Potato candy

[domestic goddess]

This is something we often had as kids. I've always thought of it as a "Southern thang", but I wonder how widespread it really was. Haven't had it or even thought of it for years, but think I'll have to make some for my granddaughters. You boil a medium potato, mash it and add some butter, then add powdered sugar until you have a stiff dough (it may take a couple of pounds). Pat or roll it out about 1/4" thick, spread with peanut butter, and roll up, jelly roll style. Chill in the fridge until firm, then cut into slices. Store in the fridge.
Everyone we knew grew up eating this and, like I said, I always thought of it as uniquely Southern, but it occurs to me that it might be a more universal thing, maybe depression era?
Have you ever eaten this or heard of it?

[iris lilies]

hmmm, sounds like a southern thing. Although white bread with butter and sugar isn't far off, and people in the Midwest eat that.

[kib]

Never heard of potato candy, I'm from NY. Never heard of it in Arizona either. (brown) sugar & butter sandwiches, yes, my mom would broil them with a little cinnamon sort of like a cheater's french toast, but I'd just eat them "raw" , butter & sugar.

[rodeosweetheart]

I'm thinking a form of potato fondant candy--I remember my Depression era grandmother making something similar.
That led me to this:
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/pioneer-potato-candy/

[nswef]

My friend from central PA makes this. I thought it was Pa. Dutch.

[IshbelRobertson]

This is the Scots version called macaroons, for some reason!

http://www.scotlandnow.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/weekend-recipe-scottish-macaroon-bars-3681130

[herbgeek]

My German mother`s family made a potato candy as a kind of fake marzipan. There was either some ground almonds in it or almond flavoring.

[Sad Eyed Lady]

I had this as a child too and still enjoy the taste of powdered sugar w/ peanut butter!

[domestic goddess]

Wow! More versions of potato candy than I would have thought! There are many similarities, except the potato candy I had as a kid contained no chocolate or coconut or nuts. It was rolled flat, spread with peanut butter and then rolled up, jelly roll style. Think I'll make some tonight with my granddaughters. I think they will get kind of a kick out of it--all that sugar!

[Sad Eyed Lady]

Wow! More versions of potato candy than I would have thought! There are many similarities, except the potato candy I had as a kid contained no chocolate or coconut or nuts. It was rolled flat, spread with peanut butter and then rolled up, jelly roll style. Think I'll make some tonight with my granddaughters. I think they will get kind of a kick out of it--all that sugar!

That is how mine was made. When I tried making it myself as an adult I was shocked at how much sugar it took to make it! But, it is good.

[domestic goddess]

Sad Eyed Lady, I see you are from Kentucky, too. Were you raised there, and had this as a kid there? I'm curious about how regional a treat this is. I'm also curious about regional expressions. For instance, my maternal grandparents were from Southern Ohio, and always called bell pepper "mangoes". I was an adult before I discovered that mangoes were a very different kind of fruit. To me, whenever I thought of "mango" a bell pepper was what I pictured mentally.

I just told my oldest granddaughter that I wanted to make this tonight. She thought it sounded "yucky", but my dd said something about "if you put enough sugar in it", and I told her that there would be plenty of powdered sugar in it. She just can't believe it will be any good. This should be fun.

[libby]

My moms version had mint extract in it. She made tiny little balls of it then flattened to make mint patties. Sort of like after dinner mints.
I made these again as an adult and found them way too sweet.

[kib]

Just looked up the recipe. It actually looks like you only use enough potato to hold a pound of confectioner's sugar together, about a quarter cup. Guess it's called "candy" and not "potato patties" for a reason!

[Sad Eyed Lady]

Sad Eyed Lady, I see you are from Kentucky, too. Were you raised there, and had this as a kid there? I'm curious about how regional a treat this is. I'm also curious about regional expressions. For instance, my maternal grandparents were from Southern Ohio, and always called bell pepper "mangoes". I was an adult before I discovered that mangoes were a very different kind of fruit. To me, whenever I thought of "mango" a bell pepper was what I pictured mentally.

I just told my oldest granddaughter that I wanted to make this tonight. She thought it sounded "yucky", but my dd said something about "if you put enough sugar in it", and I told her that there would be plenty of powdered sugar in it. She just can't believe it will be any good. This should be fun.

Yes, domestic goddess I was raised in Kentucky and I have never thought if this "delicacy" was regional or not. Maybe so.... Yes, I too am curious about local expressions that vary from place to place. A very interesting subject. I have never heard of bell peppers being referred to as mangoes though!

[domestic goddess]

The bell pepper/mango thing is a Southern Ohio regionalism. It is also common in my home town in KY, because of our proximity to Ohio (just across the river) and the common interactions, I guess. Of course, my grandparents were raised with it. And so was I, I guess! But it was a bit confusing to find out that there was another food called a mango. And I like it, too!

[kib]

I just told my oldest granddaughter that I wanted to make this tonight. She thought it sounded "yucky", but my dd said something about "if you put enough sugar in it", and I told her that there would be plenty of powdered sugar in it. She just can't believe it will be any good. This should be fun.So did you make it? What was the verdict? :~)

[Sad Eyed Lady]

The bell pepper/mango thing is a Southern Ohio regionalism. It is also common in my home town in KY, because of our proximity to Ohio (just across the river) and the common interactions, I guess. Of course, my grandparents were raised with it. And so was I, I guess! But it was a bit confusing to find out that there was another food called a mango. And I like it, too!

That is what I was thinking earlier when I posted about never hearing bell peppers called mangoes: Southern Ohio is just across the river. But I am more in the south-central area of the state. Again, interesting how the local expressions change even within that proximity.