• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Stephanie
  • Brownies and Cookie Bars Recipes
  • Cake Recipes
  • Candy Recipes
  • Contact Me
  • Cookie Recipes
  • Cupcake Recipes
  • Dessert Recipes
  • Dessert Recipes and Techniques
  • Dessert Recipes and Techniques
  • Disclaimer
  • Dough Recipes
  • Filling and Frosting Recipes
  • My Latest Recipes
  • Pie and Tart Recipes
  • Soufflé and Custard Recipes
  • Terms
menu icon
go to homepage
  • All Recipes
  • YouTube
  • Contact Me
  • About
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • All Recipes
    • YouTube
    • Contact Me
    • About
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » My Latest Recipes

    Cherry and Pistachio Divinity Recipe

    Jun 15, 2022 · 3 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Divinity Recipe with Cherries and Pistachios - A Holiday Tradition

    These delicious confections are wonderful for gift-giving or adding to a holiday platter of cookies and candies. This Cherry and Pistachio Divinity recipe produces an old-fashioned candy many of us find synonymous with the holidays. The dried cherries and pistachios add festive colors for dressing up the treat.

    old fashioned divinity recipe

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please refer to the terms page for more information.

    This Divinity recipe is made with just a few ingredients: granulated sugar, corn syrup, water, egg whites, a pinch of salt, dried cherries and pistachios. The sugar, corn syrup and water are boiled together until the mixture reaches the 'hard ball' stage. Then the sugar syrup is slowly poured over stiffly-beaten egg whites in a steady stream. If you are new to Divinity candies, check out a write up which includes a bit of history for the confection on Priester's Pecans website.

    Preparing to Make the Recipe - for a No-Fail Divinity:

    I am of the mindset to always prepare my ingredients, pans and utensils before I start a recipe. This is particularly true when working with hot sugar. I suggest you do this as the process will move quickly once the sugar syrup reaches the proper temperature.

    Line a 10″ x 10″ pan with parchment paper extending over the edges so the divinity may easily be removed after it cools. Alternatively use a quarter-sheet pan and line with a heat-resistant silicone mat or parchment paper. Lightly spray with cooking oil

    Old Fashioned Cherry Divinity Recipe

    Whipping the Egg Whites for the Divinity Candy Recipe:

    • Bring the egg whites to room temperature before beginning to mix as they will whip up more quickly. The addition of salt will help in aerating the whites.
    • Whip the egg whites until they reach stiff, glossy peaks. Take care to not overwhip as this may cause the whites to become crumbly and make adding the rest of the ingredients difficult.
    • If you are new to candy making with egg whites, I recommend whipping the egg whites before starting on the sugar mixture. This way you are not watching two processes at the same time. Just leave the whites in the mixing bowl so they are ready when the sugar syrup reaches the proper temperature.

    How to Make the Sugar Syrup:

    • Place sugar, corn syrup and water in a 3-quart saucepan. Stir to combine.
    • Begin heating over medium heat stirring occasionally. Stop stirring when mixture begins to boil.
    • Insert a candy thermometer into the pan making sure the thermometer does not touch the bottom of the pan. Don't leave the pan unattended for too long - the thermometer has a tendency to go haywire when you walk away!
    • Continue heating until the temperature reaches 260° F (125° C). Again, you should not be stirring the mixture -I know, it is hard to not do anything at this stage in the recipe!

    Adding the Sugar Syrup to the Whipped Egg Whites:

    • Turn on mixer to medium-low (the whipped egg whites should still be in the bowl). Carefully begin pouring the hot sugar mixture down the side of the mixing bowl while the mixer is running. Pour in a slow, steady stream (over approximately a one minute time frame). Use extreme caution while doing this - the syrup is hot enough to cause severe burns.
    • After the sugar syrup is added to the mixing bowl, turn up the speed to medium-high and continue to whip. The mixture will begin to loose it's glossiness - continue to mix for 5 minutes or until the bowl is just slightly warm to the touch. You don't want it completely cooled as the candy will begin to harden.
    • Working quickly, fold in the pistachios and dried cherries.
    • Pour the mixture into your prepared pan. Press the divinity evenly into the pan using your hands or an offset spatula sprayed with vegetable oil. Alternatively, if you wish to scoop out individual mounds of the divinity, spray two dinner spoons with vegetable oil and use one spoon to scrape the divinity off the other spoon. Place the mounds onto parchment or a silicon baking sheet.
    • Allow to rest for 1 hour before unmolding and cutting into desired pieces.
    • Divinity should be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
    Cherry and pistachio divinity

    How to Store the Cherry and Pistachio Divinity:

    This Divinity Candy recipe is full of sugar so it needs to be kept away from humidity else it will soften.  The candies should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. You can also freeze them in airtight container for up to 3 months. Please remember, if these divinity cookies are exposed to humidity they will become mushy!

