Divinity is a nougat-like sugar candy that is aerated with egg-white foam. It’s a cross between a meringue and a candy, and can be soft and chewy, or hard and crunchy depending on temperature and ratio of sugar syrup to egg whites.
When done right, it’s light, fluffy, and well – simply divine. You can add nuts, dried fruits, or the classic pecan, however we’re purists and like our divinity to remain as pure as driven snow.
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Here’s how you do it:
Begin by beating the egg whites in a bowl, or a large standing mixer until peaks form.
Combine sugar, corn syrup and water in a large sauce pan over medium heat. Cook until the mixture reaches *260°F, or hard ball stage.
At this stage, a candy thermometer is of the utmost importance. Allowing the mixture to get too hot will disrupt the light and fluffy texture of the finished product. The Super-Fast® Thermapen® is the ideal tool for the job. It reads temperatures in 3 seconds and is accurate to ±.7°F. With a Thermapen, it’s so much easier to avoid burning your sugar.
Another option for monitoring the temperature of your cooking sugar is the ChefAlarm, Cook’s Illustrated’s “winner” for clip-on digital thermometers for candy-making and deep frying. With an included pot clip, it’s easy to attach your probe to the side of the pot. Set the high alarm to sound when you’ve reached 260°F and you’re all set. ChefAlarm’s temperatures are accurate to within 1° so there’s little chance of overcooking the sugar.
Once to temp, slowly pour the sugar syrup into the egg whites, beating constantly. Continue beating to let the mixture aerate (roughly 5-8 minutes). Mix in vanilla and fruits or nuts (if you must) until fully incorporated.
Drop a teaspoonful onto a cookie sheet coated with non-stick spray, or better yet, a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper. Let cool. For those of you who are more particular about presentation, the mixture can also be poured into a 9-inch square pan, cooled and cut into uniform squares.
Consider this: divinity hates humidity. 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.
*260°F is only applicable at sea level. If you’re at a higher elevation, you need to reduce temperature by 1°F for every 500 ft above sea level. For more candy temperatures, see our candy temperature chart, here.
Ingredients:
3 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
2/3 cup warm water
2 egg whites
1 tsp vanilla extract
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Resources:
Harold McGee – On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen
Myrecipes.com
FAQs
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.
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.
How long does it take divinity to set up? ›
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Does weather affect divinity candy? ›
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.
What is the best way to store divinity candy? ›
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.
What is the shelf life of divinity? ›
Product Care and Storage
| Product | Shelf Life |
|---|
| Divinity Rounds | 2 weeks |
| Divinity Bars | 8 weeks |
| Gummi items | 24 weeks |
| Fudge (all flavors) | 4 weeks |
34 more rowsConsider this: divinity hates humidity. 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 nougat and divinity? ›
Nougat, on the other hand, is made from sugar, honey or glucose syrup, and egg whites, producing a chewy and dense texture. Divinity has a sweet and creamy flavor with hints of vanilla, while nougat offers a sweet and nutty taste.
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 fluffy? ›
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. Repeat the process until you get the desired fluffy consistency.
What's the difference between marshmallows and divinity? ›
Actually, divinity is a candy that has the texture of a marshmallow, although there are no marshmallows used in the recipe. It's also similar to fudge, but still so different. (Is that clear enough😉 ?) If you have never tried divinity, this is an easy recipe to give a try and a taste!
What is the most complicated candy to make? ›
What Is the Most Difficult Candy to Make?
- Source. Turkish Delight. A family of confections based on a gel of starch and sugar, often flavored with rosewater, lemon, or mastic. ...
- Source. Marzipan Fruits. ...
- Source. French Macarons. ...
- Source. Dragée. ...
- Source. Croquembouche. ...
- Source. Candy Canes. ...
- Source. Artisanal Chocolates. ...
- Source. Hard Candy.
This is one of the few games where normal difficulty is actually difficult, especially for new players. try lowering the difficulty until you understand mechanics and interactions better, when you feel that lower difficulties are too easy then you can think about raising it if you want.
How long did it take to make divinity original sin? ›
After six years of development, Larian Studios has released Divinity: Original Sin The Board Game—a distillation of its unique approach to fantasy RPGs into a box full of cardboard and plastic.
Does humidity affect making 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.
