Potato Candy Anyone?

by

Ahh, research! What amazing things you find. Have you ever heard of potato candy? Apparently, women made it pretty regularly in the Depression from recipes brought over from Russian, Irish, and German immigrants in the 19th century who came through the Appalachian Mountains.

With only three ingredients, it was cheap to make and that was a definite plus.

Though a large portion of potatoes are used, it doesn’t have the potato taste. It consists of leftover mashed potatoes, powdered sugar and peanut butter. It’s rolled into a log and chilled. You don’t cook it. Just slice and serve.

The starches in the potatoes turn this into something smooth and creamy. Kinda like fudge or divinity.

Instructions: Boil a small, peeled potato cut into chunks until it’s very soft. Place into a bowl and mash until it’s smooth and no lumps. Next incorporate 4-6 cups of Powdered Sugar into the mixture. It’ll be very sticky at first but get thicker as you go and wind up the consistency of cookie dough. Then roll out on a piece of wax paper and spread it with either peanut butter, Nutella, chocolate or any other filling you want. Roll into a log and chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Slice and serve.

Some cooks like to add a teaspoon of vanilla to the mashed potatoes before the powdered sugar. Your choice. And some people prefer to roll into balls and dip in melted chocolate! Wow.

But, I hear your minds turning. How did those early setters get powered sugar?

The answer is they made it themselves. They blended regular sugar with corn starch and sifted. The ratio is one tablespoon corn starch with one cup of sugar.

Modern cooks use a food processor or any other high-powered mixer and it’s much easier and faster than hand sifting.

I had never heard of this until a writer friend mentioned that her mother used to make when she was a kid. I don’t think my mom ever knew about this or she would’ve made it. She liked to experiment and made us mayonnaise cakes, Coca Cola cakes, 7-UP cakes and anything unusual. She had a huge sweet tooth.

There’s also Potato Fudge. I image the list goes on.

What is the most fun and interesting thing on any subject that you discovered, present or past?

Now shifting gears….

Courting Miss Emma is coming out on November 7 and I made a book trailer for it. I’m so proud of myself. Usually I have to get my sister’s help. Not this time.

A little about this second book in the Hangman’s Daughters series. Emma Taggart has been run of town and told not to return simply because of her father’s occupation. She’s 26 years old and never been courted once so she’s resigned to living out her life as a spinster. But a new neighbor moves next door to the orphanage she runs and her life begins to change. Stone Landry has just mustered out of the Frontier Army and has brought a pair of camels he rescued. It’ll take both of them joining forces to defeat the man determined to take their land.

So, I hope you watch the short video and preorder the book. Please Note: It’ll only be out in ebook form until March when Severn House Publishing will release it in trade size print.

UNIVERSAL LINK

FOR AN EXCERPT AND OTHER INFORMATION

ALSO, for a FREE SHORT story

Thanks for spending time with me. Hope you enjoyed it.

Linda

Linda Broday Headshot
Website |  + posts

Here in the Texas Panhandle, we do love our cowboys. There's just something about a man in a Stetson and jeans that makes my heart beat faster. I'm not much of a cook but I love to do genealogy and I'm a bit of a rock hound. I'm also a NY Times & USA Today bestselling author of historical western romance. You can contact me through my website and I'd love to connect with you on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and more. HAPPY READING!
https://petticoatsandpistols.com/sweepstakesrules/

58 thoughts on “Potato Candy Anyone?”

  1. Thank you for the free story! I have made potato candy and mayonnaise cake! In fact, mayonnaise cake was my grandfather’s favorite cake… he requested it on his birthday every year!

    • Wow, Ami. You already know all about this. I love the mayonnaise cake. It’s so moist and doesn’t take oil at all. It’s economical to make which is probably why it used to be a favorite. I don’t know how healthy it would be though. Thanks for coming.

  2. Potato candy is popular at St. Patrick’s Day around here. They roll it into small potato shapes, then roll in cocoa powder so it looks like a potato.

    • Great, Denise! Wow, I guess I’m behind the times. In my article it showed potato candy shaped like four leaf clovers which were so cute. Glad you stopped by to share.

  3. We’ve made potato candy many times. That is my grandson’s favorite thing to do with me and he is now 27. We spread chocolate over the peanut butter and it tastes like Resse’s cups. Really rich though!!!

