Maine Potato Candy

While most Americans have never heard of Maine potato candy, born and bred Mainers are overly familiar with what they refer to as Needhams. These chocolate confections really are filled with potatoes, but the potatoes are hardly detectable. Their job is to give the filling a smooth, soft and neutral-tasting base, allowing the shredded coconut, vanilla extract and chocolate flavors to shine.

But if you don’t have a Maine (or New Hampshire) zip code, Needhams can be hard to come by. The good news? Maine potato candy is super easy (and fun!) to make at home. Plan ahead and whip up the mashed potatoes (no milk, butter, salt or garlic, please!) a day ahead so they have time to chill. If you were hoping these were more potato-shaped than filled, try our Irish potato candy instead.

What is Maine potato candy?

Since the early 1870s, Mainers have enjoyed Needhams—a mashed potato and coconut-filled confection enrobed in dark chocolate. But chocolate and coconut are hardly the ingredients that have us scratching our heads—how did potatoes get in there?

According to the Maine Needham Co., there is speculation that spuds were added to the candy thanks to an overabundance of potato crops. In an effort to reduce food waste, contests were created to challenge cooks and bakers to use the spuds in new, creative recipes. Whether the speculation is true or not, Maine potato candy was created by Seavey’s Sweets, a Maine confectionery, in or around 1872. Owner John Seavey decided to call the candy Needhams, and Mainers fell in love.

Ingredients for Maine Potato Candy

• Confectioners’ sugar: If your confectioners’ sugar looks a little lumpy, take a second to sift it so it’s completely smooth. Once it’s mixed with the other ingredients, it’s almost impossible to get all the lumps out and you’ll have little balls of sugar in the candies.
• Shredded coconut: Be sure you’re buying shredded coconut, not desiccated, as the latter will have an unpleasant chew in the candies. We also go for the sweetened variety for more of that yummy coconutty flavor.
• Cold mashed potatoes: To make mashed potatoes for this chocolate potato candy, boil, drain and mash russet potatoes just as you would in a mashed potato recipe, without adding butter, salt, cream, herbs, garlic or anything else. Once made, let them cool to room temperature, then chill them in the fridge until they’re thoroughly cold.
• Vanilla extract: Vanilla adds a really nice, delicate floral sweetness to the candy filling.
• Chocolate candy coating: This is a great alternative to tempering chocolate at home. It creates a shiny finish with a nice chocolate snap.

Directions

Step 1: Make the filling

In a large bowl, mix together the confectioners’ sugar, sweetened shredded coconut, mashed potatoes, vanilla extract and salt until well combined.

Step 2: Chill the filling

Line a 9-inch square pan with aluminum foil. Spread room-temperature butter all over the foil. Evenly spread the coconut mixture into the pan, then cover the filling tightly with storage wrap and chill overnight.

Step 3: Cut into pieces

With a sharp chef’s knife and a ruler, cut the block of filling into 2×1-inch rectangles. Cover them again tightly with storage wrap and freeze the pieces.

Step 4: Melt the chocolate

Meanwhile, melt the chocolate candy coating in a microwave at 70% power in 10-second increments. Stir in between every single increment to ensure even heating until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth.

Editor’s Tip: It’s very easy to accidentally burn the chocolate in the microwave. There are a few safer, albeit slower, ways to melt chocolate, as in a double boiler or water bath. Just make sure that no water gets in the chocolate or it will ruin it!

Step 5: Coat the candies and let them set

Using the tines of a fork, dip the bars in the chocolate candy coating, allowing the excess to drip off. Place the chocolate-covered candy on waxed paper to set at room temperature.

Editor’s Tip: It’s really important you allow any excess chocolate to drip off so the candies don’t form “feet.” You can even lightly and gently tap the fork on the inside of the bowl to encourage the excess to drip off.

Recipe Variations

• Change the chocolate coating: Prefer milk, semisweet or white chocolate over dark chocolate? Feel free to replace the dark chocolate coating with your preferred chocolate flavor instead.
• Swap the extracts: If desired, flavor the candies with almond or coconut extract instead of or alongside the vanilla extract. Just remember, though, that a little extract goes a long way, so start with 1/2 teaspoon and add more as desired.
• Add toasted nuts: Love texture in your confections? Add chopped toasted pecans to the filling for more nuttiness and a nice crunch.

How to Store Maine Potato Candy

Store Maine potato candy in an airtight container in the fridge. It can be kept for up to two weeks.

Can you freeze Maine potato candy?

Yes, you can freeze Maine potato candy. Stack the chocolate-covered potato candy in an airtight container with pieces of parchment or waxed paper in between so the candies don’t freeze together and stick. Store the candies for up to three months and thaw for 24 hours in the fridge before enjoying again.

Maine Potato Candy Tips

Can you use leftover mashed potatoes to make chocolate potato candy?

While it would be nice to repurpose leftover mashed potatoes to make chocolate potato candy, you really shouldn’t. Cook and mash plain russet potatoes for this recipe so you don’t have the garlic, salt, milk and butter that you’d typically find in leftover mashed potatoes. Consider one of these ways to use leftover mashed potatoes, whether it’s for shepherd’s pie or mashed potato cakes.

What do you serve with Maine potato candy?

Maine potato candy is perfect served by itself, especially on a dessert table to round out the offerings with a confection option. However, the candies also taste amazing with a sweet dessert wine like port or ice wine, a mug of coffee or tea, or with salty snacks on a charcuterie board.

Does Maine potato candy taste like potatoes?

No, Maine potato candy does not taste like potatoes. The potatoes make the body of the filling, and their taste is subtle enough that the confectioners’ sugar, shredded coconut, chocolate and vanilla extract overpower any potato flavor.

Can you roll the filling for chocolate-covered potato candy into balls instead of cutting it into bars?

Yes, if you’d prefer more bite-sized treats, you can definitely roll your filling into balls instead. Just keep in mind that when you put each potato candy ball onto the foil to freeze, they should not be touching so they don’t get stuck together.