Old-Fashioned Divinity Candy Recipe (2024)

This Old Fashioned Divinity Candy Recipe is a wonderful, Southern confection that is perfect for adding to a plate of goodies to share with loved ones during the holidays!

Old-Fashioned Divinity Candy Recipe (1)
Table of Contents
  1. Old Fashioned Divinity Recipe
  2. Tests to Make Sure the Divinity is Done
  3. More Candy Recipes You'll Love
  4. More Favorites from House of Nash Eats
  5. Old Fashioned Divinity Candy Recipe

Old Fashioned Divinity Recipe

This old fashioned divinity candy recipe is a sweet treat I love to make and share during the holiday season, and I'm guessing fewer people have heard of it, much less tasted it before, unless you grew up in the South.

Old fashioned divinity is a vintage recipe for a meringue-based candy that I would describe as somewhere between fudge (even though there is no chocolate in most divinity, it is often even referred to as Divinity Fudge), nougat, and marshmallow.

It's a billowy light, super-sweet, airy candy confection and it tastes...well, divine. Hence the name.

If you love making homemade candy during the holidays to share with friends & family, be sure to also check out mySouthern Pecan Pralines, English Toffee, Easy Homemade Peppermint Bark,andOld-Fashioned Homemade Peanut Brittle (my second most popular candy recipe after this divinity!).

Old-Fashioned Divinity Candy Recipe (2)

The only place I have ever actually seen it sold is on Main Street USA in Disneyland in the candy store where it comes packaged in little rectangular tinfoil trays next to the walnut fudge. It's what I would pick out as my special treat when I was a kid and we would go to the park with my aunts and grandparents, who would let us choose one thing to take home and share.

Divinity is a classic candy recipe made with just a few ingredients: granulated sugar, corn syrup, and water get boiled together with a pinch of salt until they reach a hard ball stage before very slowly pouring the liquid sugar mixture over stiff egg whites in a thin, steady stream.

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Then chopped pecans and a little vanilla are stirred in at the end for texture and flavor.

Old-Fashioned Divinity Candy Recipe (4)

Tests to Make Sure the Divinity is Done

The trickiest part to making this old fashioned divinity candy recipe is knowing when it is done and ready to be dropped into little mounds or poured into a pan to set. But I have two tests to help you out.

The first test is by just turning off your mixer and lifting the beaters. 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.

The second test is even easier, I think, because all you do if you are having a hard time telling whether the divinity is still glossy in the first test is to go ahead and stop the mixer, drop a teaspoonful of candy onto wax paper, and check whether the candy will hold its shape.

If it puddles, the divinity isn't ready, but if it holds a peak and stays in a nice mound, you are good to go.

You definitely want a candy thermometer (affiliate link) for this recipe though, because if you don't bring the sugar/corn syrup mixture up to 260 degrees F before slowly adding it to stiff egg whites while beating, then candy won't set.

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Divinity Candy Variations

There are a few popular divinity candy variations because the base itself is such a great backdrop for mix-ins like the pecans that I chose to use here. But some other great flavor ideas would be to stir in the following combinations.

  • Walnuts and 1 teaspoon of maple extract for maple walnut divinity
  • Crushed peppermint sticks for peppermint divinity
  • Maraschino cherries for maraschino cherry divinity
  • 2 cups coconut for coconut divinity
  • Almond extract with dried cranberries for cranberry almond divinity

And you can color any batch of divinity with just a couple of drops of food coloring just to change things up. Although I love the pure white look and nutty taste of this classic, old fashioned divinity candy recipe. And it's the one that gets made most at our house.

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What are your favorite food gifts to share with others during the holidays?

More Candy Recipes You'll Love

  • Grandpa Johnson's Easy Homemade Rocky Road Fudge
  • Grandma Nash's Best Butter Almond English Toffee
  • Christmas Pretzel Hugs
  • Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods

More Favorites from House of Nash Eats

  • White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake
  • Korean Short Ribs
  • Cuban Mojo

Did you make this recipe?

Let me know what you thought with a comment and rating below. You can also take a picture and tag me on Instagram @houseofnasheats or share it on the Pinterest pin so I can see.

Old-Fashioned Divinity Candy Recipe (10)

PrintPinRate

Old Fashioned Divinity Candy

4.95 from 150 votes

Amy Nash

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 40 pieces

This Old Fashioned Divinity Candy Recipe is a wonderful, Southern confection that is perfect for adding to a plate of goodies to share with loved ones during the holidays!

Ingredients

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

Instructions

  • Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silpat mat and set aside.

  • In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar, water, corn syrup and salt and cook, stirring occasionally, just until the mixture starts to boil. Then clip a candy thermometer (affiliate link) to the side of the pan and continue to cook without stirring until the temperature reaches 260 degrees F, about 8-10 minutes.

