Chocolate Pralines, Mexican Style

These are the kind of pralines that you find at the checkout in Mexican restaurants. They are creamy instead of chewy like those in New Orleans, and the secret ingredient to make these creamy dreamy pralines…marshmallows! These are surprisingly easy to make and even quicker to disappear!

Original recipe makes 3 dozen pralines

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup evaporated whole milk
3 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
4 large marshmallows
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons butter
2 cups chopped pecans

  • PREP

    20 mins

  • COOK

    20 mins

  • READY IN

    1 hr 40 mins

Directions

  1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Stir white sugar, light brown sugar, evaporated milk, corn syrup, and cocoa powder in a saucepan and bring the mixture to a full rolling boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to medium low and cook, stirring constantly, until the syrup reaches 220 degrees F (104 degrees C) when measured with a candy thermometer. A small amount of syrup dropped into cold water should form a soft ball that flattens when removed from the water and placed on a flat surface.
  3. Remove pan from heat and stir in marshmallows, vanilla extract, butter, and pecans, beating the candy by hand until creamy and the candy begins to to set up slightly at the edges of the pan, about 10 minutes.
  4. Drop the warm candy by teaspoons onto the parchment paper; allow room for pralines to spread slightly. Cool the candy thoroughly before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 100 kcal
Carbohydrates: 14.6 g
Cholesterol: 2 mg
Fat: 4.9 g
Fiber: 0.6 g
Protein: 0.8 g
Sodium: 8 mg