The BEST Divinity Candy Recipe - Mom On Timeout (2024)

Jump to Recipe

The BESTDivinity CandyI’ve ever had! This wonderful candy recipe is the perfect addition to any celebration but is especially loved during the holiday season. This snow white confection is fantastically sweet, chewy and wonderfully decadent – a truly divine treat to share with friends and family.

Love homemade candy? Make sure to try theseHomemade Gumdrops,5 Minute Fantasy Bars, andChocolate Pretzel Peanut Butter Balls!

The BEST Divinity Candy Recipe - Mom On Timeout (1)

Divinity Candy Recipe

Every Christmas season, I spend a large chunk of my time preparing all manner of holiday cookies, fudge, and treats. There is one candy that I make every year, without exception: divinity candy.

Through the years, I have made so many candies that are family favorites. Whether it’s my Nana’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls with Rice Krispies, my Aunt Renee’sMartha Washington Candiesor one of my personal favorites, theseButtermilk Pecan Pralines, these treats represent tradition in our family.

Divinity candy is one of those special candies that I make almost exclusively during the holiday season. Sometimes I’ll make up a batch for Easter or some other special occasion but this candy really represents Christmas to me in my heart.

What Is Divinity Candy

Divinity is a sweet confection made with egg whites, sugar and corn syrup. This type of candy typically has chopped pecans or walnuts in it and is flavored with vanilla extract.

free email course

5 SECRETS TO GETTINGDINNER ON THE TABLE...FAST!

It’s not the easiest candy in the world to make. Well, I shouldn’t say that. It’s not hard per se, but it does take time. Your mixer will take on the brunt of the work and I do highly recommend a heavy duty stand mixer for this recipe. I have never successfully made this divinity candy with a hand mixer, but that’s not to say it can’t be done. It would just have to be really strong to do so.

More Christmas Candy Recipes

There is no better season than the holidays for sharing and giving yummy treats to friends and family! Here are some more of our favorites:

  1. Peanut Butter Fudge
  2. Peppermint Fudge
  3. Buttermilk Pecan Pralines
  4. Homemade Gumdrops
The BEST Divinity Candy Recipe - Mom On Timeout (2)

What You’ll Need

Divinity is made out of egg whites and sugar for the most part. I like to add chopped pecans to mine but I know some people prefer walnuts. As always, you can find the full printable recipe at the end of this post. Here is what you will need to make this divinity candy recipe:

  • egg whites
  • sugar
  • water
  • corn syrup
  • salt
  • pecans
  • vanilla extract

This divinity recipe is unique in that the syrup is made in the microwave. You start off be beating egg whites to stiff peaks – this is how all divinity starts. But instead of heating the syrup on the stove top, the ingredients are brought to hard ball stage in the microwave.

How To Make Divinity Candy

  1. Prep. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, butter two teaspoons and let egg whites come to room temperature.
  2. In a large microwave safe glass measuring cup, combine sugar, water, corn syrup and salt.
  3. Heat until syrup has reached the hard ball stage of 260°F.
  4. When the syrup is nearly done, start beating the egg whites on medium speed until they are at stiff peaks.
  5. Gradually pour in the hot syrup being extremely careful.
  6. Continue beating the candy mixture for 15 to 20 minutes or until the candy loses it’s gloss and holds it’s shape.
  7. Once your candy has reached this point, quickly stir in the pecans and vanilla extract.
  8. Use the buttered teaspoons to scoop out rounded teaspoons of the candy and drop onto the parchment paper.
  9. Let the divinity sit at room temperature until dry to the touch.
The BEST Divinity Candy Recipe - Mom On Timeout (3)

To Make This Divinity Candy on the Stovetop: This recipe is easily made on the stovetop as well. Just heat the sugar, corn syrup and water in a heavy bottomed saucepan and proceed as instructed.

[mv_video doNotAutoplayNorOptimizePlacement=”false” doNotOptimizePlacement=”false” jsonLd=”true” key=”z91xrej1llgfm2q7qm6t” ratio=”16:9″ thumbnail=”https://mediavine-res.cloudinary.com/v1639783696/btjw0hj1lbdw8hw8klya.jpg” title=”Divinity Candy” volume=”20″]

Why I Love This Recipe

I love this for many reasons including the fact that I can heat up the syrup in a vessel that makes it easier to pour. I used a large glass bowl in the video below, but please, don’t do that.

Use a large Pyrex glass measuring cup for the best results. This syrup is 260°F when it’s poured into the beaten egg whites and trust me, that is hot. Make sure to use a good candy thermometer when making divinity or any candy. A few degrees off can mean the difference between failure and success. I use this candy thermometer and check it for accuracy before each use.

You want something with a handle and a pour spout to make this easy and more importantly, safe.

Once the hot syrup has been poured into the egg whites, you’re going to let your heavy duty stand mixer take over. The candy neats to be beaten on high speed for about 15 to 20 minutes. You’re looking for the candy to lose it’s gloss and hold it’s shape when dropped onto parchment paper.

