The praline is a candy confection with nuts that today is synonymous with New Orleans, where the popular American praline was conceived. Although it is a French candy in origin, the New Orleans style is what you will find throughout the United States and in many parts of Europe as well.
Identification
Pralines appear in a similar shape as a cookie, though they are not completely rounded because of the way the mixture naturally falls. They have a medium brown color with lumps of nuts throughout.
Ingredients
Pralines are made from simple ingredients, including sugar, brown sugar, cream, butter, a bit of vanilla and pecans.
History
Pralines originated in France, where they were made from single almonds in the 18th century. When the recipe was brought to New Orleans, a handful of pecans replaced the single almond.
Significance
Pralines became an important product in New Orleans during the mid-1800s, when the black women of the city found that selling them offered an easy way to make money when few other opportunities presented themselves.
Consistency
Pralines come in various consistencies. These range from a creamy, fudge-like consistency to something harder and chewy, more along the lines of toffee or hard caramel.
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