Old-fashioned sweet potato candy is the kind of recipe that sounds surprising until you try it. Made with mashed sweet potato, vanilla, confectioners’ sugar, and creamy peanut butter, it tastes less like a vegetable and more like soft peanut butter fudge.
This nostalgic Southern candy comes from our August Cookbook Club pick, The Southerner’s Cookbook by the editors of Garden & Gun magazine. The book is full of Southern recipes, traditions, and stories, and this simple four-ingredient treat is a perfect example of its charm.
What Is Sweet Potato Candy?
Despite the name, sweet potato candy does not have a strong sweet potato flavor. The cooked potato acts as a binder, creating a soft dough when mixed with vanilla and confectioners’ sugar.
The dough is rolled out, spread with peanut butter, and shaped into a spiral log before chilling and slicing. The finished candies are sweet, creamy, and reminiscent of peanut butter fudge.
The recipe notes that many family stories describe this humble candy as a Depression-era creation born from frugal ingenuity. It may also have traveled to the South with Irish settlers before becoming a treat served for holidays and special occasions.
Either way, it is an easy no-bake candy with plenty of old-fashioned appeal.
Sweet Potato Candy
Recipe from The Southerner’s Cookbook by the editors of Garden & Gun magazine
Ingredients
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1 small sweet potato
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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1½ to 2 pounds confectioners’ sugar, plus more for rolling
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½ cup creamy peanut butter
Preparation
Pierce the sweet potato with a fork and cook it in a microwave on high until very tender, 5 to 7 minutes.
Let the potato cool completely, then remove the skin. Mash it with a potato masher or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until completely smooth.
Stir in the vanilla extract.
Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar, 1 cup at a time, mixing until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms. It should have the consistency of cookie dough.
Place the dough between two sheets of waxed paper dusted with additional confectioners’ sugar. Roll it into a 9-by-12-inch rectangle about ¼ inch thick.
Spread the peanut butter evenly over the dough.
Beginning with one long side, roll the dough into a log, using the waxed paper to help shape it. If the dough begins sticking to the paper, refrigerate it for 5 minutes before continuing.
Wrap the log in waxed paper and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Slice into ¼-inch-thick pieces and serve.
Store the candy in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Tip: Microwave the peanut butter for 30 seconds to make it easier to spread.
Tips for Making Sweet Potato Candy
Let the potato cool completely
A warm sweet potato can make the dough overly soft and difficult to handle. Give it enough time to cool before adding the sugar.
Add the sugar gradually
The exact amount of confectioners’ sugar may vary depending on the size and moisture level of the sweet potato. Add it one cup at a time and stop when the mixture resembles soft cookie dough.
Use plenty of confectioners’ sugar when rolling
The dough is naturally sticky. Dusting both sheets of waxed paper with sugar will make it much easier to roll and shape.
Chill the log before slicing
At least two hours in the refrigerator helps the candy firm up and hold its spiral shape. Use a sharp knife and wipe the blade between cuts for cleaner slices.
Warm the peanut butter
A quick 30 seconds in the microwave makes the peanut butter more spreadable and helps prevent the dough from tearing.
Can You Make Sweet Potato Candy Ahead of Time?
Yes. Because the rolled candy needs at least two hours to chill, it is a great make-ahead dessert for holidays, parties, and cookie trays.
Prepare and roll the candy the day before serving, then keep it wrapped in the refrigerator. Slice it once the log is firm.
What Does Sweet Potato Candy Taste Like?
Sweet potato candy is very sweet, soft, and creamy, with a rich peanut butter center. The sweet potato flavor is subtle. Most people are more likely to compare the finished candy to peanut butter fudge than to a sweet potato dessert.
August Cookbook Club: The Southerner’s Cookbook
Our August Cookbook Club selection, The Southerner’s Cookbook from the editors of Garden & Gun magazine, explores the recipes, ingredients, people, and traditions that shape Southern food.
This sweet potato candy recipe captures what makes the book so enjoyable. It takes a few humble pantry ingredients and turns them into a memorable treat with a story behind it.
The result is nostalgic, unapologetically sweet, and surprisingly easy to make—exactly the kind of recipe worth bringing back for the holidays.