Sunday, February 08, 2009

Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut---Homemade Almond Joy Candy--at the Potato Ho Down!

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I'm kind of annoyed about this one, but think these actually turned out really well.  When I graduated from high school, in Idaho, some twenasldfahshty years ago, a family friend gave me a little cookbook called Potato Potpourri.  Every recipe in the book has potatoes, including Almond Joy Candy Bars.  So I was all excited tonight when we had some mashed potatoes for dinner and there was just enough left for me to get out the book and make these.  Search, search, search, look, growl, search, look--no book.  I can't find it!  I don't know why I can't find it, I only have one place that I keep my cookbooks.  Sigh!  Remembering when I'd made these Almond Joy Bars before, I recalled that there really isn't too much to the recipe, so I decided to just wing it.  I think I did pretty good.  These taste great and you would NEVER know there are mashed potatoes in the coconut filling.  So simple and so good, you've got to make these for the coconut lover in your life--after all, it is Valentine's Day soon!

Here's the easy recipe.

Homemade Almond Joy Bars

1/2 cup mashed potatoes (with no seasonings)

2 cups powdered sugar

2 cups sweetened flaked coconut

pinch salt

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

24 almonds, toasted and cooled

12 oz. chocolate (I used Hershey's Special Dark-because that's what I had, I think Almond Joys are made with milk chocolate and Mounds are dark chocolate)  Use your favorite.

1 tablespoon butter or shortening

Mix together in medium sized bowl the potatoes, sugar, coconut, salt and vanilla.  Refrigerate for about 30 minutes.   Form about a tablespoon of the coconut mixture into an oval shape and  push an almond into the center.  Set the coconut mounds on a sheet or plate covered with wax paper and freeze them for another 30 minutes or so.  Melt chocolate in 20-30 second intervals in a microwave safe dish or in a double boiler on the stove then add the butter/shortening and stir until melted and smooth.  With each mound on a spoon, dip them in the chocolate and cover to coat completely.  Set them back on the wax paper and refrigerate until set.   Makes 24.

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I prefer these with milk chocolate, but the dark chocolate is great and healthier!  ; )  You would never know there is mashed potatoes in these!

I dipped a few of them in the chocolate twice.  Kevin thought it was a bit too much, so I've saved most of them in the freezer to dip in milk chocolate. 

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You gotta try these!  And hey, if you don't like the almond, leave it out and make Mounds!

Check out these Almond Joy Candy Bars and all the other potato posts and recipes at the Potato Ho Down blog.  Yummy!  Lots of good stuff, including these candies that you just have to try sometime--you'll never need to buy candy again!  Being a "lil' tater" myself (I am from Idaho!) I think this is a great spud-ly blog to turn to for all recipes and dishes with potatoes!

Potato Ho Down

22 comments:

Nancy/n.o.e said...

Katrina, these look great. Pretty cool that you could re-create the recipe so well. And a cookbook based on mashed potatoes is right up my alley. I had a hot dog cookbook once, but it was kind of a joke!
Nancy

Elyse said...

How clever! I can't wait to try these. Mounds/almond joys happen to be one of my favorite candy. Next time I have leftover mashed potatoes, I know they'll be going to great use!

Anonymous said...

Seriously, if you do not enter these into this month's Potato Ho Down I might be mad. These are serously cool.

Megan said...

Ahhhh! I can't keep up with you. I've still got to make the graham crackers, in heart shape, of course.

Nora said...

Yummy everything looks so good!

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Leslie said...

"twenasldfahshty years ago" LOL lOl..these look mighty tasty!

Anonymous said...

I'm so going to make these. Almond Joys are my husbands favorite candy bar.

Jodi said...

My MIL has been looking for a potato candy recipe that reminded her of something she had when she was young. This is what I found and she said that it seemed like what she was looking for. Sorry that I can't say we've tried it yet though, but it's from Taste of Home. http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Maine-Potato-Candy

Leslie said...

Oh and by the way...if I gave you my recipe for my chocolate chip cookies I made for the Super Bowl event..I might have to kill you!!! LOL I wont even give the recipe to my sister who has been begging me for years!

Unknown said...

Mmmm...these look just like mini almond joys!!

Sara said...

These are so creative, I bet they're better than the original!

Max and Deborah said...

YUmmmy! I love almond joys, it is my only chance to eat coconut, since my family all detest it. Love the recipe. I can't believe that mashed taters are in it.

AmyRuth said...

Those are great looking. My husband would be your friend for life. He loves almond joy. he he You are a smart cookie. Great job

test it comm said...

Those homemade almond joys look great!

Clumbsy Cookie said...

I hate when I loose a book! But you did great recreating the recipe yourself! They look great! This is such a fun recipe Katrina!

Lo said...

I really shouldn't be shocked. After all, mashed potatoes are divine. But, in chocolate? This is positively fantastic!

Anonymous said...

This is absolutely brilliant. I love this idea. It looks delicious and it makes people stop and say "Huh?"

Mrsblocko said...

I made these candies the other day and wrote about them here:
http://tomatoesforapples.blogspot.com/2009/12/fake-almond-joy.html

They were dangerously delicious! Thank you for sharing the recipe.

Unknown said...

These look yummy Katrina. The recipe is very similar to what I did today except there was no potatoes and heavy cream instead. Is that so wrong? LOL I also took a few liberties with the recipe and added my own little twists ;) I'll be posting this weekend for #SundaySupper. My inspiration movie was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!

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