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Divinity Cookie Recipe

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close up overhead shot of a bowl of colorful Jello Divinity
This jello divinity recipe creates a light and airy treat of pastel colors and fruity flavors that you are sure to adore.
Jump to Recipe
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time2 hours 45 minutes
Servings36
Table of Contents
  1. Let’s Dish: About Divinity Candy
  2. How To Make The Best Divinity
  3. How To Serve Divinity Cookies
  4. Storage Tips
  5. Frequently Asked Questions
  6. Recipes That Pair With Divinity
  7. JUMP TO RECIPE

This jello divinity recipe easy to follow, fun to make, and satisfying every time. They feature gorgeous colors and fruity flavors. Their cloud-like shapes melt in your mouth, releasing bursts of fruity sweetness with every bite. This isn’t an old fashioned candy—it’s a timeless dessert, reimagined with simplicity and elegance.

close up shot of a bowl of colorful Jello Divinity

Let’s Dish: About Divinity Candy

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This Jello Divinity recipe delivers a light, airy texture with vibrant, fruity flavors that stand out. Why?

  • Other recipes add complexity by using additional flavors or ingredients like vanilla or excessive nuts, which can overshadow the simplicity of the candy.
  • Our recipe keeps it straightforward with just the essentials—sugar, corn syrup, water, egg whites, and your favorite Jello flavor—allowing the flavor to shine through in every bite.
  • Our approach ensures a smoother process by not overcomplicating the steps. We focus on the key details—like reaching the perfect hard-ball stage and carefully folding in pecans—without overcomplicating the steps.

Jello Divinity Ingredients

  • granulated sugar
  • light corn syrup
  • water
  • egg whites
  • Jello
  • chopped pecans
Jello Divinity raw ingredients that are labeled

Substitutions And Additions

JELLO: You can choose any flavor of Jello you’d like. If you are making these for the holiday season, try green and red for a festive touch.

How To Make The Best Divinity

The keys to a perfect divinity recipe are:

  • Correct Temperature: Cook the syrup to 250°F (hard ball stage).
  • Low Humidity: Make divinity on a dry day to avoid it becoming sticky.
  • Beating Consistency: Beat until the mixture loses gloss and holds its shape.
  • Timing: Act quickly when the syrup is ready to avoid crystallization.
  • Testing: Use the spoon test to ensure the mixture sets properly.

How Humidity Impacts Making Divinity With Jello

Humidity plays a critical role in the success of your divinity candy. When moisture levels in the air are high, the sugar in the mixture absorbs that moisture, making it difficult for the candy to set properly. This can lead to a sticky or soft texture instead of the light, airy consistency you’re aiming for.

Best Practice: Choose a dry, low-humidity day to make divinity. If it’s rainy or humid, your candy may not firm up as expected.

Using A Candy Thermometer

By using a thermometer, you’ll eliminate the guesswork and get divinity that turns out beautifully every time. That’s because if the temperature is too low, the mixture won’t set properly; too high, and it becomes crumbly. Here are tips for using a thermometer in this recipe:

Clip the Thermometer: Attach the thermometer to the side of the pot, ensuring the bulb is immersed in the syrup but not touching the bottom.

Watch for 250°F: Heat the syrup to 250°F (hard ball stage). Stir occasionally to prevent burning.

Act Fast: Once the target temperature is reached, remove the syrup from heat and proceed with the recipe immediately.


Preventing The Syrup from Burning

  • Avoid high heat; cook the syrup gently to maintain control.
  • Stir the syrup carefully to distribute heat evenly, but don’t over-stir.
  • A thicker pot prevents hot spots that cause burning.
  • Pay attention to the temperature or perform the cold water test regularly.
  • Once the syrup reaches 250°F, remove it from heat immediately.

How to Test Divinity Candy Without a Thermometer

If you don’t have a thermometer, you can use the cold water test to check the syrup’s readiness.

  • Fill a small bowl with cold water.
  • Spoon a small amount of the hot syrup into the water.
  • Use your fingers to gather the syrup. It should form a firm, yet pliable ball.
  • The ball should hold its shape but still be moldable (hard ball stage).

Know Exactly When The Divinity Is Ready

Achieving that light, cloud-like texture in your Jello divinity comes down to knowing exactly when the mixture is ready. It’s all about observing key visual cues and consistency checks.

Here are three ways you can ensure your divinity turns out perfectly every time:

  • Monitor the Mixture’s Glossiness: As you beat the mixture, observe its sheen. The divinity is ready when it transitions from a shiny, glossy appearance to a more matte finish.
pink divinity in a mixing bowl
  • Assess the Mixture’s Shape Retention: Stop the mixer and lift the beaters. If the mixture falls back into the bowl in ribbons that quickly blend back in, it needs more beating. Continue until the mixture holds its shape and doesn’t immediately merge back.
  • Perform the Spoon Test: Drop a small spoonful of the mixture onto wax paper. If it maintains a mounded shape with swirled peaks, it’s ready. If it flattens or spreads, beat the mixture a bit longer and test again.
divinty spooned onto baking sheet

How To Serve Divinity Cookies

Divinity has earned its place as a beloved treat during major holidays like Christmas and Easter.

For Easter celebrations, divinity’s light, pastel hues fit perfectly with the season’s vibrant, springtime themes. It pairs well with treats like coconut cake, lemon bars, and sugar-dusted shortbread cookies.

During Christmas, divinity is a fixture on festive dessert tables, often nestled among trays of homemade fudge, sugar cookies, and peppermint bark. Its light, airy quality beautifully complements richer holiday desserts and adds a pop of color when made with Jello flavors.