    • I bet that’s really rich, Flypauper! But how yummy! I’d love to have some of that. And it’s really wonderful that your grandson loves it and will help keep the recipe going with his kids. I love that! Thanks for sharing.

  4. Hey Linda! Thanks for the free story! I have never heard of potato candy. I guess I’m an odd ball here! LOL I’m not a writer, but I continuously look up items, people, places, etc. all the time! I end up down all kinds of rabbit holes! Wiki and google are my friends! Heh. I am taken so far from where, what, when, that I wonder how I got from the history of cereal to how they made the dam! It’s hilarious at times. I never think of these times as wasteful because I’m always learning something new!

    I enjoyed the first Hangman Daughter’s book! Can’t wait for this one! I know nothing really about camels. Maybe I will look them up and see where I end up at! LOL Best wishes always Linda!

    • Loved the short story Linda! A good ole fashion tear jerker though! 😉

      And reading about camels was interesting. I had no idea they had camel racing. And those poor abused children jockeys. I can take a lot of hurt, but when it comes to hurting innocent children, it breaks my heart! Ulgh!

      • Tracy, I hope you ran across an article of how and why the U.S Army imported quite a few camels to Texas during the 1800s. It’s very interesting. But when they were through with them, they just turned them loose and the poor things had to find food and water on their own. Sad. They didn’t prove as useful as they’d thought. But this is how my hero in Courting Miss Emma wound up with a pair. It’s very believable. Glad you loved my short story. It just came to me one day out of the blue. I cried when I wrote it and still cry now when I read it. I have another free short story to share and this one is much lighter and more humorous. That’s for next time. Emma’s book will soon be here! YAY. It’s coming out in ebook first then a print version in March. Love you, lady.

    • Valri, thank you so much for the compliment on the trailer. I’m glad you liked it. The hardest part was finding the images. I’m so happy you’re loving my Hangman’s Daughters. Thank you for reading and reviewing Courting Miss Emma. Much love.

  6. miracle whip cake is always what my Mom made for my Birthday every year – it is still my favorite chocolate cake!

  7. Good morning, Linda! Wow – you had me at “Potato Candy Anyone?” 🙂 I’ve never heard of this. Very intriguing!

    Loved your video! It might be my favorite one so far. Congrats!

    • I know, Pam. I had never heard of it either. Just something I stumbled on by accident. Thanks for the compliment on the video. The next one will be even more ambitious and have someone narrating. Canva is just so easy to make things in and now they have added some AI stuff if you want it. Love you.

  8. I save potato water to enhance the flavor of cinnamon rolls. And, I use buttermilk in baking chocolate cake. Yum!

    • Kathy, that’s a wonderful way to add nutrients and more flavor into cinnamon rolls. Wow! Oh man, I know your chocolate cake made with buttermilk is to die for! Absolutely the best. I hope you and Ron are doing well and staying out of the doctor’s offices. Must be getting really cold up there by now. Bet it’s beautiful! Much love.

      • The leaves have changed to fall colors now. So pretty. So far we have not had a hard frost. But next week that will no doubt occur. Life is good. We are doing well. Ron begins pheasant hunting. Yay!

  9. I have had both potato candy and mayonnaise cake. When we made it with my Mom, she dipped it in chocolate. I still make the cake but haven’t had the candy since I was little. Thanks for the recipe will have to try it.

    • Sharom, I hope my post will prod you into making some. 🙂 I know it must be so good and I’m itching to try it but I’ve gotten diabetes so can’t eat things like this. I hate it though!! Thanks for coming!

  10. I didn’t know about potato candy but I have made a chocolate cake that used mayonnaise. I can’t wait to try this recipe. Thank you for sharing.

  11. I’ve actually made this about 15 years ago.
    I’ve made a few depression era recipes, some out of curiosity and some as part of our homeschooling adventure. (It didn’t hurt that they were frugal.)
    If I remember correctly, this was very sweet and the potato is not noticeable at all. I like the idea of using Nutella as a filling.

    My husband is of Choctaw descent. One traditional dish is a spring onion egg dish. My daughter and I really like it, my son is not a fan on onions. It’s just a basic scrambled egg or frittata with chopped young green onion.

