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A pile of divinity with pecan halves on top on a red plate.

Old-Fashioned Divinity

Prep Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 25 candies
Calories: 83kcal
Author: Shinee
Light as air, divinity is a sweet and creamy Southern candy, a popular holiday treat. This old-fashioned divinity candy recipe is easy to follow with time-tested tips and tricks for your success!
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Ingredients

  • 2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (120ml) light corn syrup
  • ½ cup (120ml) water
  • 2 egg whites
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • Pecan halves

Instructions

To make the syrup:

  • In a heavy-bottomed medium (2qt) saucepan, mix together sugar, water and corn syrup. Cook the mixture on low heat, stirring continuously until sugar is dissolved.
  • Once the sugar is dissolved, turn the heat up to medium high and continue to cook the mixture without stirring until it reaches 250°F on thermometer.

To make divinity batter:

  • As the syrup approaches 240°F, start whipping the egg whites.
  • In a large mixing bowl with whisk attachment, beat the egg whites until hard peaks form.
  • Reduce the speed to low and slowly and continuously pour the hot syrup mixture in to the egg whites.
  • Stir in vanilla extract.
  • Increase the speed to high and continue to beat the mixture until it loses its gloss and holds its shape, about 15 minutes. Check the consistency after 15 minutes. If the mixture is stilly runny and shiny, beat for another 5 minutes and check again.

To shape and set:

  • Line a baking sheet with wax or parchment paper and spray 2 spoons with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Using the buttered spoons, drop a spoonful of divinity mixture onto the prepared sheet.
  • Push a pecan half on top of each divinity. Alternatively, you may chop the pecans into smaller pieces and stir them into the divinity batter.
  • Let the divinity set at room temperature for up to 2 hours.

Notes

Note 1: Feel free to chop up pecans and stir it into the batter. You may also add walnuts, pecans, pistachios, chocolate chips, etc.
To make colored divinity, prepare a piping bag with large round tip and draw a few alternating lines with red and green gel food coloring inside the piping bag. Then transfer the divinity mixture into prepared piping bag and pipe out 2-inch swirls on prepared sheet.
To store: Once the divinity candies are set, place them in an airtight container with parchment paper in between layers and store at room temperature for up to 1 week. You can also freeze them in airtight container for up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 83kcal
Carbohydrates: 21g
Protein: 1g
Fat: 1g
Sugar: 21g
Sodium: 9mg