Cream Cheese Divinity
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Cream Cheese Divinity is my own creation, born out of my love for traditional divinity!
I love traditional Southern Divinity, the holidays just aren’t the same without it. Mama and I both make up batches and divvy it out like it was gold doubloons among our families and friends. It’s just that good.
So here is the thing, this recipe is not traditional divinity. I didn’t develop it to be that. I developed it to be an awful lot like it but simple for anyone to make and good in its own right.
Will it remind you of divinity? Definitely. But this is decadently wonderful in it’s own special way.
Think of how good that cream cheese icing tastes, especially when you get a bite that has a big pecan on it. Now you have some understanding what this is going to be like – only a good bit better.
Guess what else though? This recipe doesn’t depend on the weather, or temperature of your house, or how your pinkie toes are crossed to make it. There is no thermometer needed, no syrup to be made, and nothing hot to burn yourself on. You toss all of the ingredients into a mixing bowl and mix. Then, roll it into balls and press a pecan into the center. That’s it. Seriously!
But before I get into that, I have to share a conversation we all (the Southern Plate family) had yesterday on Facebook. I asked folks to post encouraging scripture passages that meant a lot to them or helped to lift them up and goodness gracious, did y’all deliver (Click here to see that post)!
I plan on printing them out later today to tape up on my wall but I haven’t had time to sit down and really go through them all. These are the kinds of things you want to read word for word, when you can really focus on what they are saying.
I had to share with you one that immediately jumped out at me though! Delaine Carr quoted a verse that I have kept close to my heart for the past several years. In fact, if you ever see any old television programs with me on them you might notice a small silver band on my right hand where I had this verse engraved. I don’t have that ring now because a few years back I happened upon someone who needed it more than I did at the time. But despite the verse being dear to me as it was, it was Delaine’s spin on it that really jumped out because I’d never heard it put that way before but it made perfect sense!
She said: “Be still and know that I am God. ~Psalm 46:10 This verse has always given me comfort! My version is ‘Hush! Let me handle this!'”
How many times in my life have I needed to be told that by God? I couldn’t begin to count them if I tried. But I thought I’d share that with you today with a reminder that He still has us in His hand. Oftentimes, things go easier for us if we’d simply stop being our own biggest impediment. 🙂
Now y’all know half of the stuff I write, I write it as reminders to myself. This is one of those but if it speaks to you, too, then come on and give this kindred spirit a hug!
OOH! Let’s make divinity!
You’ll need: Cream Cheese (check out our recipe for easy-peasy homemade cream cheese), Butter (Margarine works, too), Confectioner’s Sugar, Lemon Juice, and Pecan halves*.
*You can also use pecan pieces and just mix them up in the dough if you like.
Make sure your cream cheese and butter are at room temp. Whenever I have to make a recipe like this, I usually put them on the counter before I go to bed and then make it in the morning.
Place cream cheese, butter, and lemon juice in a mixing bowl.
Mix those up really good with an electric mixer and then add a bit of vanilla.
Now you need to add your sugar. You really should add the sugar gradually as you beat it.
Do I add it gradually? Yes, I do.
It’s just that my definition of “add gradually” means “dump it all in at once”.
Get it all mixed up good, scraping down the sides as needed, until smooth and fully blended.
Now you are pretty much done. All that is left is shaping it into balls and pressing a pecan into each one.
See how easy?
Roll them into little 1 inch balls and dip the bottoms into confectioner’s sugar.
You can skip this step but it makes them so much easier to deal with later and helps dry them out.
Put all of the little balls onto wax paper or parchment.
Press a pecan into each. Allow to sit out for a few hours to dry. After an hour or so, I flip them over to get the bottoms dry. after they have dried out and are no longer sticky (this will be 2-3 hours), put them in tins or plastic containers and store at room temp if they’ll be eaten in a day or two or in the fridge for a week or two.
Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 8 ounce softened cream cheese at room temp
- 3 tablespoons butter softened at room temp
- 7-8 cups powdered sugar I buy a 2 lb bag
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Place cream cheese, butter, and lemon juice in a mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until fluffy.
- Add in vanilla and gradually add in sugar (beginning with 7 cups), beating until all is well blended. Add more sugar if needed to make it a thick cookie dough consistency.
- Once well blended, shape into 1 inch balls and dip bottoms into confectioner's sugar before placing on waxed paper or parchment. Press a pecan half into each one. Allow to dry for 2-3 hours and then store in a sealed container on the countertop if they will be eaten within a day or two, or in the fridge to keep up to 2 weeks.
Makes 50-60 pieces
Nutrition
“Honesty and integrity are absolutely essential for success in life – all areas of life. The really good news is that anyone can develop both honesty and integrity.”
~Zig Ziglar
This recipe featured on Meal Plan Monday and Weekend Potluck
My Mom made divinity at the holidays and it was so good. She always said the weather had to be just right and no moisture in the air. I tried making divinity last year and it didn’t make it. I was not happy with the amount of egg whites and precious pecans wasted. I was not going to make divinity again, but I now look forward to this trying this recipe. Thank you for sharing!!
It’s persnickety, that’s for sure!! I hope you like this recipe 🙂 Thank YOU for being here and taking the time to chat with me!
Try buying a dehumidifier, you have too much humidity obviously. If your kitchen has a door that closes so its separate from the other rooms you can just dehumidify that room, you need to get the humidity down to at least 40% this is also true for meringues and lots of candy. I can’t deal with high humidity at all, it makes my lungs worse, so I have a large dehumidifier for the house, have to get it working. Its hard to keep the plants watered though when you use one though.
When your divinity doesn’t set up don’t throw it out use it as marshmallow cream for fudge
These look really good. Wish I didn’t have to avoid sugar.
I love the container! Any chance you could tell us where to buy one?
I’m excited to try this recipe! I know my way around a kitchen, but I CAN NOT make traditional divinity. It’s my mother’s favorite and I’ve tried making it for her for years, but every year it is a major failure. 🙂 Cream Cheese Divinity should be just the ticket.
Looks delicious. Do you know if anyone makes them with Splenda? OR if that would work to try making with a type of artificial sweetener at all?
I believe there are some artificial powdered sweeteners out there now but I’m not sure. If you can find any, they should work just fine.
Swerve has a powdered version but it would probably be cost prohibitive to use it in this recipe. It might be worth the effort to try powdering Splenda in a blender or food processor.
I would add a wee bit of cornstarch if you try that. Confectioner’s sugar has it in there to prevent caking and it acts as a thickener, too.
I have had some luck putting Splenda in my processor and making my own “powdered sugar.” Not great for the Royal icing I was trying to make, but I think it would be great in this. The fat in the butter and cream cheese would stabilize it. In fact, I think I will have to try this for my diabetic sister. ☺
Let me know how it turns out Paulette!!
This is going to become a new tradition, sounds heavenly!
I think this recipe will be a staple for my Christmas candy making. Easy and very good!
I am so glad you liked them Sharon!!!
Mother made the best divinity west of Mississippi. My Mother died on 0ctober 30,2019.When I saw your recipe,it BRIGHTEN MY SOUL WILL BE MAKING THIS RECIPE THANKS,
THANKS FOR THIS SUPER EASY DIVINITY RECIPE.
I am so glad To hear that you like it!!
Hi! Love all of your posts…so many days I feel like we are sitting right across from each other and a big pot of coffee!
I am not crazy about pecans or walnuts, but I do like almonds. Do you think I could put an almond in each instead???
Thanks for sharing so many of your thoughts, and Momma’s recipes, too.
A piece of candy, fruit, favorite salami, I make pepperoni, yum. Any nut. gum drops. Try anything you like.
This Divinity looks so good & sounds so easy. I’m going to make some for Christmas gifts! Loved the quote from Psalms, too. Thank you!
I would try chopped almonds, whole could be a little hard on some peoples teeth
You could use red & red M&Ms or spiced red & green gumdrops. Or just red and green sprinkles.
This sounds so good, will be making some for Christmas…Bless you Christy for all you do..
Thank you so much Angela!!
Dear Christy, I enjoy getting your emails soooo much! I feel like I have a new friend! I am not working right now, and awaiting surgery in two weeks, and what you send each day is just what I need to see and read! Thank you for being a part of my life now. God bless you and your family always! Merry Christmas ❤️
My mom used to start her Christmas baking in early November because she would take huge plates of goodies to businesses we used regularly, friends, neighbors, teachers and anyone she saw or talked to. She’d hide things under her bed to keep my dad, brother and me out of it!! BTW, she packed it well before hiding!! Thanks for bringing back some happy memories.
Could you make this with powdered swerve?