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Leftover Mashed Potato Peppermint Patties

These Leftover Mashed Potato Peppermint Patties have only 4 ingredients and are so easy to make! Use any flavor of mashed potatoes to create this simple candy that taste just like a York Peppermint Patty!

 

Leftover Mashed Potato Peppermint Patties

 

 

Have you ever asked the question, “What can I make with Leftover Mashed Potatoes?”

Or perhaps you’ve searched Google or Pinterest for ‘Leftover Mashed Potato Recipes”?

I certainly have over the years.

It’s been one of my goals over the last 2 years to create recipes that re-purpose leftover Mashed Potatoes into new and exciting recipes.

Mashed potatoes are a year round side dish that just about everyone loves.

Which is why there is an unwritten rule that you must make twice as many potatoes as you need.

Because we all want leftovers!  Right?!

However, sometimes you make too many mashed potatoes and ask what to do with leftover mashed potatoes.  

I say re-purpose them into tasty new recipes that will make your taste buds do a jig!

Adding mashed potatoes into various recipes is smart thinking and a great way to use them up!

When I take food to my daughters school, it’s not an uncommon question for them to ask if mashed potatoes are hiding inside the baked goods.

Questions like that always make me smile.

 

Leftover Mashed Potato Peppermint Patties

 

I feel a bit like a parent hiding a vegetable inside a smoothie or cookie, just to get my kids to eat them.

Here’s a fun fact, you may or may not relate to.

My kids HATE mashed potatoes.

They refuse to eat them and are pretty sure I’m trying to poison them every time I serve them.

Despite their dislike of mashed potatoes they LOVE all the recipes that I make that have mashed potatoes hiding inside.

My Leftover mashed potato cinnamon rolls are hands down the best ever.  

And my kids LOVE them.  

Despite my kids disliking mashed potatoes, they sure do like these Leftover Mashed Potato Peppermint Patties.

These Leftover Mashed Potato Peppermint Patties has them all stumped though.

 

Leftover Mashed Potato Peppermint Patties

 

They can’t seem to wrap their minds around the fact that they are eating highly sugared mashed potatoes dipped in chocolate.

That’s because these TASTE LIKE a peppermint patty.

They do not taste like last nights garlic mashed potatoes.

Nor do they taste like grandma’s dry mashed potatoes.

Instead they taste just like a peppermint patty.

The trick to these is you need to use REAL mashed potatoes, made with REAL potatoes.

No flakes, or substitutes, we’re talking the real deal.

What if you want to make these but don’t have leftover mashed potatoes on hand?

Instead of whipping up a fresh batch of mashed potatoes, you can purchase some pre-made REAL mashed potatoes, OR just bake or boil up some potatoes and use those! 

 

Leftover Mashed Potato Peppermint Patties

 

If you’ve never used peppermint extract before then I’ll clue you in to why your flavor of mashed potatoes doesn’t matter.

Peppermint extract is really strong. 

The potatoes will absorb the flavor of the extract and that will overpower any flavor of mashed potatoes you start with.

I should put a disclaimer here that I’ve tried several kinds of mashed potatoes and every time all I taste is a homemade peppermint patty.

If you have different results, please let me know!

This year, you’re probably making homemade caramels, peanut brittle and candied nuts.

All of which are delicious and make great gifts.

However, if you have a fridge full of leftover mashed potatoes, you should skip the other homemade candy and try this homemade Peppermint Patty recipe instead!

 

Leftover Mashed Potato Peppermint Patties

 

What is the history of the Peppermint Patty?

Peppermint Patty candy was created in 1940 by Henry Kessler of York, Pennsylvania.   The name York originates from both the city in which the peppermint patty was originally created as well as Mr. Kessler’s company name York Cone Company.  

One of the distinct features a York Peppermint Patty has in comparison to other peppermint candy is the snap in which it gives when broken in half.  The snap is not a vocal snap, simply the candies ability to break in the center without bending.  If a good snap occurs then the product is perfect.  If the patty bends, it’s imperfect.

 

Leftover Mashed Potato Peppermint Patties

 

Where did Peanuts character Peppermint Patty get her name?

If you have ever wondered if the name Peppermint Patty in the Peanuts comic strip had any correlation to the candy, you would be correct.  

Originally named Patricia Reichardt, “Peppermint Patty” went by the name patty after Schulz’s favorite cousin.  

Peppermint Patty is known for her tom boy look, ignorance to common sense and her crush on Charlie Brown.  There is no proof that his favorite cousin had any of these same characteristics, just the name.

