A 1959 farm journal cookbook records a recipe for candy made from potatoes, but the tradition hails much further back in time to the old pioneer days. Farm families were huge and traditionally would come together to the grandparents homestead on the most special holidays, such as Christmas. The grandmothers and mothers would spend days preparing for the family feast. You will find suggestions for updating and modernizing the recipe below for the modern palette, should you wish to do so.
Ingredients: 1 cup warm mashed potatoes, unseasoned; 2 teaspoons vanilla; ½ teaspoon salt; 2 pounds confectioners sugar (may require a little less).
Directions: Combine potatoes, vanilla, and salt in a large bowl and mix well. Add 1 cup of confectioners sugar at a time by sifting it over the potato mixture. The mixture will first begin to liquefy and then will begin to thicken. Regardless of whether all the sugar has been added, the key point is when the mixture turns into stiff dough. At that point, stop adding sugar. Knead the dough. After kneading, cover with a damp dishcloth and refrigerate until it is firm enough that a small spoonful can be rolled into a ball. Shape the dough into ½ inch balls. The recipe makes approximately eight dozen balls. This recipe feeds a large extended family.
Further suggestions: The balls may be dipped in melted chocolate and then rolled in coconut, nuts, or even candy sprinkles. You can also experiment with different types of chocolate, such as dark, milk, or semi-sweet, and different types of nuts as well. It is a great recipe to involve the children of the family, with each one choosing their favorite final ingredients.
Cheers & Happy Reading!
Flossie Benton Rogers, Conjuring the Magic with Paranormal Fantasy Romance
It seems that women were very imaginative during those times, and were able to feed their families with food both tasty and lacking the dangerous chemicals/Es of nowadays.
Thanks so much for sharing!
Yes, I suppose out of necessity. Luckily they had good roles models and plenty of gumption!
I remember my mom making this! I’d totally forgotten about it until I read your post.
Thanks for the memories and a great Vintage Friday!!
Really, Trisha? That’s awesome. What part of the country is she from? You have a great weekend too.
I’ve never heard of these candies before, but they sound like they would be delicious. I be they were a huge hit during holidays! 🙂
Delicious and a lot of sugar! However, they were small and one or two would be okay and, as you say, delicious.
This reads like the kind of thing my grandmother might have known. Lovely treats for the young for the holidays.
The tater candy is a rather grandmotherly treat, Daisy.