NATIONAL PRALINES DAY
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NATIONAL PRALINES DAY
On June 24, National Pralines Day honors a confection made from nuts (whether in whole pieces or ground) and sugar syrup. Pralines may also refer to any chocolate cookie containing the ground powder of nuts.
#NationalPralinesDay
French sugar industrialist, Marshal du Plessis-Praslin (1598-1675), originally inspired the early pralines. At the Chateau of Vaux-le-Vicomte during the 17th century, du Plessis-Praslin created his first pralines, made with almonds and individually coated in caramelized sugar.
The powder made by grinding up sugar-coated nuts is called pralin. This is an ingredient in many types of cakes, pastries and ice creams. When this powder is mixed with chocolate, it becomes praliné in French, which gave birth to what is known in French as chocolat praliné.
The French settlers brought their recipe into Louisiana, an area of the United States where both sugar cane and pecan trees were plentiful. During the 19th century, New Orleans chefs substituted pecans for almonds, added cream to thicken the confection, and thus creating what is known throughout the Southern United States as the praline.
3 Pralines from Around the World
Belgian Pralines – contain a hard chocolate shell with a softer, sometimes liquid, filling.
French Pralines – a combination of almonds and caramelized sugar.
American Pralines – contain milk or cream and are softer and creamier, resembling fudge.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL PRALINES DAY
Whether you're a candy maker or not, you can celebrate the day. Pick out some pralines to take home or to share with others. Use #NationalPralinesDay on social media.
NATIONAL PRALINES DAY HISTORY
National Day Calendar is researching the origins of this nutty holiday.