Praline Crunch Recipe
Discover the ultimate Praline Crunch Recipe that combines rich caramelized sugar and toasted nuts for a perfectly crisp and sweet treat. Ideal for snacking, dessert toppings, or gifts, this easy-to-make recipe uses simple pantry ingredients and can be customized to suit your taste and dietary preferences. Ready in under 30 minutes, it delivers an irresistible nutty crunch with warm vanilla notes and just the right balance of sweetness.
- Author: Julia
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: About 2 cups praline crunch 1x
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Prepare Your Ingredients: Chop your nuts into uniform pieces if not pre-chopped to ensure even caramel coating. Measure out sugar, butter, vanilla extract, and salt for quick assembly.
- Melt the Sugar: In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, slowly melt the granulated sugar. Stir gently and continuously to dissolve the sugar evenly and prevent burning. Watch for the sugar to turn a rich amber color signaling caramelization.
- Add Butter and Vanilla: Once sugar is fully melted and golden, quickly stir in the butter until melted completely. Then add vanilla extract and a pinch of salt to enhance and balance the caramel flavor.
- Mix in the Nuts: Immediately add the chopped nuts to the caramel mixture and stir thoroughly to coat every piece in the buttery caramel syrup, ensuring signature praline crunch and flavor.
- Cool the Praline: Pour the mixture onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and spread evenly. Let it cool completely at room temperature until hardened into a crunchy candy. Break into chunks or smaller pieces as desired.
- Serve or Store: Enjoy the praline crunch as a snack or dessert topping. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain freshness and crunch.
Notes
- Use a heavy-bottomed pan to evenly distribute heat and prevent sugar from burning.
- Work quickly after caramelization, adding nuts immediately to avoid hardening.
- Don’t skip the pinch of salt – it dramatically balances and elevates the sweetness.
- Cool completely on parchment to prevent sticking and ease cleanup.
- Store praline in an airtight container away from moisture and heat to keep it crunchy for up to two weeks.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons (about 20g)
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 30mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 13g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: praline crunch, caramelized nuts, sweet snack, homemade praline, crunchy topping, nut candy