Believed to have originated in the U.S. during the early 1900s, the candy's current form can be traced to a recipe from 1915. An earlier version, which included the use of milk, can be traced to around 1907.^[1]

One proposed theory for its origins is that in the early 20th century, corn syrup (a major ingredient) became commonly used as a popular sugar substitute. New recipes incorporating corn syrup were frequently created by the major manufacturers, one of which may have been divinity.^[1]

The origins of the name are not clear. The most popular theory is simply that the first person to taste it called it "divine" and the name stuck.^[1]

Divinity has at times been referred to as a "Southern candy", most likely because of the frequent use of pecans in the recipe. It eventually made its way north, and today its recipe can be found in many cookbooks.^[1]

Humidity during preparation can affect the quality of divinity. For a batch to be successful, the humidity must be low enough for the candy to dry properly.

Due to the high amounts of sugar, divinity acts like a sponge. If the environment is very humid (over 50%) the candy will absorb moisture from the air, remaining gooey. This can be circumvented by heating the molten sugar to a higher temperature, typically up to around 270 degrees Fahrenheit.^{[citation needed]} Under the right conditions, it is a soft, white candy which should be dry to the touch.

Divinity, like many other confections and baked goods, needs to have its recipe altered for high-altitude areas (over 3500 feet). One method is to reduce the temperature of the sugar mixture by about ten degrees Fahrenheit.

• In the Peanuts comic strip in the 1960s, Linus Van Pelt was shown to be fond of divinity, even being willing to compliment his sister Lucy Van Pelt to receive a piece.
• The B-52's song "Give Me Back My Man" features the line "Throws divinity on the sand", as the narrator's attempt to entice a hungry shark into sparing her sweetheart's life in exchange for the candy. This explanation is provided by Cindy Wilson in the book The B-52's Universe by Mats Sexton. The band, being from Athens, Georgia, would be familiar with this Southern candy.
• In the 1985 American romantic drama film Perfect, starring John Travolta and Jamie Lee Curtis, Curtis's character's mother talks about making the world's best divinity, offering some to Travolta.
• In the 2006 film Charlotte's Web, the town pastor offers the Arables divinities when they come to him about Charlotte's first "miraculous" web writing.

• Marshmallow
• Meringue