Ingredients: |
Ingredients: Before you start, you must have:
Cast iron skillet
candy thermometer
hand held mixer (that will get gooey and sticky and hard to clean)
2 parchment lined cookie sheets
4 teaspoons for dipping and scraping candy
1 large glass bowl (3 quart size)
Patience and a clear day or early evening with no rain expected and no humidity.
Divinity can be made by one person but it is easier with two people and as many observers and commentators as can be crowded into the kitchen.
Combine in iron skillet over medium heat
1 c light corn syrup
5 c sugar
1/2 t salt
1 c water
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly only until sugar is dissolved.
Cook without stirring until thermometer reads 248 degrees. (or old school, drop small amount in cup of very cold water. If it forms a firm ball and does not flatten on bottom of glass, it is ready for next step).
While cooking, you can use a wet paper towel to wipe sugar crystals off the inside rim of the pan.
While syrup is cooking, the assistant can beat in a large glass bowl (that has been wiped to make sure it is free of grease)
4 egg whites brought to room temperature.
Egg whites should be beaten until they are stiff but not dry.
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Directions: |
Directions:When the syrup is ready at 248 degrees, one person slowly pours only one-half of the hot syrup over the egg whites while the other cook starts beating the syrup/egg white mixture constantly. DO NOT STOP.
The remaining syrup is returned to the heat and cooked to a soft crack stage (272 degrees). When this is ready, this syrup is slowly added to the first mixture, beating constantly. This has to be beaten until the mixture becomes light and fluffy and holds its shape. This can take ten minutes. When the candy becomes too heavy for the electric beater, the well-muscled assistant needs to continue beating with a wooden spoon. When it finally gets to the stage where it will hold its shape when dropped on parchment, add 1 tablespoon of pure vanilla, and as many chopped pecans as you can afford.
Get two people to quickly use two spoons to scoop out the candy from the tip of one spoon to the parchment. Put a swirl on the top of the divinity or top with a whole pecan or top with one-half candy cherry (well drained).
Let it sit to form a crust and then store in plastic containers with wax paper between layers.
While the candy is being put on the parchment, immediately have a third person begin soaking and cleaning cast iron skillet, mixer blades, mixer, spoons, counter top, stove top, etc. |
This recipe for Holiday Divinity is from