For more candy recipes that are sure to be a hit, check out my much-loved posts for Spring Confetti Crock Pot Candy, Soft Caramels, and Best Ever Caramel Corn. Holidays are the perfect time to enjoy candies, cookies, and treats, but why wait all year to make sweet treats? I say any time is a great time for something sweet. My mom is a fantastic candy maker and one of the things I look forward to is when she makes her peanut brittle, English toffee, and potato candy. Potato candy at its core is simply an old-fashioned candy you just can’t mess up. With only 3 ingredients (4 if you’re feelin’ craaaaazy) and no baking time, it’s so easy to make…and no it doesn’t taste like potato at the end, it tastes so sweet and kind of soft and cloudy. Just trust me on this!
Why This Recipe Works
Potatoes — I mean, not only can you not call this “potato candy” without the potatoes, but you need the starches in the potato to turn the powdered sugar into something creamy that tastes more like fudge or divinity. Peanut butter — I say give me the peanut butter everything! It just works with this potato candy recipe. However, see below for more fillings you could use in this candy. Incorporating powdered sugar slowly — I suggest you add the last 4 cups of powdered sugar one at a time to get each cup incorporated into the mashed potato or you will end up with lumpy candy. Each cup will mix in easily, though it will get thicker as you add. Chill time — It’s waaaaay easier to cut this potato candy into pieces if you chill it for about 30 minutes first. Otherwise, your knife will just kind of mush everything together. So do allow for the candy to have some time alone in the fridge before cutting.
Here’s How You Make It
So now that you know what makes this recipe work, you probably want to know how to make potato candy right? Read on!
Expert Tips
The traditional way to make this potato candy is to spread peanut butter in the center, but it’s 2021 and we live on the edge now, so other fillings are perfectly acceptable. Some of my favorite ways to mix it up include cookie butter, almond (or another nut) butter, Nutella, crunchy peanut butter, chocolate chips, sprinkles — go crazy! I suggest between 6-8 cups of powdered sugar. It’s hard to predict what you’ll actually need. So start with the 4 cups, then do one at a time from there until your dough is kind of playdoh like. You want to be able to roll it so it can’t get too stiff, nor should it be too sticky. I guess if you have to make a few batches to get it just right, then you can have a taste-test with your family after! If you are going to give some of this as a gift, I recommend putting small pieces of wax paper between each piece or layer in the container that you choose. Also remember to tell the receiver to keep the candy in the fridge.