Peppermint Patty is also the only character that called Charlie “Chuck” and his sister Lucy as “Lucille.”  She is an Auburn brunette with freckles and generally found in shorts and sandals.

It wasn’t until Schulz saw a bowl of Peppermint Patty Candy in his home that he thought of using the name on his cartoon character.  Shulz thought the name was so good, he started using it before any other artist could come up with the same idea. 

 

Leftover Mashed Potato Peppermint Patties

 

What other recipes can I make with leftover mashed potatoes?

Leftover mashed potatoes can be transformed into a myriad of possibilities.

Instead re-purpose them into these tasty Leftover Mashed Potato Peppermint Patties!  

Everyone, including yourself, will be surprised at how a few simple ingredients can taste nothing like mashed potatoes!  

A fun treat for anyone who is a York Peppermint Patty fan!

 

Yield: 45

Leftover Mashed Potato Peppermint Patties

Leftover Mashed Potato Peppermint Patties - close up view of cut open peppermint patty.

These Leftover Mashed Potato Peppermint Patties have only 4 ingredients and are so easy to make! Use any flavor of mashed potatoes to create this simple candy that taste just like a York Peppermint Patty!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup leftover mashed potatoes
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon + 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 8- 9 cups confectioners sugar
  • 8 ounces dark chocolate melting wafers

Instructions

  1. Line 2 cookie sheets with wax paper or non-stick foil. Set aside.
  2. In a medium bowl add leftover mashed potatoes and 1 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract. Blend well.
  3. Add confectioners sugar 1 cup at a time and blend well, until all sugar is added.
  4. Once all mixed together, dough should be slightly sticky but workable.
  5. Scoop out balls, approximately 1 Tablespoon size or smaller, and put on prepared cookie sheet. Keep 1 inch between your balls as you'll flatten them out slightly. However keep them close as this makes quite a few.
  6. Using the bottom of a drinking glass, dip glass into confectioners sugar and then gently press down on each of the balls. Re-dip glass in sugar as needed. Do not flatten all the way. If you recall, a peppermint patty is thicker.
  7. Once all patties are flat, then there are two ways to dry them.
  8. First Way: Let them air dry for 12 - 24 hours. As strange as this sounds, I find this method to be the easiest for dipping in chocolate later.
  9. Second Way: Freeze. Pop the cookie sheets into the freezer for an hour and let them harden.
  10. Once disks have had time to harden, then melt chocolate according to package directions. Add 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract and mix well.
  11. Working quickly, place a naked peppermint patty into the chocolate. Quickly flip it over to cover entire patty. Remove patty with a fork and place it back on the cookie sheet or a new piece of wax paper. Repeat for remaining patties.
  12. If frozen patties thaw, then pop back into freezer and start on second cookie sheet. I find I can get through about 1/2 a cookie sheet before the frozen ones are too thawed and a sticky mess. Air dried ones do not thaw and hold their shape better when dipping.
  13. Once all patties are dipped, allow them to dry at room temperature.
  14. Remove from wax paper and enjoy!

Notes

If you do not have leftover mashed potatoes you use skinless baked potatoes or boiled potatoes - both of which you would mash up.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

40

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 811Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 26mgCarbohydrates: 202gFiber: 0gSugar: 197gProtein: 0g

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Baldur Bear

Thursday 4th of April 2024

These sound amazing, and I will try them. A friend's mother used mashed potatoes as a base for her chocolate covered coconut fondant eggs at Easter. They were astonishingly good. This was so long ago (in the 1980s) but everyone remembers them fondly. You did make one error in your text however. Lucy was not Charlie Brown's sister. Her surname was van Pelt and her brother was Linus. Charlie Brown's sister was Sally. Thank you for the fun recipe.

Lauren

Sunday 4th of December 2022

Using mashed potato for a peppermint fondant is a very old recipe. Probably the best known among a certain generation are Snowballs. Roll the fondant into small balls, dip on melted chocolate, and then roll in coconut. Refrigerate until the chocolate is firm enough to pack away in a tin. You could leave on counter but we like them cold. My mother-in-law showed me this recipe and I have been making every Xmas for at least 30 years. A riot would break out if I ever announced I wasn’t going to be making them. I use a medium potato and probably 5-6 tsp of peppermint extract. I’m Canadian and my goal is for them to be as strong as Pep bar. Fellow Canadians will be familiar with that (sadly) discontinued treat.

Ellisa

Tuesday 22nd of November 2022

How long do these keep for once made?

Janelle

Wednesday 23rd of November 2022

Hi Ellisa! They should keep about 2 weeks. Keep them in the fridge for best long term results.

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