Old-Fashioned Divinity Recipe (2024)

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By: Shinee

Published: Dec 14, 2022

4.56 from 9 votes

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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!

Old-Fashioned Divinity Recipe (2)

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.

Old-Fashioned Divinity Recipe (3)

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.
Old-Fashioned Divinity Recipe (4)

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.
Old-Fashioned Divinity Recipe (5)

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.
Old-Fashioned Divinity Recipe (6)

Tip

Divinity is ready for shaping once the mixture is thick and no longer glossy, it slowly falls into a ribbon and holds its shape too.

Old-Fashioned Divinity Recipe (7)

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.
Old-Fashioned Divinity Recipe (8)

Tip

As soon as divinity batter is ready, work quickly to shape the divinity candies right away.

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.
Old-Fashioned Divinity Recipe (9)

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.
Old-Fashioned Divinity Recipe (10)

Storing Tips:

Once the divinity candies are set, place them in an airtight container with parchment paper in between layers and store a cool, dry place for up to 1 week.

FAQs:

What is divinity made of?

Divinity is made of egg whites, sugar and corn syrup. Optional add-ons are pecans/walnuts and vanilla or other extracts for flavoring.

What is the difference between divinity and meringue?

Although both made of similar ingredients, divinity and meringue have very different textures.
Divinity is fudge or nougat-type of candy made with hot sugar syrup that’s cooked till 250°F.
Meringue, on other hand, is crispy and sweet cookies, and is made of whipped egg whites with sugar, or sugar syrup that’s cooked till 240°F.

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!

Old-Fashioned Divinity Recipe (11)

4.56 from 9 votes

Old-Fashioned Divinity

By 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!

Prep: 45 minutes mins

Total: 1 hour hr

Servings: 25 candies

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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:

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 invanilla extract.

  • Increase the speed to high 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.

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 divinitymixture 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 thedivinity set at room temperaturefor up to 2 hours.

Tips & 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, Sodium: 9mg, Potassium: 5mg, Sugar: 21g, Calcium: 1mg, Iron: 1mg

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Old-Fashioned Divinity Recipe (12)

Did you make this?Share a comment or a review below!

This recipe was originally published on December 18th, 2013.

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Old-Fashioned Divinity Recipe (13)

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  1. Thank you for your wonderful variations of divinity candies! Also for making it simple, without all the blah, blah, blah!

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Sandra. Hope you’ll give it a try! And please let us know if you do.

      Reply

  2. I tried three times, varying time to whip whites, lowering hard boil temp, nothing worked as they set up too quickly each time and weren’t smoothe. Tasted great, moist inside but set up on outside too quickly, advice accepted!

    Reply

    1. Hi, Kathy! I’m not sure what you mean by “not smooth”. I don’t think divinity is supposed be smooth. If you look at my divinity photos, they have kind of
      “spiky” texture. But they’re smooth on the tongue. My only advise is to shorten the beating time slightly if you don’t want to set too quickly.

      Reply

  3. Old-Fashioned Divinity Recipe (18)
    Love this recipe. The flavor and texture are amazing. I didn’t have to stir nearly as much as stated in recipe but I knew what texture to look for. I will definitely be making these again.

    Reply

    1. Yay, I’m so happy you loved the recipe. Thank you so much for your feedback, Heather! Merry Christmas!

      Reply

  4. Old-Fashioned Divinity Recipe (19)
    First time making this! Reminded me of my granny and the special memories I have around the holidays. Thank you!

    Reply

  5. What about the pecans? Should I toast them? You left them out of the instructions.

    Reply

    1. Hi, T. You can definitely toast the pecans, I usually don’t.

      Reply

  6. I tried it for the last two years with someones recipe, Now I will try yours. It looks much more understandable.

    Reply

    1. Hi, Bobbie! Hope you enjoy wonderful divinity this year.

      Reply

Old-Fashioned Divinity Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why isn't my divinity fluffy? ›

You can sometimes correct a divinity fail. If it is too stiff, add very hot water, beating in a half tablespoon at a time until it reaches a fluffy consistency. If it is too thin and does not set, try adding 1/2 tablespoon at a time of powdered sugar until it thickens.