    • Hi MaryEllen, thanks for coming over to read my post. Maybe you’ll teach potato candy to some of your kids. 🙂 Your husband’s spring onion egg dish sounds delicious. I’m going to try that. I eat a lot of scrambled eggs but it gets pretty boring when it’s plain. Onion would a good additive. Thanks!

    • Shanna, I just had to blog about this because it’s something I’d never heard of. Thanks about the new book. I’m excited to get it to readers and to know what they think of the hero’s camels. Ha! It’s definitely different. Have a beautiful day, lovely Filly Sister.

    • Quiltladyblog, I’m sure it is very rich and a little would go a long way. But it would sure start a conversation. I sure would’ve hated to make my own powdered sugar back then! That would take a lot of time to make this much for this recipe. But it’s something they could make up ahead of time and just sit until they used it. Have a lovely day and thanks for coming.

  14. I have never heard of this. This is so cool. I would be one of these that adds Vanilla to it. Or maybe Almond Extract. Thanks for sharing.

    • Lori, I’m glad I could share something new. Yes, vanilla or almond extract might give it a bit more taste. One of my other commenters said she makes it and uses peanut butter with a layer of chocolate over the top for the filling and it tastes like a Reese’s peanut butter cup. That’s a thought. I might make this at Christmas for the grandkids. 🙂

  15. I watched the video of your new book – sounds really interesting. Thanks for the recipe for potato candy.

    • Karijean, thanks for watching the video. This book is another sweet western romance. I think I forgot to say that. You’re welcome for the recipe. It’s something different for sure. Have a wonderful day.

    • Colleen, leave it to me to find the unusual. Ha! I’m shocked at the people who have not only heard of it but make it. Wow! Where have I been? I bet your grandma would know about it. Have a lovely day there.

  17. I had never heard of potato candy, I have heard of mayonnaise cake and the 7up cake , but I have never eaten them. Your book sounds like a very good read, I loved the trailer, it sure makes me want to get the book!! Thank you for sharing your awesome book trailer! Have a great day.

    • Alicia, I’m glad I’m not the only one who hasn’t. So many commenters have made it. Take it from me, those cakes are very delicious but I can’t eat them anymore. Diabetes ruins everything. I’m glad you enjoyed the book trailer. I had fun making it. The hardest part was finding the images of the people. I think you’ll love the book. Thanks for coming. Much love.

  18. This recipe is right along the lines of water pie which I use in my up-coming book, Mayor of Train Town 2. The people are trapped below ground in a tunnel after a train derailment caused by an earthquake. There are limited supplies, but they are trying to make life as close to what they had as possible. Weeks turn into months and the children need to be given hope. Goodies such as these help. Thank you for the idea. There is a large German group onboard so they could have brought the idea with them. (I know, not peanut butter) Love to all and always looking for knowledge about history.

    • Hi Susan, thanks for coming. I remember your story about the people trapped for so long in that underground tunnel. How nice that you’ve made that into a series. It’s very different from most romance books. You’re welcome to the idea of making potato candy. They could’ve used anything else for the filling. Some berries cooked down to a puree or really any fruit. Glad I could help you. 🙂 🙂

  19. I believe my mom made potato candy, it sounds and looks very familiar. I grew up eating and making mayonnaise cakes. A friend of mine make beet brownies. They aren’t bad.

  20. Ok Linda, you have my taste buds going. Tomorrow is Rob’s 62nd birthday. I am going to have to make these for him along with his red velvet cake he asked for me to make. With his teeth issues, I think this would be easy to make.

    I’m so excited for everyone to read your new book. Emma, Stone, and everyone at Heaven’s door truly captured my heart.

    I did find something out accidentally. But WD40 rubbed on your ache joints helps the pain. I guess the Spanish do this all the time. I better get my work done so I can go see Miss Sage.
    Love you my sweet sister friend.

    • Miss Tonya, please tell Rob I said Happy Birthday! Let me know how the Potato Candy turns out if you make it. I’d sure like to try it. Maybe I will at Christmas for the grands. I’m excited that it’s almost time for Emma’s book. Yippee! Thank you so much for reading and reviewing it.

