Praline

A praline is a confection whose meaning depends on where you are. In Belgium, a praline is a filled chocolate with a hard chocolate shell. In France, praliné is a smooth paste of caramelized nuts. In the American South, a praline is a creamy candy of sugar, butter, cream and pecans.

The Belgian praline

In 1912, Brussels chocolatier Jean Neuhaus is credited with creating the first filled chocolate shell, which Belgians call a praline. Fillings range from ganache and caramel to fruit creams and nut pastes. This shell-and-filling style is the heart of Belgian chocolate shops and the direct ancestor of many modern truffles.

French praliné

The French name traces back to the 17th century and the household of the Duke of Choiseul-Praslin, whose cook is said to have coated almonds in caramelized sugar. Today, praliné usually means nuts, often hazelnuts or almonds, cooked in caramel and then ground into a silky paste. It is used to fill chocolates, flavor creams and swirl through desserts. Its toasty, nutty sweetness is the same family of flavor you find in hazelnut-cocoa spreads.

New Orleans pecan pralines

French settlers brought the idea to Louisiana, where cooks swapped in local pecans and added cream. The result is a flat, fudgy, melt-away candy that is a Southern classic.

Praline flavors at Polkadot

Polkadot does not sell a product labeled praline, but several items share its flavor DNA. The Nutella Truffles tuck a hazelnut filling inspired by the classic spread inside a Belgian milk chocolate shell, much like a Belgian praline. The Ferrero Rocher Chocolate Bar is inspired by the classic hazelnut-wafer flavor and is not affiliated with that brand. Nut-based fillings are an allergen consideration, so check packaging if you avoid tree nuts. Browse the full truffle collection for more filled chocolates.