I love a delicious pecan praline recipe, and this one is fantastic! With ground pecans, brown butter and chocolate in the cookie dough, these Praline Chocolate Chip Cookies are a mouthful of heaven! Bite-sized, they’re perfect to bring to a party, or to much on for a delightful, sweet snack. 
I made these super rich, flavorful and delicious Brown Butter Pecan Praline Chocolate Chip Cookies for a cookie “event” I went to yesterday. I love how they turned out! If you’re heading to any holiday cookie exchanges, or simply want to eat amazing cookies, I highly recommend these!
A couple of things make this pecan praline recipe really special: brown putter and the praline.
What is Praline?
- Praline is a “candy” that contains nuts and sugar, and sometimes cream. There are probably hundreds of variations of this.
- Pecan praline is super popular, and said to have from the South, though there are also French varieties that are made with almonds.
- You can make praline with any nut you choose, and my pecan praline recipe isn’t a praline like the candy, it’s more a combination of the ingredients in a cookie. Get it?
Find out more about it here.
When I started Cooking On The Weekends a few years ago, I had no idea that not only would I be continuing my career in an area I’m passionate about, but that I would also gain a whole community of new friends.
I’ve made foodie friends not only around the globe, but am also fortunate enough to be a part of a local group, Food Bloggers Los Angeles. Run by Erika of In Erika’s Kitchen, Dorothy of Shockingly Delicious and Patti of Worth The Whisk, this group has become something I love being a part of.
Yesterday was our annual Cookie and Cookbook Swap, and as much as I loved tasting everyone’s creative cookie recipes, I so enjoyed seeing my fellow LA food bloggers. And it gave the opportunity to come up this new pecan praline recipe.
You know how I’ve shared that my husband jokes that I’m often consumed with “the blog and the dog?” Well with these folks I can go on and on about the blog, and when the lovely Louise of Jeeze Louise is around, I can also go on and on about the dog!
Other Food Bloggers LA 2013 Cookie Exchange Recipes
- Chai Tea Cookies — Cathy Arkle of She Paused 4 Thought
- Butter Pecan Fudge — Dorothy Reinhold from Shockingly Delicious.
- Antioxidant Chocolate Bark — Erika Kerekes (our hostess) of In Erika’s Kitchen.
- Chocolate Chip-Apricot Walnut Rugelach — Dana of Foodie Goes Healthy
- Vintage Sponge Drops with Double Fudge Filling — Leslie Macchiarella of Bake This Cake.
- Sicilian Christmas cookies — Judy Lyness of Two Broads Abroad.
- Cranberry Orange Walnut Sugar Cookies — Patricia Rose of Fresh Food in a Flash.
- Mini Chocolate Nut Sandwich Cookies — Kelly Page of Tasting Page.
- Rosemary Raisin Cocktail Shortbread — Sharon Graves of Cheesy Pennies
- Cardamom Gingersnap Cookies — Alison Ashton of Nourish Network .
I hope you enjoy my pecan praline recipe!
*Please note that the prep time does not include making the brown butter, which takes 20 minutes, and can be made up to 4 days ahead of time. Here's how to make it.
- 1 1/2 cups whole pecans
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup brown butter (Click here to learn how to make it) softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup packed golden brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
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Place a rack in the center and upper third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
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Line two baking sheets with parchment paper, and spread an even layer of the pecans on one of them. When the oven is preheated, toast the pecans until they are becoming a bit browned and are very aromatic. Remove from the oven, place in a small bowl and set aside to cool.
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In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the flour and baking soda. Set aside.
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In a large mixing bowl, combine the brown butter with the sugars, salt and vanilla. Mix for about 2 minutes with a large wooden spoon, an electric hand mixer or in a stand mixer, fitted with a paddle attachment.
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Add the eggs and mix until it's a smooth batter.
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Now add the dry ingredients and mix just until it's incorporated. Set aside.
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Add the cooled, toasted pecans to a food processor fitted with the blade attachment and blend until they are finely ground.
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Fold the ground pecans and chocolate chips into the batter.
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Use a small cookie scoop or spoon to shape balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets -- they should be about a tablespoon each.
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Bake in the preheated 350 degree F oven just until they are becoming golden along the edges, about 10 minutes. They should still appear doughy and will be soft. Remove from the oven, and allow the cookies to cool on the pan for a few minutes, then carefully transfer them to a to a cooling rack.
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Eat!
The name is a mouthful but I’m dying to try these cookies. I’ll be the cookie swap hero I think.
Thanks, Maureen! Hope you enjoy! 🙂
I agree with you wholeheartedly…FBLA is a group you can re-enter anytime and just pick up where you left off!
Wonderful to see you there, and to have your awesome cookies, of course!
Thanks, Dorothy. Agreed! 🙂
Thank you, Dorothy. (I’m still thinking about your Butter Pecan Fudge!)
Sorry I missed the shin-dig. It couldn’t be helped. GREG
G – you were missed. xo
Gorgeous.
I love how they hold their form and that they’re made with butter.
And this butter is Kerrygold, my favorite! 😉
So nice seeing you Valentina. Your cookies were extra good, of course!
Thank you, Nancy. Loved yours too — and they were so pretty!
The cookie swap sounds like so much fun! Especially when food bloggers are bringing cookies to share! The Brown Butter Praline Chocolate Chip Cookies are an exceptional holiday treat!
Yes, nothing like a cookie party! 🙂 Happy Holiday’s!
These were soooooo good! I don’t know what I was thinking only taking two home. Great seeing you as well.
Great seeing you, Jennifer! Loved your cocktail! xo
Brown butter + brown sugar = supreme happiness! These look so wonderful and – well – luscious!
You had me at “brown butter.” I really enjoyed these cookies. Thanks for sharing them at the FBLA meeting. Always nice to see you, Dana
These were divine! I enjoyed every bite. Next time I make cookies, I am making these.
How can you go wrong with Browned Butter? Love our little FLBA group that keeps growing. Lovely to see you Valentina!
Thank you, Patricia. It’s always so lovely to see you. 🙂
These cookies were tiny bombs of scrumptious flavor – I definitely understand why these little guys must be kept small – the browned Kerrygold sent them over the top – was great seeing you and I agree- our FBLA group is terrific! Happy New Year! Judy
Judy, thank you so much. I always look forward to seeing you at the meetings. Your cookies, (ALL THREE TYPES) were divine. I especially loved the ginger snaps. xo Happy holiday’s.