This 3-ingredient depression era potato candy is the kind of recipe a grandma like Nana Clara would pull out when money was tight but she still wanted something special on the table. It turns leftover mashed potatoes, a bag of powdered sugar, and a scoop of peanut butter into the sweetest little pinwheel candies. I didn’t believe such simple ingredients could make a whole platter disappear until I watched my own family hover around the dish at a picnic, sneaking piece after piece. It’s old-fashioned, budget-friendly, and a fun little project to make with kids on a quiet afternoon.
Serve these potato candy pinwheels chilled on a glass rectangular serving dish so everyone can see the pretty white roll with the brown peanut butter swirl. They’re sweet enough that you only need a couple of pieces per person, so they’re perfect alongside coffee for the adults and cold milk for the kids. At picnics or potlucks, I like to set them next to salty snacks like pretzels or popcorn—the sweet-and-salty mix keeps people coming back for ‘just one more.’ They also sit nicely on a cookie tray during the holidays, tucked between chocolate chip cookies and fudge for a nostalgic touch.
3-Ingredient Depression Era Potato Candy
Servings: 24
Ingredients
1/4 cup plain mashed potatoes, cooled (no butter, milk, or seasoning)
4–5 cups powdered sugar, plus extra for dusting
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
