Praline Pecan Clusters - melissassouthernstylekitchen.com (2024)

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ByMelissa

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These sea salted Praline Pecan Clusters are made in the microwave making them the quickest way to get your praline sweet fix in a snap. In it, premium pecan halves are cooked with butter, both granulated and brown sugars and a little cream, then finished with a sprinkle of sea salt. The hardest part about this recipe is waiting for the praline pecan clusters to set before they’re ready to eat! Invite a few friends over and watch these goodies disappear.

Praline Pecan Clusters - melissassouthernstylekitchen.com (1)

Easy Sea Salted Praline Pecan Clusters Recipe

Pralines are a beloved Southern classic. They’re made and enjoyed year-round and not served just for holidays although, they definitely make an appearance on sweets trays at Christmas and Mardis Gras. They’re made by boiling sugar and butter together with pecans then separated into sweet caramelized buttery clusters. This microwave version makes a fantastic small batch of homemade praline pecan clusters in minutes any time you like. Coarse sea salt adds the “salty” to the sweet and salty flavor combination that we love. How to make Microwave Praline Pecan Clusters in a 1000 Watt microwave: (Scroll down for full printable recipe.)

  • Line a large baking sheet with wax paper and spray lightly with cooking spray. You can also use a pastry brush to brush lightly with softened butter. Set aside.
  • Place the pecan halves, brown sugar, granulated sugar, heavy cream butter and sea salt into a deep medium-size microwave safe bowl. Reserve vanilla until the end of cooking.
  • Place into the microwave cooking on high for 6 1/2 minutes, stopping to stir halfway through.(Around 3 minutes.)
  • At the 6 1/2 minute point stop and stir make sure all of the pecans are fully coated.The caramel should be thickened and beginning to form along the sides of the bowl.
  • If the caramel is still runny, it needs to cook a bit longer. Microwave in additional 1 minute increments, if needed.
  • Allow the mixture to cool on the counter for 10-15 seconds then mix in vanilla.
  • Using a small cookie scoop or two tablespoons drop in clusters onto wax paper lined sheet pan.
  • Immediately sprinkle the tops with sea salt, if desired. Allow to cool to room temperature.
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How to Make the BEST Sea Salted Praline Pecan Clusters in the Microwave

  • Ingredients you’ll need to make homemade microwave Praline Pecan Clusters: Pecan halves, light brown sugar, granulated sugar, heavy cream, vanilla extract, sea salt and butter.
  • Kitchen tools you’ll need: Medium microwave safe bowl, measuring cups and spoons, heat safe silicone spatula, sheet pan lined with wax paper and a small cookie scoop.
  • Please note: This recipe is designed for a 1000 watt microwave. The cooking time reflects that and should be followed. If your microwave has a lower wattage, you’ll need to cook the sugar mixture longer. Likewise, if the wattage is higher, you’ll cook it for less time.
  • When making homemade candies, it’s not always a good idea to double the amounts for a larger batch. I recommend that you make these praline pecan clusters in multiple batches instead of doubling or tripling the recipe for the best results.
  • Prepare the wax paper with a light spritz of cooking spray or brush with softened butter to prevent sticking.
  • When choosing a bowl, go larger rather than smaller. The bowl should be deep enough to allow the mixture to boil, without boiling over and easy to move in and out of the microwave.
  • You can make the clusters into any size you like. I like to use a small scoop but you can certainly use two tablespoons to drop the pecan mixture.
  • Allow ample time for the clusters to firm regardless of the size.
  • If you like, you can omit the sea salt on top. It adds that sweet and salty vibe that makes them so delicious.
  • Store Sea Salted Praline Pecan Clusters in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
  • You may also like to try my recipe for Bourbon Praline Pecan Sauce and Praline Pecan Monkey Bread.

More Easy Desserts with Pecans to Make

  • ThesePecan Pie Barsare handheld pecan pie.
  • ThisPecan Praline Caramel Trifleis a show stopping dessert.
  • These deliciousPecan Pie Thumbprint Cookiesare impossible to resist.
  • Loaded Butterscotch Pecan Cookiesnever last long in your cookie jar.
  • EasyCaramel Pecan Sticky Rollsuses Hawaiian Sweet Rolls as a base.
  • Chocolate Chip Toffee Pecan Pieis rich and fudgy.
  • Maple Pecan Baked Doughnuts from Foodness Gracious.
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5 from 6 votes

Sea Salted Praline Pecan Clusters [Microwave]

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time7 minutes mins

Cooling Time30 minutes mins

Total Time11 minutes mins

Course: Candy

Cuisine: American

Keyword: sea-salted-praline-pecan-clusters-microwave

Servings: 12 jumbo/16 medium/20 small praline clusters

Calories: 198kcal

Author: Melissa Sperka

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 cup pecan halves
  • 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 3 Tbsp butter
  • 1/4 tsp coarse sea salt plus additional for tops
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla or rum extract

Instructions

  • Instructions for 1000 Watt Microwave.Line a large sheet pan with wax paper and spray lightly with cooking spray or brush lightly with softened butter. Set aside.

  • Place the pecan halves, brown sugar, granulated sugar, heavy cream, butter and sea salt into a deep medium-size microwave safe bowl reserving vanilla until the end of cooking. (The bowl should be deep enough to allow the mixture to boil, without boiling over.)

  • Place into the microwave cooking on high for 6 1/2 minutes, stopping to stir halfway through, around 3 minutes.The mixture will boil, so handle with care to avoid burning.

  • Once the mixture has cooked for the full 6 1/2 minutes stop and stir making sure that all of the pecans are fully coated.The caramel should be thickened and beginning to form along the sides of the bowl. If the caramel is still runny, it needs to cook a bit longer. Microwave in additional 1 minute increments, as needed.

  • Allow the mixture to cool on the counter for 10-15 seconds then mix in vanilla.

  • Using a small cookie scoop or two tablespoons drop in clusters onto wax paper lined sheet pan. You could also use a silicone baking mat.

  • Immediately sprinkle the tops with sea salt, if desired. Allow to cool to room temperature and set.

Notes

  • This recipe is based on a 1000 Watt microwave. If your microwave has a lower wattage it may take longer to cook. Likewise, if the microwave has a higher wattage, it may need less time.
  • Another technique to test the caramel: Drop a small amount into a glass of cold water. If it becomes firm and you can roll it into a ball between 2 fingers, it’s ready.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 198kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 80mg | Potassium: 63mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 239IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg

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Praline Pecan Clusters - melissassouthernstylekitchen.com (2024)

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