Potato Candy Recipe Made The Ole Fashioned Way
Here’s an ole-fashioned holiday sweet treat all kids (and adults) will love, it’s our peanut butter potato candy. Instead of tasting like potatoes, it tastes like soft fudgy goodness!
This recipe for potato candy is an ole-fashioned candy recipe that I’ve received a lot of requests for. A traditional holiday treat, in the past, my grandmother would divide her dough into two batches, tinting one pink with red food coloring and leaving one white. She’d then pinch off bits of dough and roll it into balls, storing the balls in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Another option is rolling out little balls of potato candy and dipping them into melted chocolate to serve as a sort of poor man’s bonbon. However you make your potato candy, they’re guaranteed to be delicious!
What does Potato Candy taste like?
Now, if you’re thinking potato candy sounds weird, I totally see where you’re coming from. However, I’m gonna let you know what to expect instead: old-fashioned candy heaven. For me, this peanut butter potato candy is in the same taste category as fudge or divinity. Yes, it is just that good! I promise that once you give this recipe a go, you won’t be disappointed. Plus, you won’t even be able to taste the potato. It just acts as a binder, binding the other ingredients.
Recipe Ingredients
There are many things to like about this simple no-bake peanut butter potato candy recipe, including the fact it’s gluten-free and you only need three ingredients!
- Creamy peanut butter
- Confectioner’s sugar
- Russet potato
- Vanilla (optional). You can add a teaspoon of vanilla extract if you like, but you don’t have to. Y’all know I like to keep things as simple as possible.
Peel and slice your potato and cover it with water.
Bring to a boil and cook until tender.
Drain your potato water and place the cooked potato in a mixing bowl.
Beat it up real good until it looks like mashed potato.
Add about half of your confectioner’s sugar and mix it up well again.
Until you have a pulpy, liquidy mess.
Dump in the rest of your sugar.
Sure you can add it in gradually if you have all day, but it’s just as good to dump it all in there and get on with making some candy.
After that second mixing, you’ll have yourself a good stiff potato dough. It should be the consistency of cookie dough, only maybe a wee bit stiffer.
Now, because we don’t have all the time in the world to clean our kitchens and because we want this to be as easy as possible (so we enjoy it more, of course!), place a big old sheet of waxed paper on your countertop.
If anyone is feeling particularly technical today, I think this is like… 18 inches longish.
Put some confectioner’s sugar on the paper to keep your dough from sticking like tar and dump your blob of dough on top. You’ll have to scrape down the sides a bit to get it all.
Dust the top with some more powdered sugar.
Roll that out until it is about a quarter of an inch.
Smear some peanut butter on that.
I have no idea how much peanut butter you’ll need so just go with your gut here. You can do this because you are awesome!
Now roll that up log-style, like you’re rolling up cinnamon rolls.
Now since we have the waxed paper already out there anyway, roll your log up in your waxed paper.
To make life easier, I cut my roll in half.
Then they will both fit in a gallon zipper bag. Place this in the fridge until thoroughly chilled.
When ready to serve, remove waxed paper and slice it into inch-thick slices.
This recipe makes about forty pieces of candy.
Recipe Notes
- Now, you can leave out the peanut butter and simply roll the dough into balls, but I’m firmly on team nut butter. Alternatively, you could use Nutella, cookie butter, or soy butter as a substitute.
- If your potato candy dough doesn’t look like cookie dough before you roll it out, you may need to add a little bit more sugar to get a stiff consistency.
- I recommend using russet potatoes to make .
Storage
Peanut butter candy can easily be stored in an airtight container or covered in in your fridge for up to 10 days.
Recipe FAQs
Where did potato candy originate?
The actual origin of potato candy is unknown, with lots of theories. Some say it hails from Ireland, others say Germany. However, it’s believed to have originated in the South during the Great Depression. It would have been a tasty treat using the little number of ingredients available at the time.
Is potato candy the same as Irish potato candy?
This is a common misconception, but Irish potato candy is actually a traditional candy that’s, funnily enough, not from Ireland and doesn’t contain potatoes. Yep! Irish potato candy is a cinnamon candy with a coconut cream interior that simply resembles a small potato.
Ingredients
- 1 small potato
- 2 pounds confectioner's sugar The amount will vary, a bigger potato may require more sugar to keep the dough together.
- peanut butter
Instructions
- Peel and slice the potato. In a small saucepot, cover the potato slices with water and cook over medium heat until soft. Drain potato and place in mixing bowl. Beat until mashed. Add 1/2 sugar and mix well. Mix in the remaining sugar, scraping down sides as needed.
- Line a countertop with a sheet of waxed paper dusted with confectioner's sugar. Scrape out dough onto waxed paper and dust top with more confectioner's sugar. Roll out to a thickness of about 1/4 of an inch (don't go getting a ruler here, just eyeball it. This isn't rocket science). Spread dough with peanut butter and roll up like you are making cinnamon rolls. Once you have rolled it up into a log, roll the log up in your waxed paper and cut it in half. Place halves in a gallon zipper seal bag and store in the fridge until ready to serve.