The Perfect Homemade Gift

Because divinity is a timeless treat, it’s often included in holiday gift baskets alongside other homemade confections like fudge, peanut brittle, pralines, or sugar cookies.

When gifting divinity, presentation matters just as much as the candy itself. The pieces are often packaged in decorative tins, festive boxes, or mason jars, lined with wax paper or parchment to keep them from sticking together.

Storage Tips

By storing this divinity recipe correctly, you can ensure it stays light, fluffy, and delicious.

Room Temperature Storage

To keep your divinity candy fresh, store it in an airtight container at room temperature. Place pieces in layers separated by wax paper to prevent them from sticking together.

Keep the container in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight or heat sources. Properly stored, divinity will stay fresh for up to two weeks.

Avoid Humidity

Humidity can negatively affect divinity by making it sticky and soft. Avoid storing it in damp areas or the refrigerator, as excess moisture can ruin its texture. Always keep it in a dry environment for the best results.

Freezing For Long-Term Storage

If you need to store your divinity for a longer period, freezing is an option. Wrap individual pieces in wax paper and place them in an airtight container or freezer bag. You can freeze divinity for up to three months. When you’re ready to serve, let it thaw at room temperature without unwrapping until it’s fully defrosted.

close up overhead shot of a tray of colorful Jello Divinity

If you have never tried this classic divinity recipe, you are in for a treat. There is nothing like biting into the slightly crisp outer shell and discovering the chewy nougat center. These old fashioned treats are absolutely divine and certainly live up to their name.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I choose a different jello flavor?

Any flavor of jello would be a perfect choice for this candy treat. Pick your favorite flavors, or base them on the holiday and choose colors that will color your treat for the season.

What is the “hardball stage”?

The “hardball stage” is the stage or temperature at which a small quantity of heated sugar syrup forms a hard ball when dropped into cold water. That temperature is approximately 260°F on a candy thermometer.

Can I replace the nuts with peppermint bits?

Peppermint bits are not a 1:1 substitute for nuts. Since peppermint bits are lighter and can melt, use half the amount of peppermint bits compared to nuts. Fold them in gently at the end to avoid melting.

Recipes That Pair With Divinity

Toffee Brittle: This classic treat combines crunchy toffee with rich chocolate and peanuts, offering a satisfying contrast to the airy texture of divinity.

Fireball Cookies: Infused with a hint of cinnamon whisky, these cookies add a spicy kick that pairs well with the sweetness of divinity.

Grinch Christmas Cookies: Festive and fun, these cookies bring a playful element to your dessert table, especially during the holidays.

Microwave Peanut Brittle: An easy-to-make brittle that adds a sweet and salty crunch, balancing the lightness of divinity.

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close up overhead shot of a bowl of colorful Jello Divinity

Jello Divinity Recipe

5 from 2 votes
This jello divinity recipe creates a light and airy treat of pastel colors and fruity flavors that you are sure to adore.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 45 minutes
Servings 36

Ingredients
  

  • cups granulated sugar
  • ½ cup light corn syrup
  • ½ cup water
  • 2 larg egg whites, room temperature
  • 3 ounces flavored jello, (pink, yellow, purple which would be strawberry, lemon, and grape flavors)
  • ½ cup pecans, finely chopped, or whatever nut you choose

Instructions
 

  • Using a 3 to 4-quart heavy bottomed saucepan, over medium heat, stir together the granulated sugar, corn syrup and water. Continue to stir until the sugar dissolves.
  • Clip a candy thermometer to the side of the saucepan, and do not stir once the sugar dissolves and begins to boil. You will continue to cook the syrup mixture until it reaches the hard ball stage which is 260°F.
  • Either spray 2 teaspoons with nonstick cooking spray or butter the spoons and set them aside.
  • Line 2 baking sheets with either parchment paper or wax paper and set them aside.
  • Just before the syrup reaches the hard ball stage, you will need to begin to whip the egg whites. While you can use a large heatsafe mixing bowl and a handheld mixer on high speed, it is hard to drizzle the scalding hot syrup into egg whites/jello mixture, it will be difficult and you may need someone to help mix or drizzle. Using a stand mixer on high speed and a whip attachment, beat the egg whites until they are foamy
  • Lower the mixer speed to medium-low and slowly add the jello powder (first color/flavor). Increase the mixer speed back to high.
  • Once the syrup is ready, remove the candy thermometer and remove the pan from the heat.
  • Keeping the mixer speed on high, slowly and carefully drizzle the syrup into the jello egg whites. Continue mixing on high for 4 to 5 minutes or until the mixture is no longer shiny.
  • Fold in the chopped nuts.
  • Quickly use one of the prepared spoons to scoop out 1 to 1½ tablespoons of divinity and use the second spoon to help push the divinity off the spoon.
  • Repeat the above steps for the other two colors/flavors
  • Allow the divinity to rest for 2 to 4 hours, or until “dry”.

Notes

  • High humidity can adversely affect the consistency of the divinity, so pay close attention to the weather and pick a day with low humidity to make these treats.
  • You can also use aluminum foil that is generously sprayed to drop the divinity spoonfuls on.
  • The divinity should hold its shape when you remove the whisk. Continue to beat for a few more seconds if it does not.

Nutrition

Calories: 78kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 9mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 1mg
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Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

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  1. Gail says

    Can you clarify the recipe please? Is the ingredient list for 1 batch or all 3 and we should devide? It calls for 3 boxes of jello but doesn’t specify measurements for each batch.

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