Mama's Divinity

Recipe courtesy Paula Deen

Show: Paula's Home CookingEpisode: A Candy Occasion

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (89)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(89)

Cook Time:
30 min
Level:
Intermediate
Yield:
8 to 10 servings

Times:

Prep: 10 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 30 min
Total:: 40 min

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Ingredients

4 cups sugar
1 cup white corn syrup
3/4 cup cold water
3 egg whites
1 teaspoon pure vanilla
2 cups chopped pecans

Directions

In a heavy saucepan over medium heat, stir together the sugar, corn syrup, and water. Stir only until sugar has dissolved. Do not stir after this point. Cook syrup mixture until it reaches 250 degrees F on a candy thermometer, bringing it to a hard ball stage.

While the syrup is cooking, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Once the sugar mixture reaches 250 degrees F, carefully pour a slow steady stream of syrup into the stiffly beaten egg whites, beating constantly at high speed. Add the vanilla and continue to beat until mixture holds its shape, approximately 5 minutes. Stir in pecans.

Using 2 spoons, drop the divinity onto waxed paper, using 1 spoon to push the candy off the other. This may take a little practice because the technique is to twirl the pushing spoon, making the candy look like the top of a soft serve ice cream. If the candy becomes too stiff, add a few drops of hot water. You will need to work fast when making this type of candy. After you spoon the cooked sugar and nuts onto the waxed paper, you're done. Cool the candies on racks completely. You can store them in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Mama's Divinity
Em Needham, MA 01-14-2010
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Diviinity Dipped in Chocolate
Rated: 3 stars out of 5

I tried this recipe and it came out just a teensy bit too soft (it was probably a bit too humid). It just wouldn't hold it's... shape. Since I hate to throw food away, I stuck the whole bowl of it in the fridge, and the next day it had stiffened up enough to stay in balls, but they melted when I left them on the counter. My mom had the brilliant idea to dip the balls in melted semi-sweet chocolate, and it's so good, I don't think I'll ever make plain divinity again! So if your divinity fails, try this before tossing the whole batch down the drain.Read more
recipe Mama's Divinity
Kathy Laurens, SC 12-27-2009
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My First Attempt
Rated: 3 stars out of 5

My divinity turned out "rubbery"... :( What did I do wrong? I don't think it's the recipe....I think I def did something... wrong although I followed the directions carefully. Any ideas? Read more
recipe Mama's Divinity
R.A. Ceres, CA 12-26-2009
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Best 1st time divinity recipe!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This was my first atempt and I viewed Paula's video first. It was the lifeline! I followed everything exactly right down to... the temperature and the 2 cups of chopped pecans. Only thing differently was that I used a 2 oz. cookie scoop on waxed paper. They set up fantastically! Will definitely do this again. My husband thought they were just like his Mama's!Read more
recipe Mama's Divinity
Keisha Holts Summit, MO 12-26-2009
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Great flavor
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I made this on Christmas Eve. The only thing I changed was the pecans - rather than adding them to the candy, I put a pecan... half on every piece. I LOVE pecans, but didn't have enough to mix in the candy AND put on top because I ate half the bag while making the candy! hahaha! My hand mixer pooped out within the first 3 minutes, so I did the rest by hand with a wooden spoon. TALK ABOUT EXERTING! After a couple of blisters, 'noodle arms' and the lack of desire to move for the rest of the night..... I tried a piece. It turned out SO great! I was pleasantly surprised at how fluffy and wonderful the texture was since I mixed it by hand. It would probably be fluffier if my mixer didn't die on me, but I'm darn pleased with the recipe! Oh, the memories it brings back of growing up in Texas!Read more
recipe Mama's Divinity
JENN Lexington, SC 12-25-2009
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First Time Divinity Maker, and it is divine!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I never thought I'd make a Paula Deen recipe without a "sticka butta" but my sister -in-law and I made this today and it is... fantastic! I read all the reviews before making - definitely recommend reading other users' ideas. Here's our tips - boil to 255 degrees and test a drop of the candy in a small bowl of ice water to ensure it comes to a hard ball stage before you take it off the burner - do not stir between the sugar melting and the hard ball stage (as the recipe says) - pour VERY slowly into your mixing bowl. Recommend a stand mixer because otherwise there's NO way you could do this alone. - use small flexible icepacks to cool the bowl, cuts down on mixing time - definitely mix more than 5 minutes - until the candy is dull and forms peaks (just when it starts to conform to the mixer attachment). We mixed about 14 minutes. - add vanilla at the very end, just before you STIR in pecans - we found two cups of pecans to be a little much - having two cooks in the kitchen is key because otherwise it's very hard to spoon it out fast enough (before it dries in the bowl) For first time divinity makers - we were thrilled!Read more
recipe Mama's Divinity
Donna Metairie, LA 12-23-2009
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Question About this recipe
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I tried to make tonight, which was a bad idea because I live in New Orleans and it's raining outside. I had a problem before... I even really got started...just wondering how the sugar mixture doesn't burn in the pot while heating up to temp when it specifically says not to stir. I did have kids running everywhere while I was trying to work, but one minute I was 200 degrees and in the next second it was at like 275 and completely ruined. I rated it excellent because I expect when I actually get it to work properly, it will be great. This was my favorite Christmas candy when I was a child, made by my great-grandmother, and I'd love to be able to share with my own children. Any hints?Read more