Old-Fashioned Potato Candy is not only a delicious holiday candy to eat, it’s super fun and easy to make and you only need 3 ingredients. It’s also no-bake. What’s not to love?
And yes, it really does have potato in it. But you totally can’t taste them. They do act as a great binder for the dough and prevent this candy from being too sweet.
Peanut butter gets rolled up in a mixture of potatoes and powdered sugar to create an awesome peanut butter-flavored dessert.
I love a good old-fashioned recipe and this is one of my favorites. I’m a huge fan of passing down recipes through the generations. It’s an important part of what makes us feel connected to past generations.
Ingredients
A potato, powdered sugar, and peanut butter are all you need to make this delicious Old-Fashioned Potato Candy. It’s kind of a miracle that 3 ingredients can come together and form such a fabulous treat. This recipe has been around for ages. I think since the Great Depression when it was popular because the ingredients were inexpensive and readily available.
You actually can’t taste the potato at all. It just acts as a glue to hold the powdered sugar together. You’ll only need a small potato which should equal about 1/2 cup once cooked and mashed. Don’t worry if you are a little over or under. You will work the powdered sugar in gradually until it forms a putty-like dough. Just add less or more sugar to get the right consistency.
Besides getting the consistency right, you really can’t mess it up.
Recipe Tips
When you first start to add the powdered sugar, the mixture will get watery. Keep adding it until it develops a putty-like texture.
Do not use any type of sugar other than powdered sugar. The consistency will not be right.
Variations
- Use any kind of nut butter. Almond, cashew or pecan are all delicious.
- Use Cookie Butter.
- Use Nutella.
- Add some ground cinnamon.
Storage
Potato Candy can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 7 to 10 days.
Pin this now to find it later
Pin ItTry These Other Old-Fashioned Candy Recipes
- Martha Washington Candy
- Classic Rum Balls
- Buckeye Balls
- Cream Cheese Mints
- Bourbon Balls
- Vanilla Wafer Bourbon Balls
Old-Fashioned Potato Candy
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 small russet potato, peeled and sliced
- 6-8 cups powdered sugar
- 2/3 cup peanut butter
Instructions
- Place potato in a small pan and cover with water. Cook until very tender. Drain and place in a large bowl.
- Use a hand mixer to beat the potato until it is lump-free.
- Add 4 cups of powdered sugar and beat until mixed well.
- Continue to mix powdered sugar in 1 cup at a time until thick. (It should have the consistency of putty or cookie dough.)
- Place on a large piece of waxed paper that has been lightly coated with powdered sugar. Sprinkle some more powdered sugar on top.
- Roll potato mixture out into a 1/4-inch thick rectangle.
- Spread evenly with peanut butter.
- Starting at a long side, roll up tightly like you would cinnamon rolls. Wrap in wax paper, cut in half and place both pieces in a large ziptop bag.
- Refrigerate at least 30 minutes or until ready to serve.
- Remove wax paper and cut into 3/4-inch slices.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
I’m wanting to know if you can freeze this candy with success? Also, I have made this candy since 1980 ish, and when the powdered sugar is added to your potato, it will get thinner before getting thicker and this is normal. Can you freeze it??
My fiance makes this candy but only uses powdered sugar, evaporated milk and peanut butter. Has anyone ever made it like this?
That’s the was we made it when I was growing up. Actually, my mom just used whole milk, so obviously it works either way. 😊 We still called it potato candy & I always wondered why when there weren’t potatoes in it, but I don’t recall ever asking why!
We always made it with milk, powdered sugar and peanut butter when I was growing up. I wondered why it was called potato candy, but don’t recall asking. 😁
I put a little powdered sugar in the peanut butter as well. It keeps it from being so gooey. It’s like the peanut butter in a peanut butter cup. Then I dust with corn starch which keeps them from sticking together.
Same to you 😊
The young lady that made it for us many years ago used instant mashed potatoes, and chunky peanut butter. I have told my kids about it, they could not think of potatoes And peanut butter.
I’ve made this candy every Christmas for 50 years and my grown children and now grandchildren beg ne to keep making it. Going to surprise them this year and make for Thanksgiving!
Hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving Cheryl.
I have made this for the past 50 years. The only difference is that I have always added a teaspoon of vanilla extract to the potato mixture, and I roll the dough to about 1/8th inch. Can add a few drops of food color to the potato dough for holiday color.
I’m wondering where to buy the peabut butter.
hahahaha
Thanks for the recipe. Nice thing is I’ve always got all the ingredients. Woo Hoo. I call that success.
This looks so good and is so much easier than the Double Divinity Peanut Butter Roll that my dear sister made every year.
DOUBLE DIVINITY PEANUT BUTTER ROLL
From the kitchen of
Jackie Wampler
7/12/ 1936 ~ 9/5/2015
3 Cups sugar
1 Cup white Karo syrup
¾ Cup hot water
Combine and boil til it threads
3 Egg whites — beat stiff & slowly pour hot syrup & continue beating until second cooking is ready
SECOND BOILING
1 ½ Cups sugar
¾ Cup water
Combine and boil to hard ball stage when dropped in cold water
Pour into first cooking — beat until it forms a stiff dough.
Roll out on board dusted with XXX powdered sugar.
Mix 2 cups peanut butter & 3/4 cup melted butter together — spread & roll like jelly roll — slice with a sharp knife.
IMPORTANT TIP:
DO NOT ATTEMPT ON A RAINY DAY!!
Thank you for the Old-Fashioned Potato Candy. Haven’t seen that since I was a kid. My Mom made it every Christmas before she passed away a long time ago. Have a Merry Christmas.
Hope you have a Merry Christmas too Wilna!