Description
Divinity candy brings Southern sweetness to holiday gatherings with its cloud-like meringue and nutty crunch. Delicate, pillowy swirls of pure sugar magic melt perfectly on your palate, promising a nostalgic treat that connects generations of home bakers.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 14 cups granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 2 egg whites, room temperature
Flavoring and Seasoning:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Nuts:
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Prepare a spacious baking sheet by layering it with parchment paper, ensuring a smooth, flat surface for candy placement.
- Combine sugar, water, corn syrup, and salt in a robust saucepan, heating gradually over medium flame while occasionally stirring until the concoction reaches precisely 260°F on a candy thermometer (approximately 7-10 minutes).
- Simultaneously, whip egg whites using a stand mixer or electric beater, accelerating to high speed until peaks become rigid and maintain defined shape.
- Carefully extract the molten sugar mixture from heat source once temperature target is achieved.
- Initiate continuous high-speed mixing while meticulously streaming the scorching liquid into whipped egg whites, maintaining a thin, consistent flow over 2-3 minutes.
- Continue aggressive mixing until the substance transforms, losing its lustrous appearance and developing a sturdy, structured consistency (roughly 6-10 minutes).
- Gently fold chopped pecans and vanilla extract into the glossy mixture, ensuring even distribution throughout the candy base.
- Utilize butter-coated spoons to swiftly deposit rounded portions onto prepared parchment, creating delicate mounds with elegant curled tops using spoon’s reverse side.
- Allow candies to solidify naturally at ambient temperature, permitting complete drying which may require an entire evening depending on atmospheric humidity.
Notes
- Precise Sugar Temperature is Crucial, aim for exactly 260°F to achieve the perfect texture and prevent crystallization.
- Work Quickly when dropping the candy onto parchment paper, as the mixture sets fast and can become challenging to shape.
- Humidity Affects Setting Time, so choose a dry day for making divinity to ensure proper hardening and glossy appearance.
- Customize Flavors by substituting pecans with other nuts like walnuts or almonds, or adding a splash of different extracts for unique variations.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 15 mg
- Fat: 3 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg