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 This Divinity recipe is for crunchy-crumbly cookies, originally made full of chopped walnuts.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.
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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.
Margaret Baltazar
Just made these cookies and my family are going crazy over them. my husband can't get enough of them. They are so delicious. Definitely going to be one of my regular cookies I make. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe.
themondaybox
Thanks so much for letting me know, Margaret! As cinnamon lovers, we loved these cookies too! There is nothing like a cookie jar full of crunchy, cinnamon deliciousness. 🙂
Manuela
I've seen recipes calling for cinnamon chips. I can never find them. Where do you get them?
themondaybox
Hi Manuela! I get Hershey's cinnamon baking chips at the supermarket in the baking aisle. The baking aisle at Target or Walmart also often have them. If you can't find them where you live, and don't want to order them on Amazon, I have been meaning to try this homemade version http://www.mind-over-batter.com/sweet-situations/diy-cinnamon-chips/ (I haven't tried them yet but they look really good!)
Cyndy
Just found your blog. I Love cinnamon and have plans to make them soon. Also have peanut allergy so I don't take chances. Thanks!
themondaybox
Welcome to The Monday Box, Cyndy! Most of my recipes are completely tree nut free, though I do include peanut recipes occasionally. The Cinnamon Divinity Cookies, however, are free of any kind of nut! If you love cinnamon, I think you might also enjoy Cinnamon Dream Cookies. https://themondaybox.com/2013/08/02/cinnamon-dream-cookies/
Gail Gardner
These remind me of homemade peanutbutter cookies (in the way they look). I love cinnamon. Too bad we can't send cookies via social media. 😀
themondaybox
Thanks, Gail! I am in total agreement about virtual cookie mailing. Someone needs to invent a way of printing out digital images in edible form! These divinity cookies do have fork imprints like peanut butter cookies (and even a similar texture) but the flavor is all cinnamon!
Winnie
Everyone who knows me know that I LOOOOOOOOOOVE cinnamon. I add it to everything 🙂
These cookies are made for me, I just wish we had here cinnamon chips
themondaybox
You and I should start an international Cinnamon Lovers Club, Winnie! I often leave out other spices in recipes and double the cinnamon instead! I think these divinity cookies could easily be made without the chips but with extra cinnamon added to the batter. However, and I am totally serious about this, once it is cool enough that cinnamon chips wouldn't melt, if you email me an address, I would be happy to send you a "care package" of cinnamon chips. 🙂 Your cookies and cakes are always amazing. I can't wait to see what you would create with some cinnamon chips!
Plaidfuzz
Those look delicious! And I love the sparkly sugar. 🙂
themondaybox
Thanks, Melissa! I love adding sparkle and sprinkles to everything I bake! 🙂
p.s. Your gravitar is linking to your old URL. You might want to change that so that people can click over and find your blog. 🙂
Plaidfuzz
Oh thanks for letting me know! I am so not techy lol.
themondaybox
Me either, Melissa! I always hesitate to say something when I accidentally discover a techy issue, but I really hope someone would let me know! Not that I would necessarily know how to fix it.....:)
Plaidfuzz
I very much appreciate it. 🙂
Mandi
These are perfect for this time of year. I can't wait to make them!
themondaybox
Thanks, Mandi! I hope you enjoy them. 🙂
Lani @ Simply Fresh Vintage
These look delicious! I wish we had C&H sugar here. I miss it. I'll definitely have to check out the Target brand, though. That is an interesting find! Thank you for the recipe ... my kids love anything and everything with cinnamon in it, so I know these will be a great treat 🙂
Hugs ...
Lani
themondaybox
Thanks, Lani! Isn't is odd how different sugar brands can be?! Before I started baking a lot, I thought sugar was sugar. Not so! So far, I have been pleased with how the Market Pantry sugar bakes as well as how it sparkles! 🙂
Ashley
Well this is the first time I have ever heard of divinity cookies so I learned something new today! But if cinnamon is involved, I know I would love them! And I love that they have cinnamon chips too!
themondaybox
Thanks, Ashley! Being that "real" divinity cookies were walnuty rather than cinnamony, I probably should have changed their name. But I think that the texture remained the same so I used poetic license. 🙂 The originals version called for finely chopped walnuts. I didn't want the cookies to be lumpy with cinnamon chips, so I chopped them up finely in a mini food processor.
Sara
I have to admit that I was disappointed as you explained that the original cookies were chalk full of nuts but then I was thrilled to find out that you created this recipe to be nut free as I am allergic to tree nuts as well. I am pinning this on Pinterest and will be making them soon as cinnamon is my weakness.
themondaybox
Thanks, Sara! There is only one recipe, out of all of the Monday Box recipes that has any tree nuts. Its a gluten-free Passover recipe for Chocolate Chip Almond Bars. My family raved over them so I posted the recipe but I couldn't even taste test them! You will never see any tree nut other than almonds on this blog because I can't even breathe with some nuts (walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts...) in my kitchen! Thanks for the pin! Please let me know how you like these!
Monica
I love that touch of sparkle from the sugar on these cookies and I'm intrigued by the Target sugar being that way. Maybe I won't have to waste money buying special 'sanding' sugar anymore! I'd never heard of divinity cookies so an all-round lesson for me. I think cookies just make everything better so keep on baking, my friend!
themondaybox
The sparkling Target sugar is a curious phenomena, Monica. I can't wait to hear what you think when you see it. I tried coloring it, but it doesn't sparkle through the color, just when it is plain white. I think it adds just as much sparkle as white sanding sugar to the outside of cookies. Its the learning part of the baking journey that is fun...with the side benefit of eating cookies and cakes. 🙂
saltandserenity
Wendy, these cookies look so good. Your images, especially the one with the cookies stacked, practically jumped off the page into my mouth. Your Target Market Pantry brand sparkly sugar discovery has me really excited. (Sad life I live!!)
themondaybox
Thanks, Cindy! I'm so glad you found the photos appealing. My goal is to create photos that communicate something about the taste.....preferably prefaced by the thought, "Yum!" 🙂 I have lots to learn. At least the cookies usually sit still for the photo session. I totally get being excited about baking ingredient discoveries. I was so excited about the sparkling sugar I blogged about it! Good thing I'm not a life style blogger!
Jess @ On Sugar Mountain
I'm so happy that Fall is on the way because it means so are cookies and plenty of cinnamon! Love these cookies, Wendy!
themondaybox
Thanks, Jess! Cinnamon smells like fall to me too!
Sheila @ Life, Love, and Good Food
I love cinnamon and I'm sure these are divine! I'll be trying them this fall for sure!
themondaybox
Thanks, Sheila! If you love cinnamon, you are sure to love these!
shannon
i'll admit, i was expecting "divinity" like what you described at the beginning, but i had never heard of the publix kind! I'm going to ask my grandparents (who have lived near to publix for at least 30 years, if not longer) to see if they remember them at all. Names aside, these look delicious: i love cinnamon cookies no matter what - because, cinnamon - so i'd be happy with these for sure.
ps: i had zero idea that target sugar sparkled. i don't know if i've ever purchased it (i've had some bad experiences with store-branded granulated sugar in the past, so i tend to stick with C&H now) but now i want to compare!
themondaybox
I am with you, Shannon. I have no idea why the cookie and the candy share a name when they are nothing alike. I also never heard of Divinity cookies. But the desert safe ingredients were too promising not to pay attention to. My final cookie just complicates matters. These are nothing like the candy AND they are nothing like the walnut laden Divinity cookies of Publix lore. They are divine all on their own. 🙂
p.s. You really have to see the Target sugar and tell me why it sparkles. Sparkling sugar can be one of your upcoming mystery ingredient articles!
p.p.s. Please tell Wee One a belated happy birthday from me. 🙂