Homemade Praline Almonds

Praline almonds are a delicious and crunchy sweet, typical of many Italian regions, especially during holidays or fairs. Here’s how to prepare them at home.

Ingredients

• 200 g of shelled and peeled almonds
• 200 g of granulated sugar
• 100 ml of water
• 1 tablespoon of powdered cinnamon (optional)
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract (optional)

Preparation

1. In a wide non-stick pan, mix the sugar and water. Cook over medium heat and let the sugar dissolve completely without stirring too much.

2. When the syrup starts to boil, add the almonds. Keep the heat medium and stir constantly with a wooden spoon, making sure that the almonds do not stick.

3. After a few minutes, the sugar will begin to crystallize around the almonds, making them opaque and sugary. It’s normal for the sugar to seem dry and grainy at this stage.

4. Continue stirring until the sugar starts to melt again around the almonds, creating a glossy glaze. If you like, at this point you can add the cinnamon and vanilla extract to further flavor the almonds.

5. When the almonds are completely covered with a shiny layer of caramel, remove the pan from the heat and spread the almonds on a sheet of parchment paper to cool. Try to separate them as much as possible to prevent clumping.

6. Let the praline almonds cool completely. Once they are cold and hardened, they will be ready to be enjoyed or stored in an airtight container.

Curiosity

Pralining is a cooking technique in the confectionery field that involves coating dried fruit with a layer of caramelized sugar. The almond, with its slightly bitter aftertaste, is particularly suitable for this treatment, as the balance between the sweetness of the caramel and the bitterness of the almond creates a pleasant contrast on the palate. In the Italian tradition, praline almonds can be found during festivals and holidays, especially in those places where almond cultivation is widespread.