OLD-FASHIONED POTATO CANDY
My daughter loves this candy. It is so rich you can only eat a small piece at a time but it is so good, too.
Note: This is a very old recipe and it is impossible to tell you how much sugar to use. It depends on the size of your potato! I made this today and I am posting pictures below to try and help you. I only had a potato that was 5 inches in length. This is too big. I cut it in half. Also, today I baked the potato in the microwave because I thought it might take less sugar that way. It did not take any less sugar by baking. I used about 5 cups of powdered sugar. Peel the potato, mash it, and start adding the sugar. When you get it stiff enough to turn out on a dough board, use sugar on the board like you would flour if you were making dough. Also sugar your rolling pin. Keep working sugar into the mixture until you can roll it out. Once you roll it out, spread with enough peanut butter to cover it, roll it up and cut in pieces. If you have trouble getting it to roll up, run a knife along the edge and add sugar.
I keep this in the refrigerator.
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I know the recipe is all by gosh and by glory, but I did try something a little different last year. I used a Yukon Gold potato for one batch and a red potato for another. Both reacted different than the russet I had always used. I really liked the batch I made with the Yukon gold, and it was much easier to mix and roll. I think the ratio of potato to sugar was better than normal.
My neighbor made these last year after watching me do it, and she used a bag of Ore-Ida russet steamers. You know the kind you make mashed potatoes with, and it worked just fine for her. She made a really, really, big batch!
Isn’t it doughy or mushy?
No because you’re using sugar not flour. It just like melts in your mouth.
My husband makes this every year around Christmas, he uses different food coloring and flavors in small batches. He rolls his on wax paper and puts in the fridge to get chilled to make it easier to slice.
I made this the other day after I saw a jar of the new Hersheys chocolate spread. I put a layer of peanut butter and a layer of the chocolate spread it was fabulous. Have been making potato candy for over 40 rs. one of our favorites.
My mom always made this for Easter. We would shape them like an egg then cover them in chocolate 🙂
P.S. I just LOVE ur recipes. Thx so much
Ive been making this since i was a kid. Lol. My gram used to make it. We just use a tbsp of leftover mashed potatoes. 😉 yum yum.
I make this candy every year for Christmas gifts. My mom always made it. For years I have been looking for an actual recipe. You are right about size of potato, I tried to make a bigger batch once and could never get it to form a dough I just had to get bigger bowls and more sugar. Finally I threw it away. No one got candy that year. ** a quicker way to do, use a food processor , makes it so easy, and a pastry cloth.
** mom also called it “Depression Candy”
I grew up with this! Lol. My kids LUV IT! We just use about a tbsp. of left over mash potatoes and add the powered suger. Same way. LOTS n LOTS of sug, cover rolling pin ect. I’m going to HAVE to make some tomorrow now (having pork sour kraut n mash Heeheehee). Hapoy Turkey Day to all
My grandmother sold these, we did all kinds of flavors, Maple, Walnut, Almond, Fruit and Nut (maraschino cherry and walnut), Cherry, Pineapple, Peanut Butter, and my favorite coconut – For my 16th birthday in 1961, she asked what I wanted for my BD, I said a Giant Chocolate Covered Easter Egg – She did it. It was phenomenal, I froze it and would take it out, cut pieces off of it, and share (sometimes). She used paraffin in the chocolate, come to find out very indigestible and so veg oil is substituted for it. My sweet Granny died that year, and I miss my Minnie Alice Heaton – She was as phenomenal as her Easter Eggs, and loved more and more each year that goes by.
Left over mashed potatoes works as well unless you add some different to you potatoes. the peanut butter mixed with chocolate is good too. Makes a quick after dinner treat
This is soooooo exciting to find. Years ago, my mom searched and searched for this candy’s recipe. She found one and tried it. Even though it was excellent, she said it wasn’t the same as what her grandmother made…too many extras and her search continued. I have only had potato candy once in my life and it was then when my mom made it. I can’t wait to get together with her on a weekend and make this recipe. Another awesome point….I found out this year I’m allergic to what seems like everything….this recipe contains none of my allergens…..whoooo hooooo….I don’t have to tweak to enjoy….and one last note….I love the ‘snow effect’ on you page here…. 🙂 thank you for the recipe!!!
So happy you can use this recipe and thank you for being a part of my site. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
I have been making this for years at Christmas. Somtimes I add red or green food color to the sugar mixture. Makes it very festive.. 🙂
I LOVE potato candy!!! My mom always made this for Christmas when I was growing up thank you for sharing the recipe!!
My grandmother used to make this back when I was a little girl( a long time ago). Love it.
Sounds as though it might be a bit like a doughnut? It looks so easy I just might try it this year.
My mother used to make this for us, but not with the peanut butter. She would roll the potato and sugar mix into balls and dip into unsweetened chocolate which had been melted with a little paraffin and then topped it off with a pecan half. If the chocolate has a good seal, the candy lasts for several days without refrigeration. Pretty and the chocolate offset the sweetness of the candy perfectly!
This is how my husbands grandmother taught me but without the paraffin. She would also divide the “dough” before fully mixed and add different flavorings. Orange was really good, so was the cherry!
We did that too, She also made the candy with a mashed banana instead of the potato… only thing is they don’t last as long. The banana will spoil quickly.
Your candy is something that I have never heard of before…you learn something new everyday on the food blogs…thanks.
I’ve been making Potato Candy for years. It’s so good!