Bourbon Pralines Recipes

BOURBON PECAN PRALINES

Steps:

• Grease 2 baking sheets; set aside. In a large heavy saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in sugars, then the cream; cook and stir until mixture comes to a boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until a candy thermometer reads 236° (soft-ball stage), about 20 minutes. , Remove from the heat; stir in the pecan halves, chopped pecans and bourbon. Immediately drop by tablespoonfuls onto prepared baking sheets. Let stand until pralines are set and no longer glossy. Store in an airtight container.

BOURBON PRALINE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-inch springform pan, then line the bottom and sides with parchment paper and butter the paper. Wrap the outside of the pan with foil.
• Make the praline layer: Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the brown sugar, corn syrup, kosher salt and vanilla. Spread in the prepared pan and scatter the pecans on top; set aside.
• Make the cake: Whisk the flour, baking soda, nutmeg and fine salt in a large bowl. Whisk the buttermilk and bourbon in another bowl.
• Beat the butter and granulated sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy, 10 minutes. With the mixer on low, beat in the eggs, one at a time. Add the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the buttermilk mixture, starting and ending with flour. Fold in the pecans.
• Pour the batter into the pan and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Cool on a rack, 30 minutes. Remove the springform ring, invert the cake onto a plate and remove the paper. Serve with ice cream.

BOURBON PRALINES

Steps:

• Combine first 5 ingredients in a heavy saucepan; cook over low heat, stirring gently until sugar dissolves. Add pecans; cover and cook over medium heat 2 to 3 minutes to wash down sugar crystals down from side of the pan.
• Uncover and cook without stirring to soft ball stage or until candy thermometer reads 235°F.
• Remove from heat and stir in baking soda; beat with a wooden spoon just until the mixture starts to thicken (5 to 8 minutes).
• Working rapidly, drop by tablespoonfuls onto greased wax paper; let stand until firm.

BOURBON PRALINES

Steps:

• Line 2 baking pans with parchment paper; set aside. In a 4-quart saucepan, combine buttermilk, baking soda, and sugar. Over medium-high heat, bring to a rolling boil, stirring constantly. To prevent crystals from forming, brush sides of pan with cold water.
• Cook, stirring constantly, until a candy thermometer registers 240 degrees (soft-ball stage), about 15 minutes. Remove from heat. Add butter and bourbon; stir with a wooden spoon until butter has melted. Stir in pecans; beat with wooden spoon for 30 seconds. Immediately spoon 1 tablespoon of pecan mixture onto prepared baking pan, forming a 2-inch patty. Repeat with remaining mixture. If mixture begins to harden, return to heat for 1 minute, scraping down sides and stirring. Let patties stand until set, about 1 hour. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

BOURBON-PRALINE BACON

Steps:

• In a 13 X 9 pan, mix the bourbon, vanilla and 1 T brown sugar. Add bacon slices, coating them in the liquid. Let them soak for 15 minutes (or up to 1 hour).
• Meanwhile, pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees place an oven rack in the middle. Lightly grease a baking rack and place it on a foil-covered baking sheet.
• Grind the pecans in a food processor or spice grinder. On a large plate or baking sheet, thoroughly mix the ground pecans with the cayenne pepper, cinnamon, and the remaining 1/4 C brown sugar (fingers work best).
• One at a time, shake the excess liquid off the bacon slices, and lay them in the pecan mixture, pressing lightly with your fingertips to make the topping adhere. Flip the bacon and repeat on the other side. (In the middle of this process the topping may begin to cake up. Re-mix it with a fork if necessary). Lay each slice on the rack.
• Bake on the middle rack for 20 minutes. Let cool slightly before removing from the rack. Serve warm or cooled -- and enjoy.

BOURBON AND PRALINE HAM

Steps:

• Score ham.
• Place ham in a large sealable plastic bag and pour bourbon over ham.
• Marinate for 2 to 3 hours (I have left it marinating overnight with excellent results).
• Pour off bourbon, reserving for later, and bake ham at 325 degrees for 2 hours.
• Melt butter.
• Stir in reserved bourbon marinade, maple syrup, brown sugar and chopped pecans.
• Bring to a boil.
• Pour glaze over ham and brush with a pastry brush.
• Decorate with pecan halves and bake for an additional 15 to 20 minutes.

BOURBON-PRALINE SAUCE

Steps:

• place pecans and butter in heavy medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat 4 minutes or until nuts are toasted, stirring frequently.
• Add 1/2 cup dark brown sugar and 1/2 cup cream; stir until smooth. In small bowl, blend 2 tablespoons milk and cornstarch. Stir cornstarch mixture into sauce.
• Increase heat to medium-high; cook until mixture comes to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil 2 minutes or until thickened, stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat; stir in 1 tablespoon bourbon, 1 teaspoon vanilla and dash salt. Serve warm. (Store sauce, covered, in refrigerator. If too thick after reheating, stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons milk.).

BOURBON PECANS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Simmer the bourbon in a small saucepan over medium heat until reduced by a quarter, just a few minutes. Blanch the pecans in boiling water for 1 minute ( blanching the pecans in boiling water is an old Chinese trick that makes them especially crisp), then drain.
• Combine the bourbon, oil, Worcestershire sauce, bitters, and sugar in a large bowl. Add the HOT pecans and toss. Let stand for 10 minutes.
• Spread the pecans in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Bake until the nuts are crisp and the liquid has evaporated, 30 to 40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Turn the nuts into a clean bowl.
• Combine the cumin, cayenne, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Toss with the nuts and serve.