Roasted Peanut Divinity

Yield: about 5 to 6 dozen candies

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 2 egg whites
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup peanut butter chips
• 1/2 cup chopped roasted peanuts

Instructions

1. Combine sugar, water, and corn syrup in a 3 quart saucepan; cook over low heat, stirring gently, until sugar dissolves. Wash down crystallized sugar on sides of pan with a wet pastry brush a few times, as necessary.
2. Cover and cook over medium heat 2 to 3 minutes. Uncover and cook over medium heat, without stirring, to hard ball stage (260 degrees F). Remove from heat.
3. Beat egg whites in a large mixing bowl until stiff peaks form.
4. Pour hot sugar mixture in a very thin stream over egg whites while beating constantly at high speed of an electric hand-held mixer.
5. Add vanilla extract and continue beating just until mixture holds its shape, about 3 to 4 minutes.
6. Stir in peanut butter chips and chopped roasted peanuts.
7. By rounded teaspoonsful onto wax paper.
8. Let cool.