Divinity, My Forbidden Confection -or- How to Torture Children with Holiday Candy
HOME– Divinity was the forbidden confection of my childhood. It taunted me through the holidays. It would be made in secret batches (Aunt Donna was the usual suspect responsible for the most delectable morsels) and kept under tight security in special Tupperware containers, passed around furtively to card-carrying, Adults Only.
Children were never offered divinity. And if we begged, we got one piece per batch, never more; it was out of the question.
I always assumed this was because divinity was made from expensive ingredients that underwent a laborious candy-coating process of the utmost delicacy and focused intensity. One piece took hours to create– a tiny frosted treasure to behold in your cupped hands. It glowed like a glossy white nougat. It smelled like ice cream. It tasted très taboo.
But, Nah. Divinity is actually quite easy to make. And the most expensive ingredient is the tablespoon of good vanilla. You see, I know this because I crossed that knowing threshold today. I made my first batch of divinity and it was easy. Easy as PIE. And kids can have piece of pie. Pie is hardly elusive or unattainable.
Discovery: Divinity is nothing more than pure, unadulterated sugar melted with pure, adulterated corn syrup, which is whirred together into liquid candy, then whipped into a buttery, frothy, peaked frenzy.
Aha moment: Children should be kept very, very far away from these intense sugary blobs of carbohydrate finery or they will quickly ruin a perfectly calm evening.
There are no kids here tonight for me to torture with my Adults Only divinity. So, I will eat all of the divinity I want, bounce around like a madwoman for fifteen minutes, and go to bed early with a mysterious tummy ache. Ah, the joys of adulthood.
Divinity
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4 cups Granulated Sugar
1 cup Corn Syrup
3/4 cup Water
3 Egg Whites (at room temperature)
1 T good quality Vanilla
2 cups chopped Pecans
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Melt sugar, corn syrup and water together in a large, heavy bottomed pan. After the sugar melts, stop stirring, but continue to heat until a candy thermometer shows 260* degrees. While the sugar is heating, whip egg whites in a mixer until peaks are stiff. When sugar reaches the hard ball candy stage, slowly pour into egg whites. Add vanilla. Whip/beat at high speed while pouring liquids. In 10-15 minutes, the mixture will be sufficiently thickened. Stir in chopped pecans. Drop by spoonfuls onto parchment/wax paper. Allow to cool completely.
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Note: You’ll want to make divinity when the humidity is low. When forming your nougats, add drops of hot water to the mixture if it thickens.
December 6th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
This is absolutely forbidden. I bite of these, I may not able to stop.
December 7th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Ha! I’ve said for years that, “the best part of being an adult is that I can have cookies and pie anytime of the day or night, in any amount, without asking permission.” Amen.
December 7th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
I remember my grandmother making this and getting a little every now and then. Yummy stuff. Didn’t realize it was so easy – now what’s gonna stop me from making my own stash to hide away from my little boogers?
December 8th, 2009 at 11:26 am
I have fun making divinity each year. Each child of mine would pick a favorite Christmas goodie. Scott wanted fudge (cooked on the stove), Todd wanted divinity, and Kelley wanted sandies. All of these are recipes from my mom. So, each year I make at least one batch of each. Then we finish the baking with a birthday cake for Jesus. Grandaughter, Taylor, has been helping the last few years.
December 8th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
I’m drooling already, this is definitely going on to my “to make” list!
December 11th, 2009 at 9:57 am
I have a “love/hate” relationship with Divinity that is difficult for me to explain! So I’ll leave it at that. But I will say, the more I read your blog the more I appreciate your unique voice. Voices like yours are why I read blogs. GREG
December 12th, 2009 at 12:14 am
I have no idea what divinity is, never seen or heard about it. Holding a huge grudge against my mother right now….What did she do? Missed coming here, was too busy moving cross country. But now I’m back and ready to discover how divinity taste.
December 13th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
My gosh….the amount of sugar!No wonder it’s forbidden. I’ll be hyper if I eat them. I’m sure they are very addictive….mmmm. I’ll make these for those with sweet tooth.
December 13th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
@Mary Moh– I know, I know! The sugar content is way overboard, not to mention the corn syrup! So, the truth is, that I gorged on these last Sunday and then, starting Monday morning, I went cold turkey on the sugar all week long. It hasn’t been easy, especially when walking by the glass-domed mound of white pecan temptation, staring me down and making me lick my lips!
But, I’ve made it – I’ve kicked the temptation to the curb and I feel empowered! And now I wonder, in this season of sugar consumption, what is a girl to blog about if it’s not the naughty bits? I am in a real fix. But, at least it’s not a sugar fix.
Ideas, anyone?
December 15th, 2009 at 6:11 am
Seriously! That’s all there is to it! My aunt would always make this, and I would sneak it off of her lovely candy tray.
December 15th, 2009 at 9:02 am
Yet another passage to adulthood. Congrats on your cooking “bat mitzvah” Kim!
I’ve been on a sugar high myself these past few days. Been making candy each evening after work. It just doesn’t seem like the holidays unless I am waist deep in sugar and chocolate and vanilla and… you get the idea! Thus far I have made peanut butter fudge (two batches, cuz Gregg ate most of the first one, so none available for gifts!) white chocolate fudge, easy toffee, Ragin’ Cajun Pecans, Salty Pecan Candy, and Cranberry Almond Bark. And naturally as I cut & package these little morsels of yumminess, I MUST taste them! All the little bits that flake off are also fair game. Must. Work. Out. More. Happy Holidays!
January 2nd, 2010 at 8:48 am
Cute post.
I did not know how to make it either. You have lucky friends, sounds like a perfect little gift.
LL