Make homemade praline candies in your versitile range or oven

If you want to make the most of your LG oven and range during the holidays, consider making old-fashioned pralines. It may be intimidating to make candy if you never done it before, but you can select from your choice of cooking recipes to make pralines either on the stovetop or in the oven.

While some prefer gas ranges for cooking delicate butter and sugar candies, LG electric ranges have innovative technology to ensure reliable heating. These ranges match the size of the element to your pot size, ensuring that it doesn’t overheat and burn. As you make pralines it seems that you need three hands to cook, stir and adjust the temperature. The angled controls on LG ranges allow you to easily see and adjust the controls, preventing distractions as you cook.

Try this New Orleans-style recipe adapted by the Food Network if you want to expand your range-top cooking skills.

New Orleans Style Pralines

Ingredients

2 ¼ cups of sugar

1 quart  of heavy cream

1 tablespoon light corn syrup

Grated zest of 1 medium orange

1 1/2 cups chopped pecans

Pinch of salt

1. Set up your workstation. Use parchment paper to line 3 baking sheets and place two small spoons next to it.

2. Begin cooking. Add the sugar, cream, corn syrup, and orange zest to a large heavy bottom saucepan. Simmer it gently and take care not to let it boil over. Use a wooden spoon or whisk to stir it occasionally, but when it begins to stick to the bottom of the pan sir it continuously.

3. Check the temperature. After about 20 to 30 minutes the mixture should be thick and light brown. A candy thermometer inserted into it should read 240 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the softball stage. Add the pecans and salt, then stir. The temperature will drop about 5 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Test the candy. As you keep stirring and simmering, the mixture pulls away from the sides of the pot and the candy thermometer should read about 246 degrees Fahrenheit. Drop a small spoonful of the mixture on the parchment covered baking sheet to test it. If the mound is rounded and not shiny, it is done. Otherwise, continue cooking.

5. Measure out and cool the candies. With the small spoons, measure out quarter sized mounds of candy and drop them on the prepared baking sheets. Let them sit undisturbed until they are cool and set, which is about thirty minutes to an hour. If they are still not set, humidity may be to blame so place them uncovered in a cool, dry area for up to 48 hours.

6. Store the candies. Place them in an airtight container and enjoy them within one week.

If cooking candy on the stovetop is not for you, LG ovens help you create a more simple candy. Like the ranges, LG ovens are built to circulate heat evenly so your delicate confections don’t burn on one end and under cook on the other. The Pro-Bake convection system has a heating element on the back wall, which makes it unique as most ovens have them on the bottom. The treats on the top rack come out as evenly baked as those on the bottom.

This Tasty Kitchen recipe is for Georgia pralines baked in the oven, making the process easier and more forgiving. This richer, but simpler praline includes butter and brown sugar. It also calls for toasting the pecans in the beginning to add depth of flavor.

Georgia Pralines

Ingredients

1 cup pecans, chopped

¼ cup butter

1/3 cup whipping cream

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1. Prepare the pecans. Preheat the oven to 350F. As the oven heats, chop the pecans and spread them on a baking sheet or in a shallow pan. Bake them for about 8 to 10 minutes until they are lightly toasted.

2. Cook the sugar and butter mixture. Add the brown sugar, whipping cream and butter in a medium saucepan and place it over medium heat. Bring it to a boil. Stir the mixture constantly and boil it for one minute.

3. Add the final ingredients. Remove the mixture from the heat and whisk in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. Stir the toasted pecans in and allow it to begin cooling and thickening.

4. Measure and cool the candies. Use parchment paper to line a baking sheet. Use a spoon to measure and drop the mixture on the paper. Allow the candies to cool and harden. This should take about 30 minutes.

5. Store in a cool dry place and enjoy!

If you encounter any problems with your LG range or oven, we’d be happy to help you resolve them. Please contact LG for more details.