Old-Fashioned Potato Candy
This classic old-fashioned potato candy recipe, made with just 4 ingredients and no baking required, is a sweet holiday tradition.
What Is Potato Candy?
Potato candy, sometimes called potato fudge or potato roll candy, is a rich, sweet confection made by combining mashed potatoes and powdered sugar into a pliable dough, spreading it with nut butter or another filling, rolling it up into a log, chilling until firm, and slicing into pieces.
This nostalgic candy likely originated during the Great Depression when cooks got creative stretching inexpensive ingredients like potatoes into decadent desserts.
The sweet, flaky texture comes from the reaction of the potatoes and powdered sugar. The potato acts as a binder so you don’t taste it, just sweetness.
While the exact origins are debated (Germany, Ireland, Russia, or Pennsylvania Dutch), potato candy remains popular today, especially around the holidays. It’s easy to make and perfect for gift-giving.
How to Make Potato Candy
Making old-fashioned potato candy takes just a few easy steps:
- Cook potatoes until tender, drain, mash and allow to cool slightly. You’ll need 1/2 cup mashed.
- Mix powdered sugar into warm mashed potatoes until a putty-like dough forms, about 6-7 cups.
- Shape dough into a rectangle, trim edges and place on a sugar-dusted sheet of wax paper.
- Spread filling, like nut butter, over dough. Slowly roll up jelly-roll style.
- Chill, slice, and enjoy this nostalgic holiday treat!
Potato Candy Variations
Feel free to customize the filling to suit your tastes:
- Peanut butter, almond butter, sunflower seed butter
- Chocolate-hazelnut spread like Nutella
- Cookie butter for a cookie dough flavor
Tips for Making Perfect Potato Candy
Follow these tips for potato candy success:
- Use powdered sugar only, not granulated sugar
- Pay attention when adding powdered sugar to achieve ideal texture
- Work quickly before dough dries out
- Save excess dough to make truffles coated in cocoa powder
With just a few ingredients and simple techniques, you can make this sweet nostalgic candy from the Great Depression era. It’s the perfect edible gift or holiday dessert tray accompaniment.