Recipe for cooking sweet potato candy

Desserts to Go with Coffee and Tea :: Candies and Confections

Sweet Potato Candy

1 lb. sweet potatoes
1 c. sugar
1 c. water

Wash and scrub sweet potatoes. Cook in boiling water until soft; let cool, then peel, mash, and pass through a sieve. Set aside.

In a saucepan on low heat dissolve the sugar with the water; cover, then simmer for 2 to 3 mins. to wash down crystals from the sides of the pan. Uncover and continue cooking on med. heat to the firm ball stage (242 degrees F) or until the syrup forms a firm ball that does not flatten when removed from cold water.

Add the potatoes to the syrup. Let cook until the mixture resembles a paste. Remove from heat and beat with an electric mixer on low speed until cool. By hand, roll bits of paste into 1 x 3-in. sticks. Place them on a board covered with wax paper and let them dry in a warm, dray place for 24 hours. The following day, brush the candies with Glaze. Dry again. Wrap individual candies in wax paper or plastic wrap.

Glaze
1 c. sugar
1/4 c. water

Boil sugar with water to the thread stage (234 degrees F). Syrup will spin a 2-in. thread when dropped from a spoon. Remove from heat and apply with a pastry brush to the candies.

Makes approximately 32.