The BEST Divinity Candy I’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 these Homemade Gumdrops, 5 Minute Fantasy Bars, and Chocolate Pretzel Peanut Butter Balls!
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’s Martha Washington Candies or one of my personal favorites, these Buttermilk 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.
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:
- Peanut Butter Fudge
- Peppermint Fudge
- Buttermilk Pecan Pralines
- Homemade Gumdrops
- M&Ms Marshmallow Dream Bars
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
- Prep. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, butter two teaspoons and let egg whites come to room temperature.
- In a large microwave safe glass measuring cup, combine sugar, water, corn syrup and salt.
- Heat until syrup has reached the hard ball stage of 260°F.
- When the syrup is nearly done, start beating the egg whites on medium speed until they are at stiff peaks.
- 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.
- Once your candy has reached this point, quickly stir in the pecans and vanilla extract.
- Use the buttered teaspoons to scoop out rounded teaspoons of the candy and drop onto the parchment paper.
- Let the divinity sit at room temperature until dry to the touch.
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.
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.
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
- 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.
- 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.
- Be prepared. I have the very first instruction listed as preparing the baking sheet with
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
More Christmas Candy To Try
- Penuche
- Christmas Peppermint Patties
- Chocolate Covered Mint Patties
- Toffee
- M&Ms Marshmallow Dream Bars
- Rocky Road Peanut Clusters
- Christmas Crack Recipe
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls with Rice Krispies
- Chocolate Pretzel Peanut Butter Balls
- Maple Nut Fudge
How To Make Divinity Candy
Microwave Divinity Candy
Ingredients
- 2 egg whites room temperature
- 2 ½ cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup light corn syrup
- ⅛ 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
Nutrition
Originally published December 16, 2018.
KARA BARR says
I remember learning to make divinity when I was in my twenties. I ruined a lot of candy in the learning process. Now I can make it and it sets up every time. Mom tells me it is better than what her mother used to make. Don’t get frustrated if you ruin a few batches. You’ll get the feel for it and it will become perfect!
Mary Jane says
When I was growing up, our neighbor made & gave us Divinity. It was heavenly. I’m looking forward to trying my hand at it this year. One question, though: how do you use your left over egg yolks? I hate to waste. Thank you.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Lemon curd! It’s what I make almost every time I have leftover yolks lol! https://www.momontimeout.com/homemade-microwave-lemon-curd/
jose says
The Divinity Recipe is the easiest sweet treat to make for the holiday season! It’s deliciously chewy and sweet with crunchy pecans and a hint of vanilla. You can whip up a batch in a flash and serve it to your family and friends at Christmas.
James Kinser says
This is the easiest divinity to make, it takes me back to childhood, thanks for an excellent recipe that’s is so easy to make.
Becci Boo says
I’ve made Divinity for my Daddy every Christmas until he passed. 2 tips: never try to make this on a cloudy or rainy day, only sunny dry days. It prevents the candy from setting up and you’ll likely have the runny result on a day with lots of humidity.
And…try pouring the whole batch at once so it doesn’t set up to quickly at the end. Then I just cut the whole thing into squares with a pizza wheel. Then you bypass spoons completely