Cinnamon Divinity Cookies are crunchy, crumbly cookies that melt in your mouth. This nut free version is packed with spicy cinnamon flavor.
Why you'll love this recipe
Divinity cookies are totally different than divinity candy. The candy is a nougat-like sweet, made mostly from egg whites and corn syrup. This Divinity recipe is for crunchy-crumbly cookies, originally made full of chopped walnuts.
Some years ago (20 or 30 maybe?) Publix Supermarkets, a large southern chain, had a much beloved cookie in its bakery. Some old-time, small bakeries also produced them.
The cookie was called a Divinity cookie. By all accounts it was light and crunchy and full of walnuts. One description I found compared the texture to pecan sandies.
Publix discontinued making Divinity cookies to the dismay of its fans. I combined numerous recipes trying to duplicate this nostalgic favorite.
If you are here looking for your childhood favorite Divinity Cookie, this recipe isn't exactly it. Due to my tree nut allergies (I can't even be in the same room with most tree nuts), I adapted this recipe using cinnamon chips instead of walnuts.
They are a crunchy-crumbly cookie for the cinnamon lover. I can easily see being nostalgic about these cookies, even if they are a variation of the “original”.
If you would prefer these cookies with nuts, you can substitute finely chopped walnuts or pecans for the cinnamon chips in the recipe.
For a heavenly cookie full of the comforting flavor of cinnamon, these crunchy cookies are an excellent choice. Ship some in a care package along with some tea bags for a care package sure be warming inside and out.
Ingredients
Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. The full recipe and instructions are in the recipe card below.
- Combine the ingredients with an electric stand mixer to make the cookie dough.
- Roll dough, in 1 tablespoon portions, into balls and coat in white sugar.
- Place the coated dough balls on a parchment lined baking sheet and flatten slightly, to a disk shape, using a fork.
- Bake until golden brown.
Storage
Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 7 days.
Tips
- This is not a divinity candy recipe. This copycat recipe makes cookies similar to pecan sandies.
- For a sweet treat closer to the original Publix Supermarket cookie recipe, add ½ - 1 cup chopped pecans.
- If cinnamon chips are not available, add one extra teaspoon of cinnamon to this recipe.
- This is a great recipe for warm weather care packages. The cookies are made with ingredients least likely to spoil when sent in extreme heat when sent in a military care package.
- Shortening is what gives these cookies their melt-in-your-mouth crumble. Substituting butter would change the texture.
Related recipes
Cinnamon Oat Flour Cookies are another crunchy treat spiced with cinnamon goodness. This easy recipe has the added warmth of oatmeal.
Cinnamon Snaps are the perfect cookie jar treat. These cookies are delicious with tea, coffee, or a glass of milk.
Cinnamon Streusel Cookies are solid streusel made with buttery, cinnamon crumbs and baked into circles or wedges.
Cinnamon Snowballs (teacakes, wedding cookies) are ball shaped sugar cookies flavored with cinnamon and are nut free. Though especially popular during the holiday season, these cookies are fabulous all year!
This Amish Cinnamon Bread recipe makes a moist and delicious cinnamon quick bread that's great for breakfast, snacking and gifting.
My experience with this recipe
While rolling the dough balls in granulated sugar, I discovered a fun baking tip. Did you know that regular, white granulated sugar from Target, their Market Pantry brand, sparkles?!
I have no idea why, but it does. I don’t usually buy sugar at Target, because some generic brand sugars melt funny when used in baking, but I was there and low on sugar. I grabbed a bag.
The sugar performed just fine in baking and added a bit of sparkle to the outside of the cookie. Bonus! From now on I am going to keep a bag of Market Pantry sugar in stock, just for decorating.
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Divinity Cookies
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup butter flavored vegetable shortening Crisco
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup cinnamon chips finely chopped
Decorating
- ½ cup granulated sugar or white decorating sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer at medium speed using the paddle attachment, cream together shortening and 1 cup sugar.
- Mix in egg and vanilla.
- Gradually add flour mixture until combined.
- Stir in chopped cinnamon chips.
- Scoop 1 tablespoon size dough balls and roll in sugar to coat.
- Place the coated balls on the prepared baking sheet 2” apart. Use a fork to press down gently on each dough ball to flatten into a disc.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, until bottom edge begins to turn golden brown.
- Cool on baking sheet for 5-10 minutes before moving to wire racks to cool completely.
- Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 7 days.
Notes
- This is not a divinity candy recipe. This copycat recipe makes cookies similar to pecan sandies.
- For a sweet treat closer to the original Publix Supermarket cookie recipe, add ½ - 1 cup chopped pecans.
- If cinnamon chips are not available, add one extra teaspoon of cinnamon to this recipe.
Nutrition
First Published: September 7, 2014. Last Updated: February 11, 2022. Updated for additional information, improved photos, and better reader experience.
Charlene
Can regularly butter be used in this recipe?
Thanks
Wendy Sondov
Butter can be used but will give the cookies a different texture than when using shortening. Rather than crunchy, crumbly, I think your cookies will be more dense like butter cookies or shortbread.
Chris G
I can’t seem to find butter flavored Crisco in stock anywhere! Can I use regular Crisco and add butter flavored extract? If so, how much should I add!? I really want to try these!
Wendy Sondov
Hi, Chris. As butter isn't the main flavor in these (like in a butter cookie or shortbread) I think the plain Crisco would be absolutely fine. If you do have butter flavored extract though, then go ahead and add 1/2 teaspoon. The butter flavoring plus the plain Crisco is pretty much the same thing as butter flavored Crisco! Enjoy! 🙂
Marcie Emory
So delicious! I didn’t have cinnamon crisps so I made my own with tortillas and cinnamon sugar and they came out great.
Amy Karatz
My guess us that Target sugar is made from beets, not sugar cane. Beet sugar is cheaper (and usually considered inferior, but that could be a myth), so they can charge less. If a package does NOT say "cane sugar", it is usually beet sugar. Notice that the packages from all major sugar brands say "cane sugar".
In fact, all of us from a certain age can still sing the jingle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2RNh2neIRI
Wendy Sondov
That is really interesting about the type of sugar, Amy! I will have to look at the bag when I go to Target! I do notice a difference when baking, so I will be cautious. I loved the Youtube video! So funny because I ALWAYS hear the jingle in my head whenever I see the C and H brand!
Lisa Myers
Would chopping the cinnamon chips in a food processor be overkill? I'm not sure how the texture is supposed to be, so I didn't know if it was the finer, the better. Thanks
Wendy Sondov
Hi, Lisa. I think pulsing the chips in a food processor would be perfect. Tiny bits, rather than powder, would be ideal, but it doesn't really matter in this cookie. The chips are there mostly for flavor. Chopping keeps the texture even in the cookie because the tiny bits mostly melt. I hope you enjoy the cookies! Happy baking!
Pam
i do not like the taste of the butter flavored shortening- any idea how these would taste with regular shortening?
The Monday Box
Hi, Pam! I think the plain shortening would be fine. There is plenty of flavor in these cookies from the cinnamon and vanilla. Enjoy!