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 loved it 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!
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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 spoonfuls of 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 Recipe or any other recipe on my site, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it turned out in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing your about your results and thoughts!
📖 Recipe
Easy Microwave Pralines
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
- 2/3 cup Heavy Cream
- 1/8 tsp Salt
- 3 tbsp Butter
- 1 1/2 cup Pecan Halves
- 1 tsp Vanilla
Instructions
- Cover a cookie 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 heaping tablespoons of mixture onto prepared sheet.
Carolyn Mitchell says
Can you add dark chocolate instead of brown sugar?
Sarah Smith says
I have not tried this yummy sounding recipe yet. Before I do, what wattage microwave are the cook times for? Mine is 1250 watts Thanks
Annette says
Can I use white sugar instead of brown sugar or a combination?
Chrysa says
I haven’t tried it with white sugar, but if you do, let us know how it turns out!
Sally says
Do these have a creamy texture ?
Brenda says
This is the same recipe I have been using for 30 years, it is foolproof. Sometimes I substitute coconut for the pecans and make coconut pralines and they are wonderful.
Anette says
These look so good. Do they come out chewy like a caramel or sugary like a traditional praline? If they’re sugary could I add a little Karo syrup to make them more on the chewy side?
Faye Berthelot says
I used this recipe , cooked first three things on
stove. I thought it was runny . I just transferred
this to a glass bowl , put it in microwave. In a matter of seconds, it was turning into the best looking
pralines I have ever made. Be sure your parchment
Paper is ready
..
Donna says
Can’t wait to try this microwave method, but am concerned about putting a metal cookie sheet in there. Can you explain?
Chrysa says
No!! Do NOT put the cookie sheet in the microwave! Per the instructions, combine the ingredients in a large microwavable bowl before cooking in the microwave. The baking sheet with wax paper or parchment paper is where you put the melted ingredients to cool into shape.