Praline is a family of confections built from nuts and caramelised sugar. The name covers two quite different sweets: the original French praline — almonds (or hazelnuts) coated in hard caramelised sugar, the basis of the ground paste pralin used in pastry — and the soft, creamy, fudge-like pecan praline of the American South. In Belgium, confusingly, "praline" also means a filled chocolate bonbon.