Praline vs Praline (Praline 101)
If you have connections in the southern states, you’re probably familiar with pralines. If you have connections in Europe, then you might be familiar with pralines. The two, both confections, are quite different. You might ask: “Why does it matter?”, “Does anyone really care?”, or “Why pralines? Why now?”.
The answer to the “Why now?” question is a simple one: June 24th is National Pralines Day in the United States. National Pralines Day celebrates the Southern variety of praline… a confection made primarily of nuts such as pecans, sugar and heavy cream. They’re very rich and quite delicious. Being so simple, as least regarding their ingredients, they can be be finicky and difficult to make… especially (as most candies) when weather conditions are hot and humid.
The European style of praline is quite different from a Southern or American-style praline. In Europe, the word “praline” usually refers to a mixture of nuts (oftentimes hazelnuts) or nut powder and chocolate which is then often used as a filling for moulded chocolates. In Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and the United Kingdom, the word “praline” is used when referring to filled chocolates in general.
During the Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Years holiday season, our company usually carries a good selection of European-style pralines, many of which also contain liqueur, for example our Asbach® liqueur-filled chocolates. During past Easter/Lent/Spring holiday seasons, we sometimes have carried real, decorated hen eggs filled with hazelnut praline, as well as little foil-covered, chocolate ladybugs filled with hazelnut praline. Another example of a popular European-style praline is Ferrero Rocher®.
With National Pralines Day right around the corner, we’re bringing back our popular Pecan Praline Caramels… but only for a limited time. If you’ve been lucky enough to have had our Pecan Praline Caramels in the past, you’ll remember that we place candied pecans on top of our buttery salted vanilla caramel. By the time you receive them, the candied pecan pieces have worked their way into the buttery caramel. In your mouth, the smooth caramel just melts, while the pralined pecans add just a bit of crunch. The texture of the praline caramels is quite different than a pecan praline. The flavor is just about the same… to die for!
It’s been a few years since we last made our Pecan Praline Caramels; and because we’d like to encourage all of you to give them a try (and share them with your friends), we’re offering them at a reduced price, online only, through National Pralines Day, June 24th. The more you buy, the more you’ll save!
Find Cream City Caramels at the Following Events This Weekend:
Friday, June 24th
Brewery District Farmers Market
The Brewery District holds its first season of farmers markets every Friday night through October 28th. The market features local farmers, artists & makers, beer, food trucks, and music, from 3:00 PM until 6:00 PM. The market is located in Preservation Park, right next to Historic Best Place, under the historic neon Pabst sign. There is plenty of parking, both on the street and in the parking structure right across the street from the park.
Preservation Park, 925 W Juneau Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin