Candies, divinity, prepared-from-recipe
Whole food · Sweets
Photo: Wikipedia
Divinity is a classic, cloud-like confection made from whipped egg whites, corn syrup, and sugar, resulting in a sweet, airy, and slightly chewy texture. It's essentially a meringue-based candy that melts in your mouth, with a pure, intense sweetness and a subtle vanilla or nut flavor. Nutritionally, it is almost entirely carbohydrate, with a very high sugar content and negligible fat or protein.
Calorie split: 1% protein · 98% carbs · 0% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love divinity for its unique, nostalgic melt-in-your-mouth texture and its association with family gatherings and holiday traditions, especially in the American South. Its versatility allows for additions like pecans, walnuts, or cherries, making each batch a personal delight.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
Due to its extremely high sugar content (nearly 79g per 100g), divinity can cause rapid blood-sugar spikes and is not suitable for low-sugar diets. To enjoy it mindfully, practice strict portion control and pair a small piece with a source of protein or fat (like a handful of nuts) to slow sugar absorption.
Key benefits
- Quick source of energy from simple carbohydrates
- Fat-free confection
- Traditional holiday treat with cultural significance
- Light texture can satisfy sweet cravings without heavy richness
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The creation of divinity is often credited to a candy maker in the early 20th century who, upon tasting the successful batch, exclaimed it was 'divine,' thus giving the candy its name.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 9.2 g |
| Energy | 364 kcal |
| Energy | 1523 kj |
| Protein | 1.3 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0.06 g |
| Ash | 0.14 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 89.0 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.00 g |
| Total Sugars | 79.0 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 5.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.02 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 2.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 2.0 mg |
| Potassium, K | 23.0 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 34.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.09 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.01 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.00 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 3.0 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.01 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.07 mg |
| Niacin | 0.01 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.02 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.00 mg |
| Folate, total | 0.00 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.01 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 0.00 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 0.00 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.00 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Candies, honey-combed, with peanut butter — USDA does not publish this profile for Candies.
| Tryptophan | 0.09 g |
| Threonine | 0.21 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.24 g |
| Leucine | 0.61 g |
| Lysine | 0.27 g |
| Methionine | 0.10 g |
| Cystine | 0.09 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.47 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.33 g |
| Valine | 0.31 g |
| Arginine | 1.1 g |
| Histidine | 0.22 g |
| Alanine | 0.36 g |
| Aspartic acid | 1.2 g |
| Glutamic acid | 2.0 g |
| Glycine | 0.56 g |
| Proline | 0.55 g |
| Serine | 0.58 g |
FAQ
Why does my divinity turn out grainy or fail to set?
This is often due to humidity or incorrect sugar syrup temperature. Ensure you cook the syrup to the 'hard-ball' stage (250-265°F / 121-129°C) and whip it into the egg whites on a dry, low-humidity day for the best texture.
Can I make divinity without nuts?
Absolutely. The base recipe is nut-free. You can omit them entirely or substitute with seeds like pumpkin seeds for a different crunch, though the classic Southern version often features pecans.
How should I store divinity to keep it fresh?
Store it in an airtight container at room temperature, separating layers with wax paper. It will keep well for 1-2 weeks. Avoid refrigeration, as the moisture can make it sticky.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 3.64 kcal/g · 1% calories from protein · 0.0 g fiber · 79.0 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 1.48 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.