Divinity is an old school candy that is perfect for holiday gifts and entertaining. Sweet, creamy nougat chock full of pecans, it’s right at home as part of your holiday treat-making!
Do you remember a few weeks ago when I shared a recipe for No Crust Pumpkin Pie? When going through the packet of vintage recipes where I found the pie recipe, I pulled out some others that I wanted to try. One of them was for Divinity and after a conversation with my children I feel compelled to add ‘the candy’.
While we were having dinner, I was thinking about the recipe. I remember first having Divinity as a child when visiting some relatives from the south. We had stopped at a rest stop while driving somewhere and one of the adults bought some. I’d never seen anything like this fluffy-looking, creamy white candy with a nougat-type consistency. It was sweet and dreamy.
Lost in my own thoughts I asked my husband, totally out of sync with the dinner time conversation, ‘what is the name of those old roadside restaurants? Stuckey’s?’ He thought so. ‘Why?’ he asked. ‘It was the first place I bought Divinity’.
My kids almost spit their food out and asked ‘WHAT is Divinity?!’ I explained what it was and one of them said they thought maybe I was referring to drugs. Great. I do that so often, buy drugs at rest stops. If unfamiliar with Divinity, I suppose the name does sound like drugs or maybe purchasing spiritual enlightenment.
The recipe I have for Divinity is meager in its instruction. It also did not use a candy thermometer (an Instant read thermometer works too). It made me realize how older recipes like this are most likely made with someone who has done it for years so the first timer knows what the mixture looks like and about how long it takes to get to each stage.
When making candy, the ‘soft ball’ and ‘hard ball’ stages are registered when a small spoonful of the cooking candy mixture is dropped into a bowl of cold water and it forms (you guessed it…) a soft or hard ball. I depend on temperatures when making candy recipes, though I double tested with the cold water method too!
Divinity is straight forward to make however there are deviations based on climate and equipment. After making my batch I noticed in researching the candy’s origins that it is not recommended to be made on humid days or in humid climates (something we don’t have in Colorado, ‘too much humidity’). I saw a few recommendations to remove 1 tablespoon of the water in the recipe if attempting it on a humid day. I also read a note from someone who made it on a rainy day in Seattle and maintains if you have a good candy thermometer and mixer you are fine. Who knows!
At the stage when beating together the hot candy mixture with the egg whites, I watched for the mixture beginning to thicken, not be as glossy as when I began mixing it and when I raised the whisk attachment the mixture slowly drizzled back into the bowl, thick enough to sit on the surface of the remaining mixture in the bowl rather than dissolving back into it.
Divinity is a very sweet candy, a little goes a long way so making smaller spoonfuls of it is the perfect approach. You’ll note the recipe calls for 1/2-1 cup of chopped pecans. The version you see in the photos contains 1 cup of pecans. I’ve made it with less pecans as well (which lends itself to a smoother appearance). My preference is more nuts to offset the sweetness but experiment to find you favorite ratio of nuts to the nougat.
My Tips for Making Divinity:
- Set up everything before you begin cooking. Once the sugar mixture reaches the correct temperature and is beaten into the egg whites, one must move quickly to spoon it onto the waxed paper before it begins to get stiff.
- Use a candy or instant read thermometer. It’s the easiest way to cook the sugar mixture the correct amount of time.
- Use a standing mixer. The hot sugar mixture is poured slowly into the egg whites while they are mixing AND the mixing of the candy takes a strong motor. I’m unsure it could be done with a hand held mixer.
- Spray the spoons used to scoop the candy onto the waxed paper with no-stick spray. I do this when making marshmallows and it works great to aid the speedy transfer of the candy to the waxed paper.
Divinity
Ingredients
- 2 cups Granulated Sugar
- ½ cup Light Corn Syrup
- ½ cup Water
- 2 Egg Whites , room temperature
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- ½-1 cup chopped Pecans
- Equipment: Candy thermometer or instant read thermometer , standing mixer, waxed paper, 2 dining spoons, non-stick spray
Instructions
- Fit two baking sheets with waxed paper. Spray two small dining spoons with non-stick spray and set aside.
