Old-Fashioned Divinity Recipe (2024)

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Table of Contents

• What is divinity?
• Key Ingredient Notes:
• How to make divinity candy recipe:
• 1. Make sugar syrup
• 2. Make the divinity
• 3. Shape and set the candies
• Divinity Tips for Success:
• Why stand mixer is necessary for making divinity?
• Divinity Variations:
• Storing Tips:
• FAQs:
• Old-Fashioned Divinity Recipe

Ever since my mother-in-law taught me how to make divinity 10+ years ago, it has become my favorite holiday treat!

Every year, I whip up a batch and share the treat with her.

It brings fun memories of us making them together with her hand-held electric mixer, almost burning the motor as the mixer started to heat-up and smell of burn.

What is divinity?

Divinity is a classic southern Christmas treat made of egg whites, sugar and corn syrup.

It has melt-in-your-mouth soft and fluffy texture, sweet and creamy taste. The name says it all. It’s divine!

Nothing brings holiday cheer quite like old-fashioned divinity.

Key Ingredient Notes:

• Sugar – You’ll need granulated sugar for this recipe. It’s one of the main components of the recipe, and there’s no substitution for it.
• Corn syrup is another key ingredient for proper set. Sometimes, you can substitute honey or maple syrup for cornstarch.
• Egg whites – Be sure to keep the egg whites away for any form of fat/grease/yolk. Or you won’t be able to beat into a nice meringue.
• Vanilla – In vintage recipe, you might see it’s advised to use clear imitation vanilla to keep its bright and white color. But I’m a passionate advocate for pure vanilla extract. In my experience, it doesn’t affect the color as much!
• Pecans are classic add-in in divinity candy. But walnuts are also a popular option.

How to make divinity candy recipe:

1. Make sugar syrup

• In a heavy-bottomed medium (2qt) saucepan, combine sugar, waterand corn syrup and cook the mixture on low heat, stirring continuously until sugar is dissolved.
• Once the sugar is fully dissolved, turn the heat up to medium high and continue to cook the mixture without stirring until it reaches 250°F oncandy thermometer.
• As the syrup approaches 240°F, start whipping the egg whites.

2. Make the divinity

• 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.
• Addvanilla extract.
• Increase the mixer to high speed and continue to beat the mixtureuntil itloses its gloss and holds its shape, about15 minutes. Check the consistency after 15 minutes. If the mixture is stilly runny and shiny, beat for another 5 minutes and check again.

3. Shape and set the candies

• Line a baking sheet with wax paper and spray 2 spoons with non-stick cooking spray.
• Using the buttered spoons, drop a spoonful of divinitymixture onto the prepared sheet.
• Let the candies set at room temperature for up to 2 hours.

Divinity Tips for Success:

• Wait for a dry day to make divinity, because sugar attracts water from humidity. And it takes longer for the mixture to reach proper consistency and candies take longer to set. If it’s a humid day or raining , you better put it off for another day.
• Astand mixerand a thermometer are your best friends in making these sweet confections. Because it takes a long time to beat the mixture, hand-held mixers are just not powerful enough and you may burn the motor of your mixer. A thermometer is a must in divinity-making affair. If the syrup isn’t cooked to hard ball stage, your divinity won’t set, and that’d be sad.
• Be patient. It does take a fair amount of whipping to get that perfectly matte batter, even with a stand mixer.

Why stand mixer is necessary for making divinity?

Your grandma probably made this candy by hand, but there’s just no way I can whip this batter by hand for 15+ minutes!

It’s also supereasy (…and much safer) to beat the egg whites in a stand mixer while pouring hot sugar mixture, unless you have a helper.

Even if you have someone there to help you, it’s 100 times easier to have the mixer do all the mixing and your job is to watch the process, because otherwise it’s quite a workout!

Divinity Variations:

You can make lots of variations by mixing in different adds-ons.

• You can chop up the pecans and mix it into the batter.
• You can use walnuts, or even black walnuts, too.
• Mini chocolate chips or mint chocolates are also a great additions.
• Maraschino divinity is another classic!
• And last but not least, colored divinity! Play around with food coloring to add a fun holiday twist. Smear red and green strips inside a piping bag and then add the divinity mixture. Then pipe the divinity and swirl into whatever shape your heart desires.