Divinity

[sila-lumenn.livejournal.com]

Well, my Martha Washingtons are chilling. Now they just need to be dipped. Tomorrow or Sunday I'll make divinity. Divinity is my signature candy, I'll make at least three batches. Every Christmas when daddy arrives, the first thing he says is "where's the divinity?" What can I say? He's old. We humor him. ;)

This recipe is simple, but once things start moving, they move very fast. I recommend reading completely through the recipe and becoming familiar with every step before beginning. You might find you don't have time later.

DIVINITY
2 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup light corn syrup
2 egg whites
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1/2 cup chopped candied fruit (optional)

In a heavy 3-4 quart saucepan stir together sugar, corn syrup and water. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until sugar dissolves and mixtures boils. Reduce heat to medium and cook, without stirring to 260F on candy thermometer. Mixture should boil gently over entire surface. Remove saucepan from heat. Immediately begin to beat egg whites until stiff peaks form (tips stand straight). Gradually pour 1/3 hot syrup in a thin stream over egg whites, beating constantly on hight speed of electric mixer. Pour egg white and syrup mixture back into saucepan and continue beating. Add vanilla. Continue to beat on high speed of electric mixer until candy holds its shape when beaters are lifted. This should take about 5-6 minutes. When candy is beaten enough, mixture will stay mounded in a soft shape when a spoonful is dropped onto waxed paper. If mixture flattens out, beat a minute more and check again. The mixture is over-beaten if it is stiff to spoon and the surface is rough. If mixture is too stiff, beat in hot water, a few drops at a time, until candy is a softer consistency. When candy holds it's shape, stir in fruit and nuts, if desired. Quickly drop candy by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper. Cool. Store tightly covered.

Comments

[xclairedelune.livejournal.com]

Ya know...it's a little late for this year.....but I'd be game for an actual sending goodies through the mail to each other for next year....

*Xc really wants to try that divinity*

...I make bark and truffles and peanut brittle too....

[sila-lumenn.livejournal.com]

You'll like the divinity. It's hard to do though. I'm the divinity maker in our family because my mom's divinity only turns out every second or third batch. I've always been tempted to try turning it out into a buttered baking dish, letting it set, then cutting it into squares. Just skip that last step all together!

I also make chocolate fudge and peanut brittle. Better get on that peanut brittle! I always give some to each of Miranda's teachers as a Christmas gift. That means at least four batches this year and Friday's the day.

[xclairedelune.livejournal.com]

I once burned my hand big time making candy...since then I've not done much with anything that has the words "soft ball" or "hard ball", or anythng with a number and a degree sign (LOL)..

However, my peanut brittle recipe is amazing...it's with microwave and then you put in baking soda at the end...and I don't know why, but the baking soda froths the whole thing up and it become peanut brittle...It has changed my life!

[sila-lumenn.livejournal.com]

Ouch! I'd probably shy away from candy making if I burned my hand, too.

I've heard of microwave peanut brittle recipes, but I've never tried one. I've even seen recipes that use popped popcorn as well as peanuts in the mix. There's some kind of chemical reaction with the baking soda I don't understand that creates the foam, making the brittle. It's really cool to watch, isn't it? :)