For the next two weeks I'm in Portland, Oregon, hanging out with my parents for the holidays. One of the first things I did when I got here was pull down my mom's old recipe notebook and start flipping through. She's had this collection of recipes since before I was born, although she replaced the half-size binder about ten years ago when the original one started shredding. Twenty-seven years of use will do that. In the miscellaneous section, I spotted this recipe for Christmas Divinity and thought it would make a great recipe to share. I haven't tried this out myself, so I'd love to hear if you guys give it a try. I have no idea where the recipe comes from as it is cut out of ancient newsprint and pasted to a sheet of notebook paper. For another divinity recipe, check out this one on Noshtalgia (which is where I found the picture above).
Christmas Divinity
2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup water
2 egg whites
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
2-3 drops peppermint extract
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1 cup grated coconut
Red and green candied cherries, cut into pieces
Combine sugar, corn syrup, salt, and water in a heavy saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved. Cook without stirring until small amount of syrup forms a hard ball in cold water, or to 262 degrees on a candy thermometer. While syrup cooks, beat egg whites until stiff, but not dry. When syrup has cooked to the right point, pour it slowly, with constant beating, over the egg whites. Beat until mixture begins to appear dull and hold its shape. Add extracts and chopped nuts. Drop mixture from tip of teaspoon onto coconut placed on wax paper. Shape each portion into a ball with the coconut as coating. Decorate with bits of cherry.








Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-19-2007 @ 1:14AM
Jessica said...
Not to discourage your festive treat making endeavors, but I've heard divinity can be foiled by the high humidity of the Northeast. I read something recently about it here: http://cookiebakerlynn.blogspot.com/2007/12/weather-girl.html
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12-19-2007 @ 2:01AM
Marianna said...
You're thinking of the NorthWEST. It is not even a LITTLE bit humid in the Northeast in December. I have only ever made Divinity in Massachusetts, and it has always come out tasty. Just make sure you get the sugar mixture to the hard ball stage and pour a THIN stream into the egg. Oh, and when I tried it without an electric mixer (handheld, not the pricey ones), it was a terrible failure.
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12-19-2007 @ 2:53AM
Jessica said...
You're absolutely right, I am thinking of the Northwest... Obviously this heavy-duty cold medicine I'm on has taken effect!
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12-19-2007 @ 3:17PM
bethany said...
you have to go to Stumptown coffee while you are there if you are any sort of coffee connossieur. maybe you will find a nice treat to bring out the nice velvety, smooth,bliss of their coffee....im so glad it finally came to seattle :p
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