Ultimate Guide to NOLA’s Best Pralines

The food in New Orleans is top-tier across the board, but there is something special about their praline candy that gets me every time. Funny enough, I am not a huge fan of fudge or candy in general (though trust me when I say there are exceptions to both of these rules), but the flavor of a New Orleans praline is unlike anything else I have ever had.

Oddly enough, I have found that pralines vary WIDELY from one shop to the next. Phil & I have made it our mission to try every NOLA praline shop we can find to deliver you the definitive guide on what to expect with each shop.

On our last trip to the Big Easy, we even brought a batch of 6 different pralines back to Kentucky for our friends to sample. This taste test made us realize that everyone has their own opinion on which praline style tastes best. So, without further ado, here are our takes on the flavor profiles of each of NOLA’s biggest praline shops!

What is a praline?

Oh wait, I guess it might be important to make sure we’re on the same page on what exactly a praline (pronounced praw-leen) is.

While the history of the praline is a bit murky, it is believed to have been the creation of French settlers in the New Orleans area who replaced traditional almond candy recipes with pecans (more prevalent in the area) and butter. The candy is named after a 17th century French diplomat and one theory suggests the creation may have been concocted by his personal chef.

This candy is made with a few simple ingredients, though individual shops put their own unique spin on the recipe, lending additional spices to the varied flavor profiles. The basic recipe is comprised of the following ingredients:

  • Pecans

  • Dairy (milk, sugar, evaporated milk, etc.)

  • Sugar

  • Flavoring (vanilla, maple, etc.)

Loretta’s Authentic Pralines

While I loved most of the pralines I had in New Orleans, I can confidently say that Loretta’s is my personal favorite (keep reading for Phil’s fav!). These pralines are large, thick, and the butter & sugar is cooked longer to give it a deep, rich caramel flavor.

Oh yeah, and they have PRALINE BEIGNETS which may be one of the best things I have ever tasted in my life. I would say I have a flair for the dramatic, but the reality is that these things are just that good.

I, personally, don’t think I would be able to visit NOLA without visiting Loretta’s. There is a convenient location for tourists in the French Market, as well as a cafe (with more options, but limited hours) a few blocks away in Marigny.

Flavor Profile: Deep, buttery caramel flavor with a bit of zing, smooth texture with good amount of pecans

Southern Candymakers

Southern Candymakers is Phil’s favorite praline shop for a few reasons: they’re loaded with nuts and they have peanut butter flavored pralines. He is a huge peanut butter fiend and not the biggest fan of caramel, so I guess this makes sense. Nonetheless, Southern Candymakers has a stellar line-up of pralines!

You can visit one of their two shops in the French Quarter and sample a wide variety of praline flavors, including peanut butter, coconut, chocolate, sweet potato, and even lemon!

Flavor profile: Strong pecan flavor, whole pecans, good candy texture, several unique flavors

Aunt Sally’s

Aunt Sally’s is probably New Orleans’ most well-known praline shop with a large shipping presence and well-marketed locations in the French Market. While I am sometimes skeptical of the most well-known option, this one does live up to its name. The candies are loaded with chopped pecans and have a very consistent size and texture.

That being said, these pralines are small, so you definitely pay more for the beautiful packaging than the actual candy, BUT they are still delicious and they travel well while retaining their freshness (free of preservatives). If you’re flying home from NOLA and looking to bring someone a gift, Aunt Sally’s should be your go-to.

Flavor profile: Loaded with chopped toasted pecans which provide a rich flavor

Bernard’s

This shop is most similar to Loretta’s, which is probably why I enjoy it so much. They pour batches of candy fresh right in front of customers, adding to the “made fresh” ambience. Bernard’s pralines are much more caramel-like than several of the others on this list, lending a deep, rich, and butter flavor that I, personally, find to be absolutely delicious! The pralines not only taste divine, but are also HUGE, making them a good value all around.

Its location on the edge of Central City and the Lower Garden District puts it outside of the most-populated tourist areas, but still accessible via public transportation AND much easier to navigate parking-wise than the French Quarter.

Flavor Profile: Thick and rich buttery caramel

Miss Emma’s

Okay, I am thoroughly convinced that Miss Emma’s has the BEST human involved in the praline operation! She is, hands down, an absolute gem of a human who instantly made us feel at home in her shop. She even gave us an extra praline for the road because she was convinced Phil wouldn’t share with me. Yes, we love her. Can you tell?

As far as the pralines go, these have a very different flavor profile from all of the pralines above. The spices are much more nutmeg-forward, making these treats perfect for the holiday season. The pralines are very large and are loaded with toasted nuts. While the texture isn’t quite as smooth as some of the other candies on the list, the warming spices and the large number of nuts provide a delicious flavor.

Miss Emma’s is across Lake Pontchartrain in Slidell, making it a good stop on your way in or out of town, especially if you aren’t in the mood to deal with parking in the French Quarter.

Flavor Profile: Nutmeg, warming spices, loaded with nuts

Leah’s

Leah’s is another shop located in the French Quarter with plenty of candy options to choose from, including a delicious array of brittles. The pralines are very vanilla-forward, making them more sweet (and even a bit birthday cake-like in my opinion). While this flavor profile is a bit too sweet for me, it is a good contrast to the other pralines on the list and a great option for someone with a serious sweet tooth!

Flavor profile: Vanilla, sugar

Magnolia Praline Company

This shop is another good one for folks looking to bring pralines home to friends and family (or for your own future consumption…I’m not here to judge). Magnolia Praline Company is a historic praline shop that has mostly transitioned into pre-packaged pralines in their French Quarter shop complete with several other New Orleans relics. The pralines are good with a nice candy to pecan ratio and have a nice vanilla flavor.

Flavor profile: Consistent texture, large amount of pecans, rich candy

Royal Praline Company

Looking to take home boxes upon boxes of heaping pralines? Royal Praline Company is your place. Most of the praline brands here are shelf stable, meaning they have preservatives in them that allow them to retain their freshness longer, but this does take away from the “made fresh daily” vibe of several other NOLA praline shops. Nonetheless, Royal Praline Company does offer several praline brands in shop (including their house pralines) alongside plenty of New Orleans souvenirs, making it a one-stop shop for pralines and postcards alike!

Flavor profile: Various types, but most are chewy with a good balance of vanilla & pecan flavor

Ms. Kay’s Pralines

Okay, I have to be honest. We tried visiting Ms. Kay’s, but it was closed when we arrived to the shop, so we have yet to try these pralines! Its location in Metairie makes it more convenient to folks who are visiting the outskirts of New Orleans. Photos of the pralines suggest that it has a deeper, rich caramel flavor AND they serve both praline muffins and praline poundcake. How could you go wrong? We are hoping to catch this the next time we are in town!

Flavor profile: To be determined, but I’m sure it’s delicious!