The BEST Divinity Candy Recipe - Mom On Timeout (4)

I usually test it once at 15 minutes and then every minute or so after until the candy is ready to go. You don’t want to over beat the candy. This results in brittle candy that is crumbly – not what you want. True divinity has a pillowy soft, chewy center that is in a word, divine.

Tips for the Best Divinity

  1. Test your candy thermometer before using. To do this, bring water to a boil. Insert your thermometer. It should read 212°F. Make adjustments as needed.
  2. Do not over beat the divinity candy. Once you are getting close to the end, you can check your divinity by dropping a spoonful onto the parchment paper. If it holds it’s shape it’s ready. If it slowly turns into a puddle, you’re not there yet.
  3. Be prepared. I have the very first instruction listed as preparing the baking sheet with
  4. parchment paper and buttering the teaspoons. This is for a very important reason. You have to work quickly towards the end and if you are not ready to drop the candy onto the
  5. parchment paper, it will set up too quickly in the bowl. Now you don’t need to be a speed demon, but it should be done as quickly as you can.
  6. Don’t be a control freak. This is hard for me but the nature of divinity is wild and chaotic. That is why it is so beautiful. No two pieces are the same. Love the irregularities and non-uniformity of this candy – it’s appealing and lovely.
The BEST Divinity Candy Recipe - Mom On Timeout (5)

More Christmas Candy To Try

  1. Penuche
  2. Christmas Peppermint Patties
  3. Chocolate Covered Mint Patties
  4. Toffee
  5. Rocky Road Peanut Clusters
  6. Christmas Crack Recipe
  7. Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls with Rice Krispies
  8. Chocolate Pretzel Peanut Butter Balls
  9. Maple Nut Fudge

How To Make Divinity Candy

The BEST Divinity Candy Recipe - Mom On Timeout (6)

Print Pin

5 from 36 votes

Microwave Divinity Candy

The BESTDivinity CandyI’ve ever had! This wonderful candy recipe is the perfect addition to any celebration but is especially loved during the holiday season. This snow white confection is fantastically sweet, chewy and wonderfully decadent – a truly divine treat to share with friends and family.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword divinity candy, divinity candy recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 30

Calories 94kcal

Author Trish – Mom On Timeout

Ingredients

  • 2 egg whites room temperature
  • 2 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ cup light corn syrup
  • teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup finely chopped pecans optional
  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Butter two teaspoons and set aside.

  • Let egg whites come to room temperature for 30 minutes.

    2 egg whites

  • In a large microwave safe glass measuring cup, combine sugar, water, corn syrup and salt. Heat for 4 minutes on high heat and stir.

    2 ½ cups granulated sugar, ½ cup water, ½ cup light corn syrup, ⅛ teaspoon salt

  • Continue cooking syrup in 2 minute increments, stirring in between until syrup has reached the hard ball stage of 260°F. Once syrup has reached 250°F, reduce cooking increments to 1 minute each, stirring and checking temperature in between.

  • When the syrup is nearly done (with about 4 minutes remaining or when the syrup is between 240°F and 250°F), start beating the egg whites on medium speed until they are at stiff peaks. (Note: When the beater is lifted up, the egg white peaks should stand straight up and they should not slide around in the bowl when the bowl is moved from side to side.)

  • Increase mixer speed to high and slowly and gradually pour in the hot syrup being extremely careful.

  • Continue beating the candy mixture for 15 to 20 minutes or until the candy loses it's gloss and holds it's shape. You can text your candy by taking a spoonful of the mixture and dropping it onto the parchment paper.

  • Once your candy has reached this point, quickly stir in the pecans and vanilla extract.

    ½ cup finely chopped pecans, 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

  • Use the buttered teaspoons to scoop out rounded teaspoons of the candy and drop onto the prepared parchment paper lined baking sheet. Repeat until all candy has been scooped out.

  • Let the divinity stand at room temperature until dry to the touch, usually overnight is perfect.

Video

Notes

Storage Information: Store divinity candy in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

To Make This Divinity Candy on the Stovetop:This recipe is easily made on the stovetop as well. Just heat the sugar, corn syrup and water in a heavy bottomed saucepan and proceed as instructed.

See post for more tips and information.

Times based on an 1100W microwave.

Nutrition

Calories: 94kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 16mg | Potassium: 10mg | Sugar: 21g | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 0.1mg

Originally published December 16, 2018.

The BEST Divinity Candy Recipe - Mom On Timeout (2024)

FAQs

What is the best humidity for making divinity? ›

The perfect divinity climate has a relative humidity of less than 35 percent. If you live in an area that's hardly ever that dry, you can always run your air conditioner or a dehumidifier for about a day or so before making divinity.

