I am going to beg the forgiveness of all of my healthy readers in advance. I have already secured it from my IRL friends by letting them serve as taste testers. 
I am joining Rebecca at Turned Loose and sharing a Christmas treat. I enjoy baking and making candy during the holiday season, but when doing a lot of baking the cost can add up. Divinity is made from items that most people have on hand and all of the ingredients are fairly inexpensive except for the nuts, which are optional.
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup water
2 egg whites
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)
Equipment Needed:
Free standing mixer
candy thermometer
In a medium sauce pan, mix sugar, corn syrup and water. Cook over a medium-high heat, while stirring until the mixture comes to a boil.
Clip candy thermometer to the pan. Continue cooking over medium-high heat without stirring until it reaches 260 degrees ( hard-ball stage).
Once you no longer need to stir the sugar mixture, you can prepare the egg white. In a large mixing bowl, beat egg whites on medium until they form stiff peaks, when pushed with a spoon.
Gradually pour the hot sugar mixture in a thin stream over the egg whites, while the mixer is still set on medium ( I am wondering if I should have vlogged this step?!?) After all of the hot mixture has been added to the egg whites, increase speed to high and beat for about 3 minutes.
Turn off mixer and scrape sides of bowl. Add vanilla. Continue beating on high until the candy starts to lose its gloss ( about 5-6 minutes). When beaters are lifted, the candy should fall in a thick ribbon and form a mound.
Stir in nuts, if you like, then drop with a tablespoon ( I use a 1 tablespoon cookie dough scoop
Let them set until they have cooled and the outer layer has become somewhat dry and not sticky ( 1 –2 hours). Store in an airtight container.
What treats do you enjoy making during the holidays?
Related Posts:
Pumpkin Pie Fudge
Chai Spiced Divinity with Pecans
Homemade Candy Round Up
Alea,
It looks divine! I bet your family loved you this weekend.
vickie
Alea,
Thanks so much for the memory. My Ma-Maw used to make divinity each Christmas. It was so good!! Have a lovely week.
You certainly have made this look easy enough for even me! I am a candy baby, in that I don't make much, too scared! Might change due to this great recipe. I do make toffee, it is foolproof, which is good for me.
My absolute favorite candy ever! I have to limit myself to Christmas and Easter though because I can eat so much. I have never made it with corn syrup though, mine comes from a very old cook book of my grandmother's that requires, sugar, water, vanilla and eggs. I can't wait for December to arrive!
That DOES look good…maybe I need to go get myself a candy thermometer?! And I agree that you made it look easy. I loved divinity as a kid, but I remember whenever I requested it, my mom would beg off that it was too much of a pain to make. I think she passed on to me her fear of candy thermometers.
So, with that said, my other favorites are chocolate-covered peanut butter balls, Russian teacakes, and spritz cookies!
A candy thermometer was the first gadget I bought for my kitchen when I moved out. My mom was always hesitant about making candies too and it is easy to pick up on our mother's cooking aversions – but my dad got me started making candy and it really isn't hard.
I love nuts in my divinity but I like the idea of using crushed candy cane to make them festive.
This looks amazing! I have never tasted divinity but I’ll be remedying that by making this recipe just as soon as I can!
I’ve seen divinity, heck, even my mom has made it but I’ve never once tried it. Looks easy enough to make though.
My Mim still says to this day that the best day to make divinity is when it is storming, she says it all has to do with getting those peaks stiff. haha