Buttermilk Pralines

Ingredients

• 2 cups dark brown sugar, packed
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups pecans, chopped

Directions

1. 1

   Butter the sides of a heavy 2-quart saucepan.

2. 2

   In the saucepan combine brown sugar and buttermilk.

3. 3

   Cook over medium-high heat to boiling, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon to dissolve sugar. Carefully clip candy thermometer to pan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until thermometer registers 234 degree F, soft-ball stage.

4. 4

   Remove saucepan from heat.

5. 5

   Add the 2 tablespoons butter, but do not stir. Cool, without stirring, to 150 degree F.

6. 6

   Remove candy thermometer from saucepan.

7. 7

   Immediately stir in pecans.

8. 8

   Beat vigorously with a wooden spoon until candy is just beginning to thicken, but is still glossy.

9. 9

   Quickly drop the candy from a teaspoon onto a baking sheet lined with waxed paper.

10. 10

    If the candy becomes too stiff to drop easily from the spoon, stir in a few drops of hot water.

11. 11

    Store tightly covered.