Mama's Divinity

Recipe courtesy Paula Deen

Show: Paula's Home CookingEpisode: A Candy Occasion

Rated: 4 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (73)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(73)

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
Sandy Mount Sterling, KY 11-05-2009
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Couldn't get it
Rated: 2 stars out of 5

I tried this recipe two times and it was a failure both times. I must be doing something wrong.
recipe Mama's Divinity
WILLIAM Hershey, PA 07-12-2009
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Simple and Easy
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I followed the recipe to the letter and it turned out great. Family could not stop eating it!! The only variation was... making it in a tray vs. spooning each one...saved loads of time. Highly recommend this recipe.Read more
recipe Mama's Divinity
DONNA PIKEVILLE, KY 04-01-2009
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Luscious Candy!!!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This is the recipe I have used for years and it is by far the absolute best. My Grandmother said,"successfully making this... little delicacy is the mark of a true Southern cook!". She also taught me that until I could master the art of getting the candy onto the waxed paper, the easy way to do it was to line a cake pan with buttered foil, pour the divinity in and let it set, then lift it out by rhe edges of the foil or turn the pan upside down to remove it, peel off the foil and cut into squares. Store in airtight container at room temerature. I noticed that a few cooks had trouble with the candy not setting up properly so I will pass along another of Granny's pearls of wisdom. If you have cooked the mixture to the correct temperature, don't get frustrated, just keep beating. Nine times out of ten it will eventually set up. I have had to beat it, on occasion, upwards of 20 minutes when using a lower powered mixer.Read more
recipe Mama's Divinity
carol RESEDA, CA 03-07-2009
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thank you so much
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

imso happy i found this recipe my mother use to make it when i was a child at christmas. thank you so much.
recipe Mama's Divinity
null null, null 01-18-2009
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Recipe Completely Failed
Rated: 1 stars out of 5

I've made divinity a few times before, but using different recipes; I was looking forward to trying this one. Since I live... in Texas, waiting for the humidity to get low took a while. Cooked the syrup mixture to hard ball stage (water test and temperature), and then beat 10 minutes. Turned out gooey, sticky and disgusting. Absolutely horrible.Read more
recipe Mama's Divinity
Nikki Omaha, NE 12-19-2008
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I DID IT! Thanks Paula!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I have always wanted to try and make divinity for my dad. He LOVES it and the only one who has ever taken the time to make... it for him is my aunt. This year, due to health reasons, she wasn't able to do it and I wanted to attempt it. I am SO glad I came across this recipe! I was nervous the whole time I was doing it and I kept preparing myself for it not to work. (I'm one of those wanna-be-perfectionist types) lol But guess what...it did!!!! I did it! My little guys face is covered in white divinity from "yickin" the beater when I was done and the ensuing video will be one of our most prized holiday videos! Thank you, Paula! This recipe rocks!!! As do you!Read more