Peanut Butter Pinwheel Candy Recipe - The Recipe Critic (2024)

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This recipe for Peanut Butter Pinwheel Candy has been passed down in my family for generations! Don’t let the secret ingredient fool you, these are a classic favorite candy that I’m sure you’re going to love!

If you love peanut butter treats, here are a few more delicious recipes to try out: peanut butter fudge, chocolate peanut butter pie, and peanut butter no-bake cookies.

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Peanut Butter Pinwheel Candy Recipe

Today I am so excited to share one of my family’s favorite recipes. These peanut butter pinwheels have been in my family for generations, we make them every year around Easter and Christmas time. I love that this is a no-bake recipe, and that’s part of what makes them a holiday favorite that I grew up making. While my mom would be using the oven to prep holiday dinner essentials, I would stay out of her way making classic no-bake treats! This is a great recipe to add to the lineup because they’re so easy to prepare.

There is a somewhat unexpected ingredient in these peanut butter pinwheels: potatoes. Please, don’t be alarmed by the fact that this recipe uses potatoes! Trust me, it works. The potatoes serve as the binding base for your sweet pinwheel dough, and by tasting them you’d never be able to tell that they’re the secret ingredient in this recipe. They’re soft, chewy, and nutty, and you’re going to love them!

Ingredient List

These peanut butter pinwheels are the perfect no-bake treat! They’re made with a simple dough of mashed potatoes, powdered sugar, butter, vanilla extract, and salt, and then filled with creamy peanut butter. They’re easy to make and taste so amazing! Exact measurements are in the recipe card below.

  • Mashed Potatoes:These are the base of the dough and give it structure,so don’t skip them!
  • Unsalted Butter:This adds richness and flavor to the dough and makes it super easy to roll out.
  • Vanilla Extract:This makes the dough and the peanut butter filling taste even better.
  • Salt:Just a pinch of salt helps to balance out all that sweetness.
  • Powdered Sugar:So the dough is sweet and crumbly.
  • Creamy Peanut Butter:This is the star of the show!It’s the filling for the pinwheels and what makes them so delicious.

Use the Right Potatoes

I definitely do not recommend using leftover mashed potatoes that have been seasoned with salt, pepper, or anything else. Instead, use one or two russet potatoes, peel them, dice them, boil until tender, drain, and then mash really well. Allow these potatoes to coolcompletely at room temperature before moving forward.

How to Make Peanut Butter Pinwheel Candy

I know it looks like a lot, but trust me! These peanut butter pinwheels are super simple to prepare. All without having to use an oven!

Making the Dough

  1. Prepare Potatoes: Peel, dice, and boil the potato until tender, about 10-12 minutes. Drain and then mash well, using a potato ricer for best results. Allow the potatoes to sit at room temperature until completely cooled before making the dough.
  2. Mash: In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to beat together the mashed potatoes, butter, vanilla, salt, and 1 cup of the powdered sugar.
  3. Add Sugar: Add in remaining powdered sugar 1 cup at a time until you have a total of 6 cups of sugar. If the dough is not moldable in your hands and can’t be rolled into a ball, continue to add more powdered sugar until it is firm enough to roll into a ball.
  4. Refrigerate: Cover and refrigerate the dough for 1 hour.

Shaping and Adding the Peanut Butter Filling

  1. Roll Out, Coat With Sugar: Once chilled, divide the dough into two pieces. Wrap one in plastic wrap and place it back in the fridge, and place the other on a clean surface that has been lightly dusted with powdered sugar. Dust the top of the dough with additional powdered sugar and use a rolling pin to roll it out into a rectangle that is 1/4 inch thick. Periodically lift the dough to make sure it’s not sticking. Dust with more powdered sugar as needed to prevent it from sticking.
  2. Add Filling: Once the dough has been rolled out, spread the peanut butter evenly across the top of it, leaving a small amount of space peanut butter-free around the perimeter.
  3. Roll it Up: Starting with the longer side of your rectangle, carefully roll it up into a tight log.
  4. Cut Into Slices: Use a sharp knife to slice into pieces about 1/2″ thick. Repeat steps 5-8 with the remaining dough. Serve and enjoy.
Peanut Butter Pinwheel Candy Recipe - The Recipe Critic (2)

Tips for Potato Candy

  • Let Your Potatoes Cool: It’s very important to let your potatoes cool completely before making the dough. If they are still warm at all, it can cause the sugar to melt and the dough will be more runny than it will be dough-like.
  • Adjust the Consistency: Add more powdered sugar as needed. If the dough is sticky or not moldable, more powdered sugar will help it come together. Also dust the surface as needed to prevent it from sticking.
  • Go Easy on the Filling: Don’t be too heavy-handed with the peanut butter. If you use too much it will ooze out and make it hard to slice uniform slices of the candy.
  • Try a different kind of spread for the filling! It won’t be traditional, but almond butter, Nutella, cookie butter…these would all be delicious in this recipe!
Peanut Butter Pinwheel Candy Recipe - The Recipe Critic (3)

Storing Leftovers

Store leftover peanut butter pinwheels in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. They can also be frozen for up to 2 months. To thaw, simply place them in the refrigerator overnight. Enjoy!

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More Peanut Butter Treats to Try:

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Peanut Butter Pinwheel Candy

5 from 13 votes

By: Alyssa Rivers

This recipe for Peanut Butter Pinwheel Candy has been passed down in my family for generations! Don't let the secret ingredient fool you, these are a classic favorite candy that I'm sure you're going to love!

