PCLinuxOS Recipe Corner Bonus: Old Fashioned Potato Candy

Old Fashioned Potato Candy

A mashed potato contributes to the uniquely delicious flavor in this sinfully rich old-fashioned potato candy, and hidden inside is pure creamy peanut butter. Don't worry, it doesn't taste like mashed potatoes.

INGREDIENTS:

1 medium potato
2 tablespoons real butter
Pinch of salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla
2 pounds powdered sugar, more for rolling out candy
1 jar creamy peanut butter, 16 ounces, (may not use all)

DIRECTIONS:

Peel and slice the potato. Cook in a small pan of water until it is very tender. Drain off the water.

Place the potato in the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, or mix by hand with a wooden spoon. Add the butter, vanilla, and salt. Using a potato masher, mash the potato until it is free of all lumps.

Add the powdered sugar, about 2 cups at a time, while mixing on low speed and using the whisk attachment. Continue adding the sugar until the candy mixture becomes thick and pliable yet just slightly sticky.

Lay a piece of wax or parchment paper on a countertop and sift powdered sugar heavily on the paper. Place one-third of the candy mixture on the paper and form it into a ball. Sift additional powdered sugar on top of the formed ball.

Place a piece of wax or parchment paper over the top of the ball and slightly flatten the ball with the palm of your hand. Using a rolling pin, roll the candy out to no more than 1/4″ in thickness, rolling it into a rectangular shape. Remove the top piece of paper.

Place a large, heaping spoonful of peanut butter onto the candy. Spread it out, stopping about 1/4″ from the edges of the candy.

Using a sharp metal spatula, knife, or bench scraper, roll the candy into a roll, working from left to right. Place the roll onto a cookie sheet lined with foil, wax, or parchment paper.

Roll the remaining two rolls and place on the cookie sheet. Transfer to a freezer for 10 minutes until very cold before slicing.

Slice candy into 3/4″ slices, discarding or eating the end pieces. Store in an airtight container.

NOTES:

DO NOT use leftover mashed potatoes for this recipe. They will have added salt, pepper, butter, etc. You need to use freshly cooked mashed potatoes with no added ingredients.

It's easy to get carried away with the peanut butter when making this candy. Try not to use more than 1/2 cup of peanut butter per roll, the first time you make this candy. If the peanut butter oozes out of the candy, you will know to use less the next time you make the candy.

This candy is very rich! Although it's not required, most people prefer to eat this rich candy cold!

It's extremely important to mash out all of the lumps in the candy before adding the powdered sugar.

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. That is, if they last that long before you eat them.

For a treat, coat each piece of potato candy in melted chocolate and chill before eating.

NUTRITION: (1 cup serving size)

Calories: 242    Carbs: 38g    Sodium: 176mg    Fiber: 2g    Protein: 2g