Black Walnut Divinity

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup white syrup
• 1/2 cup hot water
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 egg whites
• 1 teaspoon real vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped black walnuts
• 1/4 cup maraschino cherries (optional)
• Directions
• Cook and stir sugar, syrup, water and salt in sauce pan until boiling. Cook without stirring until hard ball stage on candy thermometer. Remove from heat.
• Beat egg whites with mixer until stiff. Slowly pour hot mixture over egg whites while beating continuously.
• Continue beating, scraping sides often until mixture begins to lose gloss. Add vanilla and beat until candy can be dropped by heaping teaspoonfuls on aluminum foil. Add chopped nuts.