Dr Pepper Peanut Pralines

The Nerd *loves* Dr Pepper.

I once heard him call it the “Nectar of the Gods” or something like that.

It’s really all he drinks.

And since we got married, I’ve been drinking my fair share, too.

So when I saw this recipe for Dr Pepper Peanut Pralines from Screwed Up Texan, I knew these were the perfect treats for our household.

And they were.

Er, they would have been if I were a better cook.

I mean, the few I salvaged from my disastrous attempt at making them were *divine.*

Dr Pepper Peanut Pralines
Source: Screwed Up Texan

Ingredients:

1 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup Dr Pepper
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1 tsp baking soda
1 Tbsp real butter (no substitutions)
1 1/2 cup peanuts, shelled

Directions:

Ok, first you need to get everything out and ready to go. Seriously. Once you start cooking, this moves fast and you won’t have time to get out wax paper to drop the candies on, etc. So get everything ready now.

In addition to the ingredients, you’ll need a *large* sauce pan, a candy thermometer, a whisk, a wooden spoon and a baking sheet lined with wax paper.

First, you’ll need to measure out your Dr Pepper. I used Dublin Dr Pepper so it would be more authentic.

Mix together the sugars, Dr Pepper, whipping cream and baking soda in the sauce pan.

Cook on medium high heat, stirring frequently.

Here was my first mistake. I used a medium sauce pan instead of a large one. You will need room for the mixture to bubble up.

Because trust me, it will bubble up.

You’ll have to stir it to get the bubbles to go down. Or remove it from heat temporarily to allow the bubbles to recede.

Once the mixture reaches 210 degrees F on a candy thermometer, add the butter and stir constantly for two minutes.

 Add the peanuts all at once.

Now, try not to stir the mixture very much at all. You will only stir it to keep the peanuts from sticking to the bottom of the pan.

This was my second mistake. I didn’t stir it enough, so my peanuts burned to the bottom of the pan.

 If your pot starts smoking like this, it’s a bad sign.

 Once the mixture reaches a temperature of 230 degrees or soft ball stage, remove from heat and beat constantly with a wooden spoon.

The mixture will thicken.

I was able to salvage some of it from the top of my burned mess.

Drop it by spoonfuls onto the wax paper-lined baking sheet.

Let cool for at least 15 minutes until the candies harden.

Meanwhile, go clean up the mess you have left. Or throw away the pan you destroyed.

Whichever.

Best served with an ice-cold Dublin Dr Pepper.

Enjoy!

These old-fashioned candies are flavored with Dublin Dr Pepper — the perfect Texas treat.