Holiday Divinity Recipes

Steps:

• Spray a 9 1/2‐by‐12 1/2‐inch rimmed baking sheet (also called quarter‐sheet pan) with cooking spray. Line with parchment; spray parchment.
• In a saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil, stirring, just until sugar has dissolved, then cook until syrup reaches 250°F (firm ball stage) on a candy thermometer.
• Meanwhile, in the bowl of a mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, starting on low speed and gradually increasing to high, beat egg whites with salt until stiff peaks form. If peaks form before syrup reaches 250°F, reduce speed and keep mixer running on low.
• Reduce speed to medium and add syrup in a slow, steady stream (taking care not to hit whisk or side of bowl). Add vanilla. Increase speed to high and continue to beat until mixture is very thick and begins to lose its gloss, 10 to 20 minutes. Fold in pecans and candied fruit. Scrape mixture into prepared pan, using hands sprayed with cooking spray to press in evenly.
• Let stand until fully set and dry on top, at least 8 hours. Transfer to a cutting board; cut into 3/4‐by‐3‐inch pieces. Store in a single layer on parchment‐lined baking sheets, wrapped in plastic, at room temperature up to 1 week.

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, water and corn syrup; cook and stir until sugar is dissolved and mixture comes to a boil. Cook over medium heat, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reads 250° (hard-ball stage). Remove from the heat., Meanwhile, in a stand mixer, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. With mixer running on high speed, carefully pour hot syrup in a slow, steady stream into the mixing bowl. Add vanilla and salt. Beat on high speed just until candy loses its gloss and holds its shape, about 10 minutes. Stir in nuts and fruit., Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper. Store in airtight containers.

Steps:

• Cook sugar, corn syrup, and water in a 2-quart pot over low heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved. (On humid days, use 1 tablespoon less water.) Cook, without stirring, to 260 degrees on candy thermometer (or hard ball stage).
• Beat egg whites in 1-1/2-quart bowl until stiff peaks form. Continue to beat while pouring hot syrup in a thin stream into egg whites. Add vanilla; beat until mixture holds its shape and becomes slightly dull. (Mixture may become too stiff for electric mixer). Fold in nuts (if you choose).
• Drop from buttered spoon onto waxed paper. Let stand at room temperature, turning candy over once, until outside of candy is firm--at least 12 hours. Store in airtight container.

Steps:

• Butter a straight-sided 8-inch square cake pan and set aside. Line with a single sheet of parchment paper.
• Attach a candy thermometer to the side of a saucepan. Add the sugar, corn syrup and 1/4 cup water to the pan and bring to boil, stirring until the sugar has just dissolved. Continue to cook until the syrup reaches 255 to 260 degrees F on the candy thermometer.
• Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form.
• When the syrup reaches temperature, slowly (and carefully) drizzle it into the egg whites with the mixer on high. Once the syrup is fully added, pour in the vanilla and continue to beat until the mixture is no longer glossy and holds its shape, 7 to 8 minutes.
• Remove the bowl from the stand mixer and, moving quickly, fold 1 cup of the gummy candies into the mixing bowl using a wooden spoon. Transfer the mix to the prepared pan and do your best to spread into an even layer--it will be very sticky. Sprinkle the remaining candies over the top, lightly pressing them in to ensure they stay.
• Allow the divinity to cool completely, about 1 hour. Cut into 1 1/2-inch squares and store in an airtight container.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. Line 2 large cookie sheets with cooking parchment paper.
• Place dry frosting mix, corn syrup, vanilla and boiling water in bowl of electric stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment. Mix on low speed until blended. Beat on high speed 5 to 7 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally, until stiff peaks form. On low speed, gradually beat in powdered sugar, scraping bowl occasionally. Stir in nuts. Drop mixture by teaspoonfuls onto lined cookie sheets.
• Bake 5 minutes; remove from oven. Slide parchment paper with candies from cookie sheet onto cooling rack. Let stand about 4 hours on parchment paper or until tops of candies feel firm. Remove candies from parchment paper, using small icing spatula to loosen edges if needed. Turn candies over, and place bottom sides up on cooling racks. Allow candies to dry at least 12 hours. Store in airtight container with waxed paper between layers.

Steps:

• Place egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, line three 15x10x1-in. pans with waxed paper., In a large heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, water and corn syrup; bring to a boil, stirring constantly to dissolve sugar. Cook, without stirring, over medium heat until a candy thermometer reads 252° (hard-ball stage). Just before the temperature is reached, beat egg whites on medium speed until stiff peaks form., Slowly add hot sugar mixture in a thin stream over egg whites, beating constantly and scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Add vanilla. Beat until candy holds its shape, 5-6 minutes. (Do not overmix or candy will get stiff and crumbly.) Immediately fold in pecans., Quickly drop by heaping teaspoonfuls onto prepared pans. Let stand at room temperature until dry to the touch. Store between sheets of waxed paper in an airtight container at room temperature.