Maine Potato Candies are one of those treats that make you scratch your head. Potatoes as candy? But trust the process and give these candies a try. They are New England’s version of a coconut mounds bar, with no potato taste in sight.

What’s the history behind this candy?

When one thinks of Maine, one thinks of the blueberries, whoopie pies, and lobsters; but this Maine Potato Candy is just as famous as those later-mentioned foods. The story goes that around 1872 the candy manufacturer, Seavey Sweets developed this candy. How it was invented varied, with some stating that a worker came up with the idea and pitched it to the boss. However, it turned out, the company developed a candy filled with coconut, dipped in chocolate, and secretly hiding the state’s famous crop – potatoes.

The name for these candies is Needhams, and it was referencing the famous preacher George C Needham. Born in Ireland and then living his adult life in New England, the preacher became renowned beyond his main residency in Massachusetts. He traveled up to Maine, conducting several tent revivals (also known as tent meetings) preaching Evangelical Christianity condemning Catholicism, and speaking of the impending coming of Christ. The sermons he spoke during these tent meetings gained him a strong following around Portland and his sermons were printed in full in newspapers, which said that his name was on every person’s tongue. With his name notoriety in Maine, it is easy to see why the candy company chose to use his name (similar to the Baby Ruth story, just minus the legal lawsuits) which was commonly known among Mainers.

What ingredients are required for the Maine Potato Candy?

How to make the Maine Potato Candy

The process is super simple! The mashed potatoes are mixed with powdered sugar, coconut, vanilla extract, and salt. Once the filling is formed, it is spread onto a large parchment-lined baking sheet. Once evenly spread out, the filling is popped into the fridge to firm up.

When the filling is firm enough to cut, slice it into small rectangles (or squares) and chill the individually portioned candies in the fridge for another thirty minutes. Next, melt the chocolate and dip the chilled candies into the chocolate. Tapping the chocolate-coated candies against the side bowl removes the excess chocolate. Set the candies back onto the parchment paper and let the outer coating firm up.

Maine Potato Candies taste like a mounds bar through and through. The filling is coconut-forward and depending on the extracts used, can have a delightfully floral vanilla or nutty coconut flavor.

The mashed potatoes combine with the powdered sugar to create a soft, almost chewy nougat base for the coconut. It creates the element of a candy bar nougat but minus the fussiness of making actual nougat which requires precise temperature and boiling sugar to a molten hot level.

Chocolate coating on the outside creates the perfect shell for the candy. It gives a rich, smooth, and velvety contrast to the chewy shredded tropical tastes of the coconut on the inside of the candy.

Follow in the footsteps of Mainers, as people up there serve these at special occasion or gift as a sweet holiday treat. Whoever eats it, won’t be disappointed.