  • While the sugar mixture is cooking, beat the egg whites on high speed using a stand mixer with a whisk attachment until stiff peaks form.Then switch to the paddle attachment.

  • Once the sugar mixture reaches 260 degrees F, remove from heat and very slowly pour it in a thin, steady stream, over the egg whites while mixing on high speed. It should take about 2 minutes to pour the hot liquid over the egg whites, so go slow and don't rush this step.

  • Continue to beat on high speed for another 5-8 minutes until the candy loses some of its glossiness and starts to hold its shape. You can stop mixing and test a small amount of candy by dropping a small spoonful of it onto the parchment paper to see if it holds its shape in a nice mound with nice swirls on top or if it melts down into a puddle. Continue to beat a minute or two longer if the divinity doesn't hold its shape yet, test again.

  • Mix in the vanilla and the chopped pecans when the candy stays in a mound instead of melting into itself.

  • Using two spoons sprayed lightly with cooking spray, drop tablespoon size scoops of divinity onto the prepared baking sheet, using one spoon to scrape the hot candy off the other spoon. You will want to work quickly while the candy is still hot.

  • Let the candy set, then store for up to 5 days in an airtight container.

Video

Notes

From everything I have seen, divinity can be finicky about setting up on humid days. I haven't experienced this firsthand, but thought I would give you a heads up that you might not want to try this recipe for the first time on a rainy day.

Nutrition

Calories: 31kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Sodium: 12mg | Sugar: 3g

Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @HouseOfNashEats or tag #houseofnasheats!

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About the author

Old-Fashioned Divinity Candy Recipe (15)

Hi, I'm Amy

I enjoy exploring the world through food, culture, and travel and sharing the adventure with mostly from-scratch, family friendly recipes that I think of as modern comfort cooking.

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Old-Fashioned Divinity Candy Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is divinity candy so hard to make? ›

As sugar attracts water, any humidity or moisture in the air can affect how your divinity turns out. Divinity should be dry and set within two hours, but have patience. It may take a little longer.

What is divinity candy made of? ›

Divinity candy is made with light corn syrup, sugar, and stiff egg whites for a soft, nougat-like festive Southern treat! It's no surprise this traditional divinity candy recipe has stood the test of time. Made with basic ingredients you likely already have on hand, this easy-to-follow method is basically foolproof.

What is the difference between divinity candy and nougat? ›

Divinity candy and nougat differ in their ingredients, preparation, and textures. Divinity is made from sugar, corn syrup or maple syrup, and egg whites, resulting in a light and fluffy texture. Nougat, on the other hand, is made from sugar, honey or glucose syrup, and egg whites, producing a chewy and dense texture.

What's the difference between meringue and divinity? ›

Divinity Candy Versus Meringue

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.

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. However, "seven-minute frosting," made by combining hot sugar syrup with beaten egg whites, is safe.

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.

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.

Does divinity need to be refrigerated? ›

Layer fudge pieces or divinity between waxed paper in an airtight container to prevent from quickly drying out. Store at room temperature up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

How long will divinity keep? ›

Divinity candy stays fresh even at room temperature for 10 to 14 days. The heat from the sugar syrup removes the danger of the egg content spoiling. To store the divinity candy, line an airtight storage container with wax paper.

How do you soften divinity candy? ›

If you put them in a humid environment they'll absorb moisture. If you have a deep enough bowl with a lid, put a glass of water in the middle and surround the glass with the candies. Keep the lidded bowl in a room-temperature place for a few days where it won't be bumped (you don't want the water to spill...).

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.

Is divinity the same as marshmallow? ›

Old fashioned divinity is a vintage recipe for a meringue-based candy that I would describe as somewhere between fudge (even though there is no chocolate in most divinity, it is often even referred to as Divinity Fudge), nougat, and marshmallow.

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 makes divinity sticky? ›

Most people blame the weather for bad divinity, but the culprit is usually impatience. If you take the sugar off the stove too early, it will not set. I've made lots of batches that did not harden properly. Divinity should never be tacky or sticky, and it should not be crunchy.

Why is divinity candy called divinity? ›

This sweet candy is really popular in the south and is a holiday time classic. It is a fun little treat because it isn't super well know but people rave about it. I read somewhere that when someone first tasted this nougat-like candy they exclaimed that is was “Divine.” Hence, the name Divinity.

What to do if divinity doesn't harden? ›

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.

Is Divinity Original Sin complicated? ›

If you don't farm enough to get all the skills and some good armour then yes it can be hard. The good thing about this game is like even after 80 hours there are still things to learn and to experiment. eh, kinda. On normal difficulty it's harder than the average game but not quite at "the dark souls of" level.

Why is my divinity not holding its shape? ›

Just like any other divinity, you must beat it long enough, so don't lose patience with the process! Mixture will thicken once you beat in enough cool air and it begins to look dull and not shiny. If you try to drop it when it is still too hot and thin, it will not hold its shape and it is not ready!

References

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