    How to make divinity

    Cherry and Pistachio Divinity Recipe

    This Cherry and Pistachio Divinity recipe produces an old-fashioned candy many of us find synonymous with the holidays.
    5 from 17 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Resting Time 1 hour hr
    Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
    Course Dessert

    Ingredients
      

    • 800 Grams Granulated Sugar (4 Cups)
    • ¾ Cup Light Corn Syrup
    • ⅔ Cup Water
    • 3 Ounces Egg Whites (from 3 large eggs)
    • ½ teaspoon Sea Salt
    • 1 Cup Dried Cherries, chopped finely
    • 1 Cup Shelled Pistachios

    Instructions
     

    • Line a 10" x 10" pan with parchment paper extending over the edges so the candy may be easily removed after it cools. Alternatively use a quarter-sheet pan and line with a heat-resistant silicone mat or parchment paper. Lightly spray with cooking oil.
    • Place eggs whites and salt in the mixing bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment (a hand mixer may also be used). Begin whipping egg whites until they reach stiff, glossy peaks. Turn off mixer.
    • Place sugar, corn syrup and water in a 3-quart saucepan. Stir to combine.
    • Begin heating over medium heat stirring occasionally. Stop stirring when mixture begins to boil.
    • Insert a candy thermometer into the pan making sure the thermometer does not touch the bottom of the pan.
    • Continue heating until the temperature reaches 260° F (125° C).
    • Turn on mixer to medium-low (the whipped egg whites should still be in the bowl). Carefully begin pouring the hot sugar mixture down the side of the mixing bowl while the mixer is running. Pour in a slow steady stream (over approximately a one minute time frame).
    • After the sugar syrup is added to the mixing bowl, turn up the speed to medium-high and continue to whip. The mixture will begin to loose it's glossiness - continue to mix for 5 minutes or until bowl is just slightly warm to the touch.
    • Working quickly, fold in the pistachios and dried cherries.
    • Pour the mixture into your prepared pan. Press the divinity evenly into the pan using your hands or an offset spatula sprayed with vegetable oil.
    • Allow to rest for 1 hour before unmolding and cutting into desired pieces.
    • Divinity should be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
    Keyword cherry divinity recipe, divinity candy recipe, divinity cookie recipe, old fashioned divinity recipe
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Related posts:

    Easy Homemade Caramels Recipe
    The Perfect Nut Brittle Recipe with Mixed Nuts
    Toffee Recipe with Caramel and Almonds
    17 Shares
    Pin17
    Tweet
    Yum
    Share

    More Candy

    • homemade caramels for dessertswithstephanie.com
      Easy Homemade Caramels Recipe
    • how to make toffee
      Toffee Recipe with Caramel and Almonds
    • candy nut brittle
      The Perfect Nut Brittle Recipe with Mixed Nuts
    • candy nut brittle
      The Perfect Nut Brittle with Mixed Nuts

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Andy T says

      October 26, 2022 at 9:39 am

      5 stars
      Awesome - this is the only time I made this and it turned out great. This is the second candy recipe I made of yours and the instructions must be right cuz mine candies are really good.

      Reply
    2. Catalina says

      September 29, 2022 at 6:53 am

      5 stars
      A treat with dry cherries! This will be for sure my new favorite treat!

      Reply
    3. JAZZIE says

      September 19, 2022 at 11:13 am

      5 stars
      Gosh! My granny used to make this candy also. These are on par with hers.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Pastry Chef Stephanie

    Welcome to Desserts With Stephanie. I hope you enjoy your visit. All the recipes and techniques I discuss on this site have been fully tested in my bakery for more than 15 years. Let's have some fun in the kitchen and put a smile on someone's face with a little sweetness.

    More about me →

    Popular

    • blueberry frangipane tart recipe from dessertswithstephanie.com
      Almond Frangipane Blueberry Tart
    • almond cake roll with mango cream
      Almond Cake Roll with Mango Cream
    • mango cream and granola parfait recipe
      Mango Granola Parfaits Recipe
    • mango curd recipe from dessertswithstephanie.com
      Easy Mango Curd with Four Ingredients

    Looking for Something Special?

    • Disclaimer
    • Terms

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy/Terms
    • Disclaimer

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Brunch Pro on the Feast Plugin