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 preven this candy from being too sweet.
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.
Potato Candy can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 7 to 10 days.
Try These Other Old-Fashioned Candy Recipes:
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.
Nutrition
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I am going to try this…. My aunt, who is 87, said she made these many years ago. Her recipe: ” After we mixed our potatoes with enough powdered sugar, we rolled into balls and dipped in chocolate. Also, added nuts to the balls sometimes, also mint, raspberry, or almond flavoring and colored pink or light green or left them white.” She liked your peanut butter recipe that I just sent her and said maybe it was easier. I may try the peanut butter recipe, roll in balls, chill in fridge and then dip in chocolate. Now I am hungry! LOL
I have also made this potato candy for many years. I have even used left over mashed potatoes. At one point even added cocoa powder for a chocolate version. I don’t have exact measurements on the ingredients. Everyone enjoyed the candy.
The recipe only calls for 3 ingredients, potato, confectioners sugar and peanut butter, nothing else. I have made this with my mother (who went thru the depression) many times!!
Did you ever add coconut ? I remember a friends family making them but I never got the recipe right .
So in the potatoes you stir in the sugar, is that when you add milk and vanilla? Just two spoons full?
No milk. Maybe a teaspoon of vanilla but not necessary.
How do you beat the potato until it’s lump free with a hand mixer and keep it from going everywhere?
Mash with fork first, start slow and bring potatoes to one side, mix and Then stop & mash and remix. Should be smooth enough after a few minutes, go slow and regather potatoes as needed. If you don’t, they spread an fling everywhere. Hope that helps!
That’s a good reply for mashing the potatoes.
I’ve always found it easier to use a stand mixer or to mash the potatoes by hand before using the hand mixer. It can also be helpful to mash with just your hands.
I use cream cheese, along with my potatoes
and powder sugar vanilla and tablespoon of milk.
Use a deeper bowl.
My potato candy mixture is runny..HELP
Just keep adding confectioners sugar. It does take quite a lot. I just made it for the first time a few minutes ago. Once enough sugar is added, it will thicken up nicely. Good luck!
For someone with peanut allergy, what can I substitute for the peanut butter.
Sun butter is an excellent alternative! It’s completely nut free!
I only recently developed a peanut allergy and wow butter tastes exactly like peanut butter but its a soy butter! Its amazing and I use it all the time now lol.
There is a product called WOWBUTTER. It is a soy based product but it looks and tastes judy like peanut butter. I get mine at Walmart. It costs me less than $4.
How many Boxes of powdered sugar is used in this recipe?
How long will this keep in the refrigerator? How far in advance can I make this and it still be good for the holidays?
The author says 7-10 days in fridge
How long does this keep in the refrigerator?
Until it’s all eaten! It never lasts very long at our house. 😁
You can freeze it. I like it better straight from the freezer. It will keep at least a month if you don’t eat it all before then. Slice it into pieces and layer with wax paper. My grandmother always made this but she used a baked potato. I’ll have to try it with a boiled potato.
The author says 7-10 days in fridge
I made it exactly as the recipe and it came out just a bit sticky and I know the potato was a little warm.,Going to make it again and make sure my potato is cool and maybe try 1 T,milk instead of 2.My Mom made this years ago at Christmas.This is a good recipe for someone to try ,even if it doesn’t come out perfect,it will still get eaten.
I always add a teaspoon of vanilla extract and cream in after I mash my potato tastes so much better .
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!