool option that is particularly helpful for cracking pecans:

How to Store Pralines

Store pralines in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks.

More Pecan Recipes You’ll Love

If you tried this Microwave Praline Recipeor any other recipe on my site, please please leave a 🌟star ratingand let me know how it turned out in the 📝commentsbelow. I love hearing your about your results and thoughts!

📖 Recipe