- When ready to serve, remove waxed paper and slice it into 1/4 inch slices. Store leftovers in the refrigerator.
Please note: potatoes are different sizes. If you end up with more potato, you're gonna need more confectioner's sugar. We're gonna have to use our noodles on this one and be ready to add more confectioner's sugar if need be. You'll just end up with more candy. Work it in there until it becomes a dough. You might have to add a lot more sugar because you might end up with a lot more potato. You can do this. I have faith in you!
Video
Nutrition
You may also enjoy these fun holiday treats:
Candy Apples Easy And Fun To Make
Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls No Baking Necessary
Candy Cane Cookies (Elf Favorite!)
Something about an old-fashioned Christmas is hard to forget.
~Hugh Downs
My mother in law made potato candy dusted in coco powder and it was so yummy. Thanks for the recipe i will have to make this.
My mother rolled them in cinnamon and called them “sweet potatoes”
I just found out why it’s better to add the sugar gradually, rather than dumping in huge amounts. Mine was too stiff to roll up without cracking, so we’ll be having napoleon style potato candy instead of the spirals (I cut the potato dough into slabs and spread those with the peanut butter and stacked them up).
LOL, I have added too much before as well Alison, and yes, that is exactly why you add it gradually.
I am 51 Years old, and my dad would make this ever Xmas. There were 6 kids including me. Plus my mom… he would ONLY make it for Xmas candy. He kept the recipe a secret. Even being married with two kids he still wouldn’t share!! Finally he gave it to my oldest sister and said don’t give it out. Now my post is in his 80s, doesn’t remember the recipient, and my sister has passed, I ran into this Today! You have made me happy
Oh my goodness, what a special tradition!! I am so glad you found this recipe and hope it can bring back some wonderful memories!!
My log was very soft and kinda hard to roll. Will the heat in the house affect it
I have never had potato candy before, but I dang sure want to try it now! Is it similar in taste, maybe not the texture, of Abbazabba candys?
My mom used to make this at Christmas. She passed away in July. I am looking forward to using this recipe to make some tomorrow. Thank you.
My mother (a child of the Depression) made this along with the best Apple strudel and so many other wonderful recipe s. Not one written down. She’s now in a dementia unit. I’m making this for her to see if she might remember. Thank you so much for this recipe.
My mom used to make potato candy. Peanut brittle is a favorite of ours during the holidays.
Girl you don’t need but a half a potato the more potato you use the more candy you make first time I did it I used a whole potato my mom laughed and laughed
I make this with out the potato and it’s great stuff
What do you mix the powdered sugar with?
I use 2 Tbls melted butter and a tsp of vanilla with confectioners sugar.
I messed up my first time made a sopoy mess I add sugar easier than called for but the rest turned out great
Yes it does taste like an abbazabba, I add butter to the potato myself and a sprinkle of salt. They melt in your mouth. You can also use crunchy peanut butter. This has been made every year in my family, my grandmother taught me how to make it and I’ve been making it for about 50 years now. I always roll the mixture out in a rectangle, that way the pieces are about the same size. It’s not Christmas without Potato Candy.
My Mother always made this at Christmas. She passed away Sept. 3rd 2016. This is my 1st time to make it. I can hear her now saying Baby I know it will be just fine. 1st Christmas without her is so sad. God bless and Merry Christmas to everyone.
I am with your Mama, it will turn out just fine!! My thoughts and prayers will be with you during this Christmas. I hope despite the circumstances it will be Merry and Blessed!!
You will do great! Just think – your mom (and her other angel companions) are cheering you on! Merry Christmas!
No its not the same, it more like a reese peanut butter cup with out the chocolate. However its delicious ! My mother is from the southern states, this was our favorite treat growing up, that and boiled peanuts. I’m 53 years old. So you can imagine how much longer this recipe been around. My mother was born in 1924.
I had this my entire life I loved it. I made it again tonight but my issue was the wax paper kept moving when I tried to roll out dough but I think I got overly zealous with the powdered sugar. I had a 7 lb bag and just kept adding until stiff dough well I think it was stiff alright….LOL Thank you and Merry Christmas.
LOL, it does sound like you used too much powdered sugar. 😉
My Mom and sister used to make this when we were very young! Loved it! Never had a recipe for it. Thank you. Brings up lots of memories.
I hope you get the chance to make some Bonnie!!! Enjoy those memories and have a Merry Christmas!!
Thank you so much for posting this.. I moved from East Tennessee to Kentucky and was completely amazed that everyone here thought I was insane for putting potato in it. My grandmother, my mother and sisters, all learned how to make this over the years. Here, everyone makes it without the potato.. and it has a completely different consistency. I’ll take mine WITH potato, thank you very much.
So far, I’ve made this 15 years in a row for my fellow “Kentuckians” at work, and friends, and they’re wow’d by it everytime!
I have always wanted to try this but Never do
But You are TOO Funny LOL
If I ever actually do it I will definitely follow your directions
I hope you get the chance to try it soon Linda!!