My Aunt who lived in West Virginia and has passed use to make Potato Candy. That's what she called it anyway. I thought I had written it down but I have either lost it or I didn't write it down. I know she boiled potatoes and peeled them. But from there I don't remember what she did. Does this sound familiar to anyone else? Can you help me please? Thank you for your help.
I have been making this for years also. I decided to try a switch one day with over ripened bananas and everyone loved it. Smash up a banana instead of the potato! If you like the old favorite peanut butter and banana sandwiches you'll like this. I haven't done it yet but also thought of adding some marshmallow fluff to the peanut butter layer, like the fluffier nutter sandwich.
I thought my family was the only one who made potato candy until I saw these postings. I learned to make it from my mother who learned it from her father who learned it from his mother who had Irish ancestry. I have taught my daughter to make it so we now have 5 known generations of potato candy makers! My mother was from SW Pennsylvania and always made this delightful treat at Christmastime.
This candy has been in my family for years. Its an old Irish tradition. Try adding a little cream cheese in with the mashed potato, vanilla, and sugar. You can't taste it ( I promise, I HATE cream cheese) but its makes your dough easier to roll and it doesn't crack as easily.
My family has made this for years, but has anyone ever tried using Instant Potatos for this? Also, has anyone tried substituting Splenda for Pwd Sugar? or know of a substitute for Pwd Sugar? My parents now have dietary restrictions and I'm trying to find alternative ways for making some of our favorite Christmas goodies. My mother is allergic to peanuts, so I'm going to use Sunbutter (sunflower butter) instead. She is also allergic to Milk protien (and soy), so I will use Rice milk (to rehydrate the potatos). Any other suggestions are welcome. I'll let you know how it comes out.
(submitted via email) Use a small potato or you will wind up in a mess. This recipe is well over 55 years old because my grandmother also made it, usually at Christmas. Peel and cook the potato with a pinch of salt until done and drain off water. Add a box of confectioners sugar until no more sugar will roll into the "dough". Spread dough out onto a counter and roll to about 1/4 inch thick. Spread with peanut butter. Roll as for a jelly roll several times and cut lengthwise and then cut into bite size pieces. Store in airtight container.
I learned how to make this candy about 25 years ago. When my children come to Christmas dinner, they expect this candy to be made. My daughter makes it all year round for her children. It is so cheap and easy to make. I am real surprised to see so many people have heard of this. And the way it tastes, oh my. But be careful. You can get a serious belly ache if you eat too much.
It's a great cheap way of making candy. I was raised in Arkansas and a older lady gave my mom the recipe. Ever since my mom and I have made it and no one around here has ever heard of it! It's sooo good.
I would like to thank everyone for their recipes for the potato candy. My grandmother used to make this every Christmas and I always looked forward to it when we went to her house. She passed away over 20 years ago and I was never able to get her recipe. My aunt had given me a recipe, but it never contained the potato and didn't taste right. Thank you again. Now I can continue the tradition with the correct recipe.
The secret to this amazing & cheap candy is to make it while the potato is hot. Boil a small (one that fits in your hand is fine) potato till it's tender or done. Peel as fast as you can, don't allow for the potato to cool. The powdered sugar adheres better with the heat of the potato. Mash the potato with a fork, while hot, in a bowl & stir in sifted powdered sugar till you make a stiff batter. Small lumps of potatoes are fine. Roll out your dough to a thin layer, spread with peanut butter of any variety & roll up jelly roll style. Wrap with wax paper and chill at least an hour till firm. Slice crosswise into medallions with a pretty design, this should make alot of pieces. Store covered in the fridge if it lasts that long. Enjoy. My Mom used to make this for us, when we were growing up.
Got it right so far. After the potatos are peeled mash them and add powdered sugar to it till you get a dough you can roll out. Then spread peanut butter on it. Roll it up in a log fashion and wrap in wet dish towel and put it in the frig for a couple of hours and then get it out and slice into 1/2" pieces. Remember a small potato makes a lot of the dough.
It taste awesome. Want to thank you all for your help. After I read the recipe it all came back to me. Again thank you all for your help. I have some Grandkids that are going to learn this.
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Request: Potato Candy
Archived on 04/30/2008
This candy has been in our family ever since I was a small child. We all love it and it is easy to make. It is called potato candy. This the recipe 1 small potato - 1 (1lb) box powdered sugar- peanut butter. Peel and boil potato until tender. Mash with powdered sugar. Roll on flat surface and spread with thin coat of peanut butter. Roll like a jelly roll. Chill at least one hour and slice into thin strips.
