History

Auguste Pralus invented the praluline in 1955 at his patisserie in Roanne, and the family opened a Lyon counter that became the city's compulsory souvenir. The pink praline itself, a sugar-coated almond dyed with carmine, is an older Lyonnais product from the region around Montargis; Pralus folded it into brioche dough and created a format now sold across France. The whole loaf is sold at room temperature and survives a day's travel, which is why every tourist leaves Lyon with one under their arm.

Common allergens: Gluten, Eggs, Dairy, Tree nuts (almonds)

Make it at home

Yield Makes 1 loafHands-on 40 minTotal 4 hrDifficulty Intermediate

Ingredients

  • 350g strong white flour
  • 7g instant yeast
  • 40g caster sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 eggs plus 1 yolk
  • 60ml warm milk
  • 150g unsalted butter, softened
  • 200g pink pralines (pralines roses), roughly crushed

Method

  1. Mix flour, yeast, sugar and salt. Add eggs, yolk and milk and bring together to a shaggy dough. Knead 8 minutes by hand or 5 minutes in a stand mixer until smooth.
  2. Add the butter piece by piece, kneading after each addition until fully incorporated and the dough is glossy and pulls from the bowl. This takes 10 minutes by hand.
  3. Cover and prove at room temperature for 1.5 hours until doubled. Then fold the dough once and refrigerate overnight (or 2 hours minimum).
  4. Flatten the cold dough on a floured surface, scatter the crushed pralines over and fold repeatedly to distribute them evenly. Shape into a round or log and place in a buttered tin.
  5. Prove 1 hour at room temperature until puffy. Brush with egg wash and bake at 170C for 30 to 35 minutes until deep golden and a skewer comes out clean.

Tip from the editors. Cold butter worked in slowly builds the gluten strength; rushing it breaks the dough. The overnight cold prove is not optional: it develops the flavour and makes shaping easier.

This is the TableJourney editorial recipe, modelled on the canonical bistro / counter version. The first place to try the dish in its city of origin is below.

Where to eat praluline brioche

Praluline brioche in Lyon

Maison Pralus ★ 4.6

Mon-Sat 10:00 to 19:00Walk-in onlyBean-to-bar chocolate and praluline brioche

Maison Pralus runs the bean-to-bar chocolate house Auguste Pralus founded in 1955, with a Lyon counter at Halles Paul Bocuse for the praluline brioche.

Tip: The praluline (pink-praline brioche) is the dish; a whole loaf travels home.

Worth the queue: Praluline brioche with pink pralines

Halles de Lyon-Paul Bocuse, 102 Cours Lafayette, 69003 Lyon

Pralus Bellecour ★ 4.6

Mon-Sat 10:00 to 19:30Walk-in onlyPraluline brioche flagship

Pralus Bellecour in Lyon's 2e on Rue de Brest is the praluline-brioche flagship, with whole loaves of pink-praline brioche and bean-to-bar chocolate bars.

Tip: A whole praluline loaf travels for a day; ask for the freshly-bagged hot one.

Worth the queue: Praluline brioche, plain and chocolate

32 Rue de Brest, 69002 Lyon

More cities are in research. Want praluline brioche covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.

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