Mashed Potato Peanut Butter Candy

Submitted by MarthaStewartWanabe

"Whenever I make this candy, people are amazed to learn that it is made with a potato. It is very sweet and rich and is best accompanied by a tall glass of milk. It's an old family recipe that my mother always made at Christmas time. I'm not sure from where it originated but suspect our Irish or Pennsylvania Dutch heritage."

 

• Ready In: 3hrs 20mins
• Ingredients: 5
• Serves: 24

ingredients

• 14.79 ml mashed potatoes (plain with no milk or seasoning added)
• 29.58-44.37 ml milk
• 9.85 ml vanilla extract
• 680.38 g powdered sugar (or a bit more or less to reach pie dough consistency)
• 118.29 ml creamy peanut butter

directions

1. Combine mashed potato, powdered sugar, milk and vanilla in a medium bowl.
2. Add powdered sugar a little at a time until the mixture reaches the thickness of pie dough. You will need to use clean hands to kneed the dough until everything is fully incorporated. Use a little more or less of the powdered sugar until the desired texture is met. If it becomes too stiff, add one tiny drop of milk at a time until the desired texture is met. I wish it were more of an exact science, but it's not. :).
3. Spread waxed paper onto your work surface and liberally dust with powdered sugar. I use the waxed paper to assist in rolling. Please note if you use a plain work surface dusted with powdered sugar, it's much more difficult to roll it up due to the dough's tendancy to stick to the flat surface (which can result in the dough tearing).
4. On the waxed paper, roll the dough into a circular shape until 1/4-inch thick.
5. Spread peanut butter evenly over the dough up to 1/2 inch from the edge of the circle.
6. Carefully roll up like a jelly roll, using the waxed paper as a helpful tool.
7. Place onto a cookie sheet covered with a clean sheet of waxed paper.
8. Refrigerate uncovered until fully chilled (about three hours), and the outside of the roll becomes crusty.
9. Slice roll into 1/4-inch pieces.
10. Store candy arranged flat in an air-tight container with waxed paper between each layer for up to two weeks (or probably more--it's never lasted that long around our house). The candy will harden and become more brittle as it ages, and this is perfectly fine.
11. The candy can sit at room temperature for up to three hours before becoming soft. To reach original texture, replace in refrigerator.

Reviews

[Patsdream1]

I haven't tried your receipe yet but wanted to thank you for posting. When I was little my grandmother used to make this & she called it Irish Potato Candy. I was too young to cook but I helped her with some of it (so I could lick the spoon) I have been looking for a receipe like hers. I knew what went in it but not how much. By the time I was old to enough to cook she had dementia and couldn't remember it. Now I want to make it for my grandchildren. Thank you & God bless. Pat

 

[MeliBug]

mmmm these candies are soooo delightful! They remind me of similar candies I used to eat as a little girl! They are great and such few ingredients!!! I had a little bit of trouble getting the mix to form like a dough... it hardened up for me... so my candies aren't too presentable but who cares?? we're just gonna eat em all up anyways! :P thanks a lot becky!