Best Mrs Wilkes Praline Cookies Recipes

MISS BROWN'S PRALINE COOKIES

Steps:

• For the cookies: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
• Arrange the chopped pecans on half of the prepared baking sheet and place the pecan halves on the other half. Bake the pecans until toasted, about 10 minutes. When done, set aside to cool, keeping the chopped pecans and pecan halves separate.
• In a large bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar with an electric mixer. Add 1 egg at a time, beating to combine, then add the vanilla and mix well. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture in 2 batches, beating well to combine. Fold in the toasted chopped pecans.
• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. With an ice-cream scoop, scoop 1 1/2-tablespoon rounds of dough onto the prepared baking sheets (making sure you leave at least 1 inch of space between each). Cover and chill the dough for at least 1 hour and up to overnight. Chilling the dough helps prevent it from spreading during baking.
• After your dough chills for at least an hour, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Allow the dough to sit at room temperature for 5 minutes, then bake the cookies until slightly golden brown around the edges, 11 to 12 minutes (12 to 13 minutes for crispier cookies). Add a pecan half to the middle of each cookie and cool to room temperature.
• For the praline sauce: While the cookies are cooling, add the brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter and milk to a medium saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil, whisking continuously. Boil and whisk for 3 minutes more, or until the sauce is thickened slightly and coats the back of a spoon. Remove from the heat. Let cool for 4 to 5 minutes.
• Drizzle the sauce over the cookies before serving. The cookies and any leftover praline sauce will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days stored separately. Spoon leftover sauce over ice cream or stir into hot coffee.

MRS. WILKES' BOARDING HOUSE-STYLE BISCUITS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450.
• Sift the flour and baking powder into a mixing bowl and make a well in the center.
• Cut in the shortening and margarine until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal.
• Pour the buttermilk and milk into a measuring cup and add enough water to make 3/4 cup.
• Pour this into the dry ingredients.
• Mix lightly and quickly with your hands to form a dough moist enough to leave the sides of the bowl.
• Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface.
• Knead by turning the dough away from you, pressing down with palms of hands, and pushing the dough away.
• Repeat 6 or 7 times.
• Work the dough into a large ball while kneading. Keep your fingers dry by dipping them into dry flour regularly.
• Pinch off portions of dough and place them on a well-greased baking sheet.
• Press lightly to flatten the biscuits slightly.
• Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown on top.

ANNIE'S PECAN PRALINES

Steps:

• Combine in a large pan the sugar, soda, buttermilk and salt.
• Cook briskly, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.
• Add butter and pecans.
• Cook for approximately 5 minutes more, or until mixture reaches softball stage (234ºF).
• Remove from heat and beat until just creamy.
• Drop by spoonsful onto waxed paper.
• Store in airtight containers.
• NOTE: If you put newspapers under the waxed paper, it is easier to remove candy without breaking.

PRALINE COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl. Set aside.
• With an electric mixer (or Kitchenaid with paddle attatchement), cream butter and 1 1/2 cups brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
• Add egg and vanilla. Beat until fully combined.
• Add dry ingredients, and beat on low speed until combined.
• Drop batter by rounded teaspoons on to an ungreased baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
• Bake until firm and barely golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Wait 5 minutes before transferring cookies to a wire rack.
• In a small saucepan, combine remaining 1 cup brown sugar and cream.
• Bring to a boil over a medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.Remove from heat.
• Add powdered sugar, and whisk until smooth.
• (If frostening thickens too much, thin with heavy cream.).
• Add pecan pieces.
• Place cookies on a cooling rack over a lined baking sheet.
• Spoon about 1/2 teas praline mixture onto each cookie.

CHOCOLATE PRALINE COOKIES

Steps:

• Set oven to 375°F.
• Cream butter and brown sugar together with an electric hand mixer, or if you would rather do it by hand, a heavy spatula will work.
• Add the baking powder and egg until the mixture looks smooth and creamy.
• Beat in the vanilla extract.
• Slowly beat the flour into the mixture, a quarter cup at a time until you use all the flour.
• Add your pecans or walnuts. (I have used both together, and apart, either way they taste wonderful! In fact I have even altered this recipe and used ground almonds).
• If you think the dough is too warm you may want to put it in the freezer. When I bake in the winter I often will put all my cookie doughs in the freezer for fifteen minutes before working with them. If the dough is too warm, it will spread while baking and you will get pancakes rather then cookies :).
• Take the dough from the freezer and drop it by the teaspoon onto an ungreased cookie sheet approx 2 inches apart.
• Bake for 8-10 minutes until the cookie looks golden, when you lift the cookies they should have an even color on the bottom.
• Cool the cookies on a wire rack until they are cool to touch.
• While the cookies cool gather your semisweet chips and vegetable shortening in a small sandwich baggie. If you want you can use a chocolate melting double boiler. Personally I like to do things the quick and easy way, so take your baggie of chocolate and shortening and seal it closed, then put it in a bowl of warm water. Wait approximately five minutes and the chocolate should have melted. If not repeat with warmer water. Use your finger to make sure the chocolate and shortening have mixed.
• Using a scissors snip the corner of the sandwich baggie and drizzle the chocolate over the cooled cookies. For small drizzles make only a slight cut in the corner of the bag, for larger chocolate lines, make a larger cut. I usually make designs on the cookies with the chocolate. Simple criss cross lines look elegant and sophisticated.
• These cookies are one of my favorites, and I often bring them to parties or special occasions because of their beautiful appearance and interesting flavor.
• **To Toast Nuts**.
• Set oven to 350°F.
• Place nuts on baking sheet in a single layer.
• Bake for approximately 5-8 minutes checking frequently, and stirring them about on the sheet. They should become a golden bronze color, depending on the nut. The toasting of nuts will allow for a richer flavor usually.