Classic Southern Divinity Confection (Printer-friendly)

A snowy white, cloud-like candy made from whipped egg whites, sugar syrup, and crunchy nuts.

# What You'll Need:

→ Sugar Syrup

01 - 2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
02 - 1/2 cup light corn syrup
03 - 1/2 cup water
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Egg Whites

05 - 2 large egg whites, room temperature
06 - 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ Nuts

07 - 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

# How-To Steps:

01 - Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
02 - In a heavy saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, water, and salt. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves.
03 - Increase heat to medium-high and cook without stirring until syrup reaches 250°F on a candy thermometer.
04 - Beat egg whites in a stand mixer or with a hand mixer until stiff peaks form.
05 - Slowly pour the hot syrup in a thin stream into the egg whites with the mixer running on high speed.
06 - Continue beating until the mixture is thick, glossy, and holds its shape, approximately 6 to 8 minutes.
07 - Beat in the pure vanilla extract.
08 - Quickly fold in the chopped pecans or walnuts.
09 - Drop tablespoonfuls of the mixture onto the prepared baking sheets, working rapidly.
10 - Let the candies stand at room temperature until set and dry, about 2 hours.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It transforms just five basic ingredients into something that tastes expensive and special, the kind of gift people actually treasure.
  • The texture is genuinely addictive—crispy on the outside, melting soft inside—and way easier to make than you'd think.
  • Completely vegetarian and gluten-free, so it works for almost any dietary need without tasting like a compromise.
02 -
  • Humidity is your enemy with divinity—make this on a dry day, never when it's humid or rainy outside, or your candy will stay soft and sticky instead of setting up crisp.
  • The egg whites must be absolutely grease-free, or they won't whip properly; even a drop of yolk will sabotage the whole batch, so separate them carefully.
  • A candy thermometer is non-negotiable; eyeballing the temperature is how batches fail, so invest in a good one and trust it completely.
03 -
  • If your mixture starts to set too quickly before you finish dropping it, microwave it for 10–15 seconds to loosen it up again—divinity is forgiving if you know this trick.
  • Store finished divinity in an airtight container with parchment paper between layers so the pieces don't stick together, and keep it away from the kitchen heat and humidity.
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