Spicy Buttermilk Pralines
Pralines are a pretty easy sell. They’re essentially a small pile of sugar with some nuts mixed in, and how can you say no to that? If you aren’t sold yet, the buttermilk and spice added to these bad boys makes them pretty hard to pass up.
Ingredients
1 ½ cups sugar
¾ cup buttermilk
¾ tsp baking soda
2 tbsp unsalted butter
1 ½ cups pecan halves and pieces
¼ tsp Crystal Hot Sauce
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp salt
Zest of one orange
¼ tsp cayenne pepper (or Crystal Hot Sauce) to taste
Directions
1
In a saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, buttermilk, and baking soda. Using a wooden spatula, stir mixture constantly until it reaches 210°F.
2
Add butter, pecans, vanilla extract and salt. Continue to stir mixture until it reaches 233°F, then remove from heat.
3
Stir in orange zest, cayenne, and Crystal Hot Sauce. Cool for 3 minutes. If your caramel is still runny (not coating the pecans well), stir it for up to a minute until it becomes thicker.
4
With a spoon, drop your batter quickly on wax paper, non-stick foil or a silicone baking mat. Let harden.