- Place the egg whites in the bowl of a standing mixer equipped with the whisk attachment. Turn the mixer on high speed and beat the egg whites until they have stiff peaks. Swap the whisk attachment for a paddle attachment leaving the eggs in the mixer bowl.
- While the egg whites are beating, combine the sugar, corn syrup and water in a medium-size, heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir just until the sugar is dissolved then allow it to cook undisturbed until it reached 260 degrees (or the hard ball stage). Note: It took 14 minutes for me (I’m at 5,500 feet). The mixture will be light and bubbly.
- With the mixer running on high speed, slowly pour a steady drizzle of the hot sugar mixture into the stiff egg whites. Add the vanilla extract. Continue to beat the mixture until it thickens, is no longer glossy and when the paddle attachment is lifted out of the mixture, the mixture on the paddle attachment slowly flows back into the mixture in the bowl to sit on the surface not dissolve into the mixture (for me it was about 7 minutes using a Kitchenaid standing mixer; the time required will depend on your mixer). It is not as sticky as well.
- Hand stir the pecans quickly into the candy mixture. Using the prepared dining spoons, scoop some of the Divinity with one, and use the other to scrap it off the first spoon onto the waxed paper of the prepared baking sheet. The Divinity should hold its shape (if it does not it needs to be beaten further).
- Allow the candy to sit undisturbed for 2 hours then pack in a sealed container for up to two weeks or freeze.
Lea Ann (Cooking On The Ranch) says
Boy this brought back memories. My mom made Divinity every single Christmas. Along with Fudge, Hard Cinnamon Candy and Popcorn balls. Beautiful photo Toni.
Toni Dash says
Yum! It was a complete flashback for me too when I found the recipe. I’m not sure I’ve seen or thought about Divinity since I was a kid. The flavor brought it all back. Thanks for popping by Lea Ann! I hope you are well and enjoying the early holiday season (dishing up delicious food at your house no doubt).
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
That sounds absolutely amazing. I love to make dishes and treats that are unexpected, and I don’t see this much around here. I can’t wait to make this.
Jenna Wood says
I’ve never had divinity, but it seems easy enough to make. Maybe I’ll try it out if I can get these ads and pop ups at the bottom of your blog to leave me alone.
Jeanette says
I am almost embarrassed to say I have never heard of a divinity. They look so good I need to try them. Thank you for sharing this I am definitely going to try these during the holiday season.
Toni Dash says
Oh no! I hope you’ll love the Divinity. It’s such a unique candy.
Patty says
Looks delicious. And easy too!
Colleen Lanin says
Those look so good! I have to be honest. I’ve never heard of these before, but I can’t wait to make them. They sound delicious.
Reesa Lewandowski says
I’ve never heard of this before! We love pecans and this would be delicious!
Toni Dash says
So glad to introduce you to it Reesa!
Meagan says
These look so good. These would be great for a cookie exchange.
Pam Wattenbarger says
I love Divinity! It is a really popular Christmas candy in my area. My mom used to make it every year.
Kelly Hutchinson says
I have never had divinity candy, but it looks delicious! I think this would be perfect to make with my daughter.
Emily says
I grew up with my mom making divinity and i’ve yet to try it. I need to!
Toni Dash says
I feel like it’s one of those confections that has been on hiatus for a few decades! So many have commented about their mothers making it. Same for me; have not had it since my childhood. It has been a welcome reunion!
Liz Mays says
These candies look so fluffy and perfect. It would be super fun to try making some. They sound good!
Lisa Favre says
I have never had divinity before but it looks absolutely scrumptious! Totally willing to make a batch (or two!) of these!
Janell Poulette says
Divinity looks so yummy! I have never heard of this but i would love to make it. I love to bake this time of year like a lot people and i love to discover new recipes! I have everything but the pecans, so this will be an easy grocery trip!
Theresa says
I don’t think I’ve ever had Divinity before, but it sounds yummy. I have a vintage cookbook that my grandmother used in her home ec class. I bet there’s a similar recipe for this old school treat in there too!