How to tell when divinity is done? ›

The divinity is ready when it holds its shape in a mound on the parchment paper. If it turns into a puddle, continue beating the mixture.

Why won't my divinity candy set up? ›

Now, making divinity comes with all kinds of warnings about humidity and weather. 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.

How long does divinity take to set? ›

Divinity should be dry and set within two hours, but have patience. It may take a little longer. If you would like to try correcting a thin divinity, beat in a little bit of powdered sugar at a time until the consistency is drier and thicker, before dropping onto sheets of waxed paper again to dry.

Does divinity need to be refrigerated? ›

Divinity candy can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. It can also be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 month. If you are storing divinity candy in the refrigerator, let it come to room temperature before cutting it into squares.

What should humidity be to make 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 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.

What can I do with divinity that didn't set up? ›

But if your divinity fails to harden, you can beat in two tablespoons of powdered sugar and allow the mixture to rest a few minutes; if the candy hardens too much, you can blend in hot water a tablespoon at a time until the perfect, fluffy consistency is reached.

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.

How long does it take to finish divinity? ›

When focusing on the main objectives, Divinity: Original Sin is about 66½ Hours in length. If you're a gamer that strives to see all aspects of the game, you are likely to spend around 108 Hours to obtain 100% completion.

Can you make divinity when it's raining? ›

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.

Is divinity supposed to be sticky? ›

If the candy falls back into the bowl in ribbons that immediately merge back into themselves, the divinity is not done and you need to keep beating. Eventually, the divinity candy will lose it's glossiness and sheen and stop being so sticky, which means it's ready.

Can you freeze divinity in the fridge? ›

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.

Why is my divinity not setting? ›

If your divinity candy fails to harden, add 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar and beat again. Allow it to rest for about 15 minutes. This will absorb more moisture and will allow your sweet treat to harden. If you want your divinity candy to soften up a bit add hot water a tablespoon at a time and beat it again.

What beater to use for divinity? ›

KitchenAid recommends using the wire whip for making divinity candy.

Does weather affect divinity candy? ›

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.

What's the difference between fudge and divinity? ›

Typically known as "divinity," this fudge is unlike your average. This is because it's a fluffy white or artificially tinted fudge. Whereas traditional fudge is made from your usual baking ingredients (sugar, butter, milk and cream) -- divinity is created out of sugar, corn syrup, egg whites, and artificial flavoring.

What is the shelf life of divinity? ›

Product Care and Storage
ProductShelf Life
Divinity Rounds2 weeks
Divinity Bars8 weeks
Gummi items24 weeks
Fudge (all flavors)4 weeks
34 more rows

Is divinity candy safe to eat? ›

Dry meringue shells, which are baked in the oven, are safe. Divinity candy is also safe. Avoid icing recipes using uncooked eggs or egg whites.

Can you make fudge when it's raining? ›

Absolutely! Weather greatly affects our fudge. Cold weather and/or low humidity makes the harder outer shell more pronounced and the fudge less moist. Hot and/or humid weather makes the shell less effective and the interior of the fudge more creamy.

Is 35% humidity too dry? ›

The ideal relative humidity for health and comfort is somewhere between 30-50% humidity, according to the Mayo Clinic. This means that the air holds between 30-50% of the maximum amount of moisture it can contain.

How long does homemade Christmas candy last? ›

Most candies will keep 2 to 3 weeks (if not longer) if stored tightly covered in a cool, dry place or in the refrigerator. It's best to avoid storing different types of candy together in the same container because hard candies will become soft and sticky, and soft candies will dry out.

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.

Does the weather affect making 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 I get rid of stunned divinity? ›

Stunned can be removed only through spells or scrolls.

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