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From My Kitchen To Yours
Easy Recipes

Old Fashioned Potato Candy

 

Introduction

Potato Candies: Have You Ever? It may be weird, but this favourite of all time is a strange dish that has been there for years. Let us get to know potato candy – an old time treat and what it was called, how it came to be and why people still love it today.

 

The Origin of Old Fashioned Potato Candy

Potato candy took its roots in the early 20th century when people were very inventive in their kitchens. During the hard times, when there were lots of cheap and uncomplicated ingredients like those found in this kind of confectionery. This meant that mixing mashed potatoes with powdered sugar using your gut feeling rather than recipe made a tasty and low-priced dessert.

 

Ingredients You Will Need for Old Fashioned Potato Candy

Simple as it seems, that’s how sweet potato candy can be.

1 small boiled potato,

1 tsp vanilla extract,

4-5 cups powered sugar,

1 cup peanut butter (or use almond or cashew butter).

 

Step-by-Step Instructions

Wash and Boil Small Potato: Start by boiling small peeled potatoes until they are done. Drain off all water from freshly mashed roots removing any lumps and let them cool off completely.

Add Vanilla: Add some vanilla extract into the mixture of mashed potatoes stirring well.

Sugar to Add: There are several small additions of sugar that should be mixed. It should look like a stiff dough.

Spread the Dough: On a sugared surface, spread it out until it is ¼ inch thick and rectangular shaped.

Add Peanut Butter: Now, spread the peanut butter on top of the rolled out dough evenly.

Roll and Slice: Next carefully roll this into shape and slice it into 1/4 -inch slices.

Cool and Serve: For at least an hour, refrigerate them on baking sheets until served.

 

Different kinds with potatoes

The main ingredient in potato candy is peanut butter; however there are as many other types as one can think of. Instead:

Nutella Potato Candy: Nutella will give chocolate flavor instead of peanut butter.

Coconut Potato Candy : Some tropical taste can be achieved by adding grated coconut to the mixture.

Chocolate-Dipped Potato Candy : Stiffen then dip in melted chocolate if desired and refreeze if needed .

 

Tips for Making Perfect Potato Candy

Dos and Don’ts

Avoid using large potatoes because they will cause the dough to rise too much after being shaken out of the peels.

Don’t add too much sugar at one time; pour it gently instead.

Ensure that when mixing sugar with mashed potato, the spuds are completely cooled down.

The chilling process is also important to make candy go from soft to hard.

 

Common Mistakes

A common mistake, for instance, is using a big potato that contributes to huge dough. Another one is when you don’t let your potato chill hence resulting in sugar melting and making mixtures stickier than usual.

 

Best Practices For Freshness

Put your potato-candy mixture into an air-tight container within the refrigerator. It stays fresh for two weeks. If you want it kept even longer than this, freeze the candy but put parchment paper between every layer.

 

Presentation Ideas

Potato candy can be added as a nice touch on any dessert platter. Arrange them on a plate, sprinkle some icing sugar on top and add berries for color contrast.

 

Nutrition Facts

Potatoes on their own are actually quite healthy but potato candy itself is more of a treat. They are high in levels of vitamins C and B6, potassium and fiber. Of course, adding sugar to potatoes makes them less healthy yet this confection has pure ingredients.

 

Potato Candy Trivia

Have you ever noticed that potato candy is made differently in various parts of the United States? This is known as Irish potato candy in some regions; however, despite its name, it lacks any traces of potatoes and has a coconut flavor.

 

Different Culinary Perspectives

In Europe, Germany and Austria most especially; but then again, the confectionery art still uses potatoes’ based starch. Nevertheless, these sweets have differing shapes and tastes compared to the American version of potato sweets.

 

Potato Candy with Children

It’s an exciting experience for children to make potato candies together. It’s simple, hands-on and can be used as a learning experience. Also, it can give them an opportunity to measure the ingredients, learn some science about cooking and know history while preparing a meal.

 

FAQs on Potato Candy

Can I use yams instead of regular sweet potatoes?

Definitely though the flavors will vary depending on the variety of potatoes you choose. This is because sweet potatoes are softer and sweeter so there will be need for adjusting sugar quantities accordingly.

Is potato candy gluten free?

Absolutely! Its traditional recipe does not contain any wheat-based products.

How long does potato fudge last?

Potato candies can last up to two weeks when they are preserved in coolers in air-tight containers.

Is peanut butter a must have ingredient for my potato candy?

Sure! You can use other kinds of nut butters such as chocolate paste or just go plain.

What if my dough is too sticky?

Suppose the dough gets too sticky; add more confectioner’s sugar until it becomes firmer.

 

Conclusion

Old-fashioned potato candy is not only a sweet treat, but also a piece of food tradition that has stood the test of time. The ingredients are very simple and the procedure is straightforward, making it an exciting experience for any cooking enthusiast. Whether you have never tasted it before or are trying to recreate your childhood memories by having this potato candy once again, this is definitely something that cannot be less interesting.

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