Prep Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour

Servings: 40 pinwheels

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Peel, dice, and boil the potato until tender, about 10-12 minutes. Drain and then mash well, using a potato ricer for best results. Allow the potatoes to sit at room temperature until completely cooled before making the dough.

  • In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to beat together the mashed potatoes, butter, vanilla, salt, and 1 cup of the powdered sugar.

  • Add in remaining powdered sugar 1 cup at a time until you have a total of 6 cups of sugar. If the dough is not moldable in your hands and can't be rolled into a ball, continue to add more powdered sugar until it is firm enough to roll into a ball.

  • Cover and refrigerate the dough for 1 hour.

  • Once chilled, divide the dough into two pieces. Wrap one in plastic wrap and place it back in the fridge, and place the other on a clean surface that has been lightly dusted with powdered sugar. Dust the top of the dough with additional powdered sugar and use a rolling pin to roll it out into a rectangle that is 1/4 inch thick. Periodically lift the dough to make sure it's not sticking. Dust with more powdered sugar as needed to prevent it from sticking.

  • Once the dough has been rolled out, spread the peanut butter evenly across the top of it, leaving a small amount of space peanut butter-free around the perimeter.

  • Starting with the longer side of your rectangle, carefully roll it up into a tight log.

  • Use a sharp knife to slice into pieces about 1/2" thick. Repeat steps 5-8 with the remaining dough. Serve and enjoy.

Notes

Originally posted November 30, 2018

Updated on November 21, 2023

Nutrition

Calories: 93kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 0.1gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 2mgPotassium: 7mgFiber: 0.03gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 71IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 1mgIron: 0.02mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American

Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Alyssa Rivers and the food blogger behind The Recipe Critic. The blog launched in 2012 as a place to share my passion for cooking. I love trying new things and testing them out with my family. Each recipe is tried and true, family-tested and approved.

Read More About Me

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FAQs

What are peanut butter pinwheels made of? ›

They're made with a simple dough of mashed potatoes, powdered sugar, butter, vanilla extract, and salt, and then filled with creamy peanut butter. They're easy to make and taste so amazing!

What is peanut butter candy made of? ›

Made with sugar, milk, peanut butter, vanilla, and honey, this old-fashioned peanut butter candy is like an irresistible cross between taffy and fudge and will have you coming back for more. Old-fashioned peanut butter candy is a quick candy recipe that was a standard back in the golden days of school cafeterias.

Why are my pinwheels soggy? ›

Nothing is worse than a platter of sad, soggy pinwheels. To avoid this party pitfall, measure your sour cream carefully and drain the olives properly before mixing up the filling. Excess moisture is the number one enemy of pinwheels (including other varieties, such as these veggie ranch pinwheels).

How do you get pinwheels to stick together? ›

Don't skip the chilling time. The chilling time is what helps these pinwheels stay together. Otherwise they tend to unroll and can just be harder to handle if you slice and serve right away. Get creative – try these Ham & Cheese Roll Ups for another variety or use whatever meat and cheese you like.

What is the most popular peanut butter candy? ›

1. Reese's. Since 1928, Reese's has been slinging their elite peanut butter candy to PB lovers all over the world. While there are older peanut butter candies on this list, Reese's has continued to hold its place as one of the most popular candies of all time.

Should peanut butter be refrigerated? ›

According to The National Peanut Board, an unopened jar of peanut butter can last six to nine months at room temperature. Once opened, they say that it can last two to three months in the pantry before you should move it to the fridge, where it can maintain quality for another three to four months.

What is a circus peanut candy? ›

Circus peanuts are American peanut-shaped marshmallow candy. They date to the 19th century, when they were one of a large variety of unwrapped "penny candy" sold in such retail outlets as five-and-dime stores.

What is Reese's candy made of? ›

MILK CHOCOLATE (SUGAR, COCOA BUTTER, CHOCOLATE, SKIM MILK, MILK FAT, LACTOSE, LECITHIN (SOY), PGPR), PEANUTS, SUGAR, DEXTROSE, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: VEGETABLE OIL (PALM OIL, SHEA OIL, SUNFLOWER OIL, PALM KERNEL OIL, &/OR SAFFLOWER OIL), HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL (PALM KERNEL OIL, PALM OIL), SALT, PGPR, TBHQ & CITRIC ...

What is peanut candy made of? ›

What Is Peanut Brittle? Brittle is a kind of smooth, crisp candy made by stirring toasted nuts into a sugar mixture cooked to the hard crack or caramel stage, then turned out onto an oiled surface to cool. Peanut brittle is the most popular type of brittle.

Are peanut candy healthy? ›

The abundance of zinc, magnesium, and vitamin E in peanuts aid in maintaining healthy skin and ward off internal acne-causing germs. The natural sweetness found in peanut chikkis is excellent for preventing the signs of ageing on your skin, such as wrinkles, skin discoloration, and loss of elastic suppleness.

Is Butterfinger a peanut butter candy? ›

Butterfinger is a candy bar manufactured by the Ferrara Candy Company, a subsidiary of Ferrero. It consists of a layered crisp peanut butter core covered in a "chocolatey" coating (it is not eligible to be referred to as chocolate, as it contains no cocoa butter).

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