Toni Dash says
I bet there is! The recipe I used was with other recipes that seem to date back to mid to earlier last century.
Amy Desrosiers says
I have heard of this at some point in my travels. I think the recipe sounds easy enough, and with some skil I can get some tasty bites like you have.
Betsy Segars says
How have I never had these before? They look absolutely delicious!
Kathy says
These look so good. I don’t recall if I’ve had them before or not. I’m going to give your recipe a try though because they look very good!
Tonia @TheChattyMomma says
I’m going to be making divinity candy with my girls for he first time this month. I’m hoping it comes out great. It’ll be perfect for parties too.
Kristin says
Divinity is my absolute favorite candy! I always get one when we go into See’s Candy. This recipe is definitely going to pack on a few pounds.
Toni Dash says
I had no idea See’s makes it Kristin! How fun. I don’t go to See’s often but now will keep my eye out when I do.
Dawn McAlexander says
I am not sure that I have ever had divinity candy, but it looks like something that I have tried before that I think was called puppy chow. If this is similar, then it is really delicious.
Toni Dash says
My knowledge of puppy chow is sugary covered cereal with other things thrown in. Divinity is a creamy candy nougat with pecans. Maybe there are different regional names for it? Whatever it’s called it’s pretty darn good!
gingermommyrants says
I have never tried to make Divinity before. It looks delicious. I am sure my family will love it.
Elizabeth Lampman says
Divinity is such a delicious treat. I have not had any in a long time. I will have to get the ingredients I need to make some this weekend.
patty says
I haven’t thought about divinity in years. My grandmother used to make it for me all the time. I am going to have make some and sit and look at old photos. Thanks for the memories.
Toni Dash says
So many people have made similar comments. I guess it’s unpopularity was at the heart of my kids thinking when I said ‘that’s where I bought Divinity’ thinking it was a drug reference LOL. Time to bring it back!
Seattle Travel Blogger says
These look like an unique candle.
I like this project.
Gabriel says
My mother in law makes this every year and it is…well…divine. My wife and I have tried it and doesn’t quite have the mastery that 60 years of practice gives.
Toni Dash says
There is definitely something to be said for those years of intuitive candy making; knowing the textures and signs like you know your own children! It struck me while making this (as mentioned in the post) that many made this type of candy well before instant read thermometers. They could read the change in the bubbling of the sugar mixture, knowing exactly how close to being done it was. I think we have probably lost that art (so good we have instant read thermometers). I think it’s also better to make it however imperfectly than let it disappear from the candy-making scene as I suspect it almost has from other reader’s comments.
Claudia Krusch says
I’ve never had them! I can’t wait to try it! They look sooooo good!
Brianne says
I’ve never heard of this candy before but it looks so yummy! I am definitely going to make these!
Tonya says
My grandmother used to make this! I haven’t tasted it in years. I love the way you packaged it. So pretty!
Kristi says
My Grandma actually made this for two holidays, Halloween and Christmas. Yes it was what she handed out on Halloween, a little bag of Divinity.
Toni Dash says
Kristi when I was researching the background of Divinity I feel like I read somewhere that people make/made it for Halloween too. I really don’t know much about it’s history. I just remember having it as a child and never seeing it again it seemed! Was fun to find the recipe and make some myself.
Tara says
I will have to try these. They do look delicious. These would be perfect to include in Christmas gift baskets.
Kiwi says
I can honestly say I never heard of divinity candy until I read this post. Interesting concept maybe I will have the opportunity to try these.
Rosey says
Nuts in nougat. A staple for treats this time of year that I absolutely love. 🙂
Louise Bishop says
This stuff is like crack lol SO addicting and so delicious!
Toni Dash says
Tell me about it! I’m sort of relieved the batch is gone for my lack of self-control around it!
Christina Aliperti says
I have heard of divinity but have never tasted it. It looks and sounds amazing!
Teresa Morton says
Made it and it was a snap! Turned out perfect. I live at 9000 ft.