Turn Potatoes Into Candy With This Throwback Recipe

You say potato, I say potato candy.

Irish Peanut Butter Potato Candy
Photo: LatinaCook

Is there anything you can't do with a potato? (That's a rhetorical question.) The tuber is a workhorse in the kitchen, whether it's incorporated into a main dish like pot roast or done up as a side. Well, if you've always wanted to expand your potato's potential, this vintage recipe boldly turns the humble spud into dessert.

Potato candy's origin is hard to pinpoint, but we do know that it's been passed down in both German-American and Irish-American families. The homemade candy's popularity skyrocketed during the Great Depression, thanks to its affordable ingredient list. Potato candy's super sticky texture and required refrigeration make the process of making it much like that of fudge. There are plenty of ways to put a spin on potato candy, such as mixing in vanilla extract, adding a layer of jam on top of the peanut butter, or using a different type of nut butter entirely. People often make potato candy for Christmas or St. Patrick's Day and add a bit of red or green food coloring to the mix.

Get the Recipe: Irish Peanut Butter Potato Candy

Ready to make some potato candy of your own? You'll only need three ingredients, and you likely already have them on hand: a potato, confectioners' sugar, and creamy peanut butter. And this stuff is sticky, so you're gonna want to have some wax paper nearby too.

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