Old-Fashioned Divinity Candy Recipe

The word “divine” is a perfect way to describe Divinity candy. 

It’s a vintage treat that comes from the Southern United States. Every bite is chewy with a little crunch. You will love it! 

This incredibly sweet, nougat-like confection is nothing short of heavenly.

A word of warning, though. Candy-making requires a bit of work. 

In this recipe, you’ll put your accuracy and precision to the test. Don’t worry, I’ll hold your hand every step of the way.

Ready? Let’s indulge that sweet tooth, shall we? This is my favorite recipe for Divinity candy. 

Divinity Candy Recipe

Never heard of Divinity candy? No worries! 

Divinity is an airy and billowy confection. It’s popular in the South, especially during the holidays.

It’s a very sugary candy. It primarily features sugar, corn syrup, and egg whites. The texture is like fudge, nougat, and marshmallow.

It can be a little challenging to make, though.

It intimidates a lot of people because it requires ridiculous precision.

Luckily, candy-making is relatively easy once you learn the ropes. 

As long as you have a candy thermometer, you should be fine. If you don’t have one, invest in one.

Because, if you’ve had Divinity candy, you know it‘s worth the trouble.

How to Make Divinity Candy

Follow these steps to make the very best divinity candy:

1. Prep. Gather your equipment and measure out your ingredients.

NOTE: Everything needs to be ready to go before you begin. You must move at lightning speed once you start cooking the candy.

2. Combine the ingredients. Mix the sugar, corn syrup, water, and salt in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then stop stirring and let it bubble until it reaches 260 degrees Fahrenheit. (Approximately 8 to 10 minutes.)

3. Beat the egg whites. When the syrup nearly done, beat the egg whites in a stand mixer until they form stiff peaks.

4. Pour the syrup. Once the syrup reaches the correct temperature, remove the pot from the heat. Keep the mixer going and slowly stream the syrup into the whipped egg whites. Then, keep beating for 15-20 minutes, until it’s no longer glossy.

5. Test. Drop a small spoonful onto the baking sheet. If it holds its shape, it’s ready. If it melts, it needs longer in the mixer.

6. Stir in the extras. When the mixture holds its shapes, gently stir in the vanilla and pecans.

7. Form the candy. Use two greased spoons to drop mounds of candy onto the prepared baking sheet. Create swirls on top for a pretty presentation.

8. Let it set. Allow the candy to cool and dry for 2 hours. Serve and enjoy!

Do I need a Stand Mixer to Make Divinity Candy?

I 1,000% recommend using a stand mixer. 

But you can still make Divinity candy with a hand mixer. It’s riskier and a lot more work, though.

Remember the step where you slowly pour dangerously hot syrup into egg whites? While beating the mixture at the same time?

That requires a lot of precision. 

You can do it alone, but you won’t have as much control. And that can lead to injury. 

So, if you’re working alone, using a stand mixer is best. 

If you’re beating by hand, it’s better to enlist someone to help you.

How to Know if the Syrup is Ready

Experienced candy-makers can tell the doneness of candy or syrup just by looking at it. But let’s not pretend to be experts here.

The best way is to use a candy thermometer. The syrup must reach 260 degrees Fahrenheit.

At this temperature, the syrup gets to the hard-ball stage – solid but still malleable. This is where it forms thick strings as it trickles from the spoon. 

Also, the syrup will ball up if you drop some into cold water. Thus, the name. 

How to Test if the Divinity Candy is Ready

Okay, so this is another tricky part. But we got this.

After you add the syrup to the egg whites, be patient. It might take as long as 15-20 minutes for it to be ready!

But several indicators will tell you when it is ready. These include:

1. The color will turn from glossy to matte. 

2. The candy should stick to the beaters when you lift them. If it drops back into the bowl, it isn’t ready.

3. The candy should hold its shape when dropped onto wax paper. If it droops or flattens, beat it again.

The Best Time to Make Divinity Candy

Another thing to consider when making Divinity candy is the weather.

You want to try this recipe on a chill, dry day. Humidity or moisture in the air will prevent the candy from drying. 

And then you’re left with a gooey mess. It will taste good, but it won’t be the same.

Tips and Tricks

I only have a couple of tips for this recipe:

• Calibrate your candy thermometer. If it isn’t correctly calibrated, it won’t do much good. To test, place the thermometer in boiling water. It should read 212 degrees Fahrenheit. 

• Add cream of tartar. Add just a pinch to the egg whites to help form stiff peaks. This tip is extra helpful to those who live at a high altitude.

• Clean the bowl. Wipe the mixing bowl and beater with white vinegar or lemon juice to remove any oils.

Divinity Candy Variations

You can’t do much to change the candy itself (except for extracts). But you can try a variety of mix-ins, such as:

• Crushed peppermint sticks
• Toasted shredded coconut
• Almonds or walnuts
• Cranberries or raisings
• Extracts (almond, lemon, orange)
• Chocolate chips

How to Store Divinity Candy

I almost NEVER have leftover divinity. If you do, store it properly for safe keeping.

To store. Place the candy in an airtight container and store it in a cool, dry place. It should stay fresh for up to 2 weeks.

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