Orange Dream Divinity Recipes

ORANGE-PISTACHIO DIVINITY

Steps:

• Place egg whites in bowl of a stand mixer; let stand at room temperature 30 minutes. Meanwhile, line two 15x10x1-in. pans with waxed paper., In a large heavy saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup and water; cook and stir until sugar is dissolved and mixture comes to a boil. Cook, without stirring, over medium heat until a thermometer reads 252° (hard-ball stage). Just before that temperature is reached, beat egg whites on medium speed until stiff peaks form., With mixer continuing to run on high speed, slowly add hot sugar mixture in a thin stream over egg whites, beating constantly and scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Add orange zest and vanilla. Beat until candy holds its shape and begins to lose its gloss, 5-6 minutes. (Do not overbeat, or candy will stiffen and crumble.) Immediately fold in pistachios., Quickly drop mixture by tablespoonfuls onto prepared pans. Let stand at room temperature until dry to the touch. Store between layers of waxed paper in an airtight container at room temperature.

JEWELED DIVINITY

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.

DIVINITY

Steps:

• Cook sugar, corn syrup and water (use 1 tablespoon less water on humid days) in 2-quart saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved. Continue cooking, without stirring, to 260°F on candy thermometer or until small amount of mixture dropped into very cold water forms a hard ball that holds its shape but is pliable.
• Beat egg whites in medium bowl with electric mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form. Continue beating while pouring hot syrup in a thin stream into egg whites, beating constantly on medium speed. (For best results, use electric stand mixer, not a portable handheld mixer since beating time is about 10 minutes and mixture is thick.) Add vanilla. Beat until mixture holds its shape and becomes slightly dull. (Mixture may become too stiff for mixer.) Gently stir in nuts.
• Drop mixture from buttered spoon onto waxed paper. Let stand at room temperature at least 12 hours, turning candies over once, until candies feel firm. Store in airtight container.

DIVINITY

Steps:

• In a 2-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, cook the water, sugar, and corn syrup until the sugar is dissolved (about 5 minutes), stirring constantly with a long-handled wooden spoon or heatproof spatula. Brush down the sides of the pan with a pastry brush dipped in warm water to prevent the sugar from crystallizing. Increase the heat to medium-high, place a sugar thermometer in the pan, and cook the mixture without stirring until it registers 256°F on the thermometer (about 10 minutes). Brush down the sides of the pan with a pastry brush dipped in warm water two more times during the cooking process.
• While the sugar syrup is cooking, in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites on medium speed until they are frothy. Add the cream of tartar, increase the speed to medium-high, and beat the egg whites until they hold firm peaks (3 to 5 minutes).
• Remove the pan with the sugar syrup from the heat. Reduce the mixer speed to medium and pour the sugar syrup slowly into the egg whites, being careful not to drip the syrup down the sides of the bowl. Increase the mixer speed to high and beat until the mixture is firm and no longer shiny (10 to 15 minutes). Blend in the chopped walnuts and vanilla.
• Line 2 baking sheets with waxed paper. Drop 1 1/2-inch-wide spoonfuls of the mixture onto the paper, leaving 1 inch between them. Let the candy set at room temperature until firm (about 30 minutes). In a tightly covered container between sheets of waxed paper, the candy will keep 4 days at room temperature.
• VARIATIONS
• Substitute other nuts for the walnuts. Black walnuts are especially good in divinity.
• Praline Divinity: Substitute praline (page 147) for the walnuts.
• Seafoam Divinity: Substitute firmly packed light brown sugar for the granulated sugar. Reduce the corn syrup to 1 tablespoon, and add 2 teaspoons distilled white vinegar.
• Orange Divinity: Substitute finely chopped candied orange peel (page 210) for the walnuts, and substitute orange extract for the vanilla extract.
• Lemon Divinity: Substitute finely chopped candied lemon peel (a variation of candied orange peel, see page 212) for the walnuts, and substitute lemon extract for the vanilla extract.
• Ginger Divinity: Substitute 1/3 cup finely chopped crystallized ginger for the walnuts, and substitute finely ground ginger for the vanilla extract.
• Chocolate Divinity: Add 6 ounces melted bittersweet chocolate when adding the nuts.

DIVINE DIVINITY

Steps:

• In a small heavy-bottomed pot dissolve the sugar in the corn syrup and water. Bring to a boil. Boil to thread stage (the candy thermometer should read between 223 to 234 degrees F). Brush down the inner wall of the pot with a heat-proof pastry brush and a small amount of water to prevent crystal formation.
• In the meantime beat egg whites with mixer and whisk attachment until they hold stiff but not dry peaks. Pour 2/3 of the boiled syrup mixture in a thin stream over the beaten egg whites, whisking all the time on high speed. Put the remaining mixture back on the heat and cook to soft ball stage (the candy thermometer should read between 234 to 240 degrees F). Whisk into the egg white mixture with the mixer on high speed. Add extract. Continue whisking until mixture forms stiff peaks.
• Pour into a buttered 9 by 13-inch pan. Let cool and cut. Store in an airtight container for chewier divinity or leave uncovered for a crispier texture.

DIVINITIES

Steps:

• Mix 4 cups granulated sugar, 1 cup light corn syrup and 3/4 cup water in a saucepan, then cook over medium heat without stirring until 250 degrees on a candy thermometer. Beat 3 egg whites until firm; drizzle the hot syrup into the whites and beat until stiff. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla and 2 cups chopped hazelnuts or pecans. Shape into small balls with buttered hands, then roll in more chopped nuts and cool.