Carol from Missouri.
Answers:
RE: Potato Candy
My mother in law made this for years. We have been looking and looking for the recipe and are so thankful to find this posted. Mom developed Alzheimer's and passed away so we have been at a loss as to the recipe.
Thank you (12/22/2004)
By guest
RE: Potato Candy
This sounds so easy, and economical too. Having never heard of this before, I have a a few questions. What do you do after you slice it? Must it be eaten right away? Do you dry it first? Can you, and how do you, store it? I really want to try this one. Thanks! (12/22/2004)
Thank you so much for posting this recipe! I remember when I was a kid my Mom would make this. If I remember right. Seems like she also used some chocolate too, but I'm not sure. It was back when I was little. (12/22/2004)
By Vickie
RE: Potato Candy
I have been making that candy too, only I don't use the potato. Just butter, powdered sugar, and peanut butter. (12/23/2004)
It is good to know that someone else on this planet has heard of, and loves to eat, this wonderful candy! I got the recipe from my mother who got it from her mother-in-law. Nobody I have met has ever heard of it. To answer msjudishome's questions, you can eat it right away or not. Personally, I like to let it sit a couple of days, but that is personal preference. To store it, I put it on a paper plate with wax paper between layers and wrap it in aluminum foil. (12/29/2004)
By Dawn - Colorado
RE: Potato Candy
Great idea! We're going to give this ago but we're going to use sweet potato instead ;-) (07/27/2005)
By ButteryHOLsomeness
RE: Potato Candy
Did you drain the potato or leave it in the water the potato was boiled in? Make sure the potato is taken out of the water, let some of the steam come off, then mash it. The only thing I can think of to turn it like gravy would be to leave the potato water in the recipe.
Susan from ThriftyFun (12/07/2005)
I never knew so many people know about this candy. I have a lot of friends I told and none of them knew about it. I learned it from my mom and she learned it from hers. (12/08/2006)
By Snavely
RE: Potato Candy
My grandmother taught me to make potato candy when I was a child and it has become a tradition in our family - this year at our family holiday gathering we are teaching all the grandchildren from ages 2 - 10 to make it. The fun part is when you add a small amount of the powdered sugar to the mashed potato (a very small potato is used-about the size of a large egg) and the potato becomes liquid, then continue to add more powdered sugar until the consistency of pie dough. We have used food coloring to color the dough and we prefer the Super Chunk Peanut Butter to spread on the candy before rolling up. (12/19/2006)
By Cher - California
RE: Potato Candy
I'm so glad to see so many people still hold to family traditions as does my family. I remember this candy when I was a little kid, and I looked forward to Easter because I knew my grandmother would be making potato candy!
From what I remember, after she formed them into egg shapes, she put them on a waxed papered cookie sheet and put them in the freezer for a bit to let them set up better. Then she would dip them in melted chocolate she had melted in a double boiler.
I also remember she used to make many flavors of this candy. She used extracts like MAPLE, Peppermint, Strawberry, peanut butter, etc. They are all really good, but MAPLE is my favorite! (03/21/2007)
Here is another potato candy recipe by one of our church ladies .
Potato Candy
1 lb powdered sugar
1/2 lb. coconut
2 1/2 T. oleo
1 t. vanilla
1 t. almond extract
1/2 c. + 2 T. instant potatoes
1/2 c. + 2 T. warm water
Beat potatoes, water and oleo. Add powdered sugar, extract flavoring, and coconut gradually. Spoon on waxed paper.
If dipped in chocolate, let candy cool. Dip in melted chocolate chips and cool again.
Note: I would think any flavoring could be substituted.
(12/07/2007)
By Dianne from IL
RE: Potato Candy
I tried this candy in Philly. They made it the same way, but rolled it in a ball and tossed in a bag with cinnamon. Then removed from bag and served. They called it Irish Potatoes and had it for St. Patrick's Day (12/07/2007)
1 small Potato (the size of an egg or as close to as possible)
1 lb. box. Confectioners Sugar (sifted)
Peanut Butter (any style)
Directions:
Boil the potato till complete cooked. When done, while potato is hot, in a large bowl, peel it and mash it. Immediately, add the sugar and knead into dough. Roll it thin on wax paper, either into a circle or rectangle. Spread a thin layer of peanut butter over the entire potato dough. Roll it up as you would a jelly roll. Wrap in waxed paper & chill for 30 minutes. Slice and store in an air-tight container.
**This is quick & good. Mom used to make this. Great gift idea especially if you're short on funds.