      I haven’t heard about the WD-40 but I will try it. I love the smell of that. 🙂 Tell Miss Sage I’m longing to meet her. Hope I get to. Love, Love you, Sister Friend!

  21. Linda, how interesting. I have never heard of potato candy, and I’m surprised since my mom grew up in the Depression and you’d think that would be a cheaper kind of candy that would be able to be had more often than some others! Someone mentioned Velveeta fudge. I have seen that recipe but never tried it. I make my old “tried and true” with the marshmallow creme ever year. LOL

    I am so anxious to read your new book. I love kids in a story, and you always do a great job when you involve kids in your tales!

    Really enjoyed reading about Potato Candy!

    • Miss Cheryl, I found it very odd too that my mom didn’t know about Potato Candy. One of those mysteries I guess.

      Thank you for being excited about my book. It’ll soon be out and I’m hoping they drop the price of the ebook. That’s outrageous. Sales will suffer if they don’t. They dropped the first one down to $4.99 after the release so hoping. I downloaded your new book last night and hope to get to it soon. It really looks good.

      Much love, Filly Sister! Waving madly.

  22. I’ve never heard of potato candy but I sure want to try it. Loved the trailer and thanks for the short story.

  23. You are so right about research, sister. I had never heard of potato candy, but it sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing and congrats on the upcoming new release. I love the book trailer!

    • Jan, you might have to make this for the grands at Christmas! But don’t tell them what it’s made of until they eat it. I’m so glad you approved my efforts on making the book trailer. Did you notice that I changed the music after I uploaded to YouTube and decided it wasn’t right. Made extra work but I like this music better. I missed you after you went home. Sure was nice having you. Love you dearly, Sister.

  24. Thank you so much for sharing. I am surprised to learn what was used as medicine in the past we would no longer even consider using anymore. God bless you.

    • Debbie, I always learn a lot when I do research and find things I never dreamed of. You’re right about the medicines. Thank goodness we learned not to put opium and alcohol in our medicines! Good grief. Sure created a bunch of addicts. Keep looking and learning and feed your curiosity of our world. Love you.

  25. You did a very nice job on the trailer. It shows that those of us “a few years older” than teens can learn new things about technology. Thank you for the short story. It will nicely round out the series when the third book is out.
    I vaguely remember hearing about potato candy, but honestly don’t remember where. We have moved so many times and been lucky enough to learn about so many cultures, it is hard to remember. It could have come from relatives who were talking about time during the Depression and some of the work-arounds they did to try to give life a touch of normalcy.

    Interesting thing I learned is pretty far from the American West. After the Peace Corps, I traveled to Indonesia on my way home. With others, we hired a canoe and local man to take us out on a lake with an active volcano in the center which we climbed. (you quickly learn to dodge flying hot rocks and time your looking over the rim into the roiling crater.) We first went to a village at the other end of the lake that was still living the truly native culture with very little western influence. Hiking along a path near the village, we passed a burial ground. When someone dies, they dig a shallow trench, and place the body in it. They do not bury it. They place old Chinese coins on the eyes to keep them closed. They weave a split bamboo open tent like covering for the grave to keep dogs and other animals from getting in. The body decays in the open. When it is nothing but bones, the bones are collected, cleaned, bundled. They are then placed in a hut with the remains of other family members. Thankfully there were no bodies in the trenches when I was there. The tenting was over the trenches and there were coins on the ground.

    Too gruesome? Maybe I should have mentioned the teeth filing ceremony for a teen girl I attended or the possession by a demon of a young woman I witnessed.

    • Pat, you really amaze me with your vast worldly experience in traveling abroad. The things you have seen and witnessed would fill several books. I’d love to sit down and talk to you for more than a few minutes. Wow. You’ve led an interesting life. Much love and big hugs.

      • I, too, hope we get the opportunity to visit. I hope there is another author event we can both attend If not, who knows when we will be out that way again.

  26. I have made potato candy. By adding a little peppermint extract and dipping it in chocolate it is much like a peppermint patty.

  27. I’ve never made potato candy altho my grandmother used to make it, mainly at Christmas. There’s also wacky cake, which is so easy to make and good. I had read about the camels being brought to Texas – haven’t read the first Hangman’s Daughter book, but want to read both of them!

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