What to do with divinity that won t set up? ›

Tip & Tricks
  1. Let your divinity candy rest for 2 hours minimum or better yet overnight. ...
  2. If your divinity candy fails to harden, add 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar and beat again. ...
  3. If you want your divinity candy to soften up a bit add hot water a tablespoon at a time and beat it again.

Why is my divinity not fluffy? ›

There could be several reasons that your divinity did not turn out fluffy: The syrup was not at the right temperature when it was added to the egg whites. The egg white and syrup mixture was not beaten long enough. The humidity was too high.

What is the difference between meringue and divinity candy? ›

In a meringue, the sugar syrup is cooked to about 240°F or until the sugar forms a soft, malleable ball when a spoonful is dropped in cold water. For divinity, the sugar is taken a bit further to 250°F (or the firm ball stage) where it can hold more structure.

Does high humidity affect candy making? ›

Issues with Candy Making in High Humidity

Humidity doesn't just cause bad hair days – it can also lead to bad candy making days as well! Think of how sticky the air feels on days when the humidity is high. You may also feel a stickiness on hardened sugar you are using for making candy.

What if my divinity is too dry? ›

How To Handle Overly Dry Divinity. If you find that your Divinity candy has turned out too dry (left hand side of image above), work as quickly as possible to spoon the pieces out onto the parchment paper. Let the candy sit out just until it has cooled and then immediately transfer to an air tight container.

Why is my divinity chewy? ›

Corn Syrup – This is added to stop the sugar from crystalizing giving you a very smooth, chewy texture that's not grainy. Sugar – White granulated sugar is the best for this recipe, avoid brown sugar or it'll affect both the taste and look of the divinity.

Why is my divinity grainy? ›

It's best to make divinity on a cool, dry day. If it's humid (over 50%) or rainy, the candy might end up with a more gooey, or grainy texture. If you're making candy on a hot or humid day, cook the candy a few degrees higher than the recipe specifies to overcome these undesired side effects.

How long will divinity candy keep in the fridge? ›

Divinity candy should be stored, airtight, for up to 5 days. It's best not to expose your candy to humidity. If you want to store your candy long-term, you can keep it in an airtight container in the freezer for up to a month.

Why is divinity candy so hard to make? ›

Humidity equals wet, and wet equals candy that often won't set. Even in the cooler and less humid months, it can be a challenge to make old fashioned divinity - that being a divinity that is purely sugar, corn syrup, water, egg whites, chopped pecans, a little vanilla - and a goodly amount of elbow grease.

Why is my divinity runny? ›

And don't try making divinity when the humidity is above 60%. No matter how long you beat the mixture, it will remain too runny to form into mounds.

Why does divinity fail? ›

You can't make it if it is "too" humid or if it's raining. The moisture in the air will keep the candy from setting and drying properly.

What is the best way to store divinity candy? ›

How do you store divinity candy? Improper storing is one of our top five candy-making mistakes. To ensure it stays fresh, store your divinity candy in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to two weeks.

Can you freeze divinity candy? ›

Yes, divinity can be frozen for up to one year! Flash freeze the candy for a few hours or up to overnight, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container. Thaw at room temperature.

What is pecan divinity made of? ›

Divinity is a confection made from egg whites, corn syrup, and sugar. It's similar to nougat, fudge, or marshmallow. Tip: replace the sugar with brown sugar to create "sea foam." Other ingredients can be used to give the candy other tastes, like chopped dried fruit and chopped nuts.

What does the weather have to be like to make divinity? ›

What weather is best? The old classic candy divinity is one such candy that needs a good, dry forecast for several days when making. This cloud-looking candy can be a fickle beast to make if there is too much humidity around. The candy needs drier air to set properly.

How do you make divinity in humid weather? ›

Just want to say to people who think you can't make divinity when it is humid, you can. When it's raining outside just reduce the amount of water in the recipe by about a tablespoon. Also, I remember from childhood, just spreading it out in a sheet pan and slicing it into squares.

What is ideal humidity for fermentation? ›

Dough fermentation rooms require relative humidity levels of at least 75 percent. Proofers have relative humidity levels of at least 80 percent to prevent skins from forming on the dough during the final proofing stages. In general, with the lower humidity, the crustier bread becomes as it bakes.

Why does humidity affect divinity? ›

High humidity hastens the breakdown of sugar as it cools. Once the candy has cooled to the point where it can no longer evaporate moisture, it can actually begin to reabsorb moisture. This produces a softer product than may be desirable.”

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Carmelo Roob

Last Updated:

Views: 6019

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (45 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Carmelo Roob

Birthday: 1995-01-09

Address: Apt. 915 481 Sipes Cliff, New Gonzalobury, CO 80176

Phone: +6773780339780

Job: Sales Executive

Hobby: Gaming, Jogging, Rugby, Video gaming, Handball, Ice skating, Web surfing

Introduction: My name is Carmelo Roob, I am a modern, handsome, delightful, comfortable, attractive, vast, good person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.