Best Needhams Recipes

NEEDHAMS

Steps:

• Put the confectioners' sugar in a large heatproof bowl; make a deep well in the middle. Add the mashed potatoes, butter, vanilla and salt to the well. Place the bowl over a saucepan of barely simmering water. Starting in the center of the well, stir the ingredients, gradually incorporating the sugar, until the sugar dissolves and the mixture forms a smooth paste, about 5 minutes. Remove the bowl from the heat and stir in the coconut. Transfer to the freezer and chill until firm, about 20 minutes. Roll tablespoonfuls of the potato mixture into balls, then flatten each ball into a small square using your fingers (you should have about 40 squares). Put the squares on a large plate or baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap and freeze until firm, about 20 minutes.
• Line a baking sheet with foil, shiny-side up. Put the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring, until the chocolate melts. Add the shortening and stir vigorously until glossy, about 2 minutes. Transfer half of the chocolate to a glass liquid measuring cup. One at a time, place each candy square on a fork and dip in the melted chocolate to coat; let the excess drip back into the cup. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining squares, refilling the cup with melted chocolate as needed. Let the candies harden at room temperature, about 1 hour. Photograph by Charles Masters

TRADITIONAL MAINE NEEDHAMS

Steps:

• Cook potatoes unseasoned, then mash to
• make 3/4 cup.
• Combine salt, potatoes, melted butter, confectioner's sugar, flaked
• coconut and vanilla in a mixer until smooth and well blended.
• Turn into a lined jelly roll pan.Spread evenly (mixture will be very thick), then.
• place in refrigerator to harden (24 hours).
• Cut into small squares and dip in chocolate coating.
• For coating: melt paraffin and semi-sweet chocolate at the top of a double boiler.
• Turn down heat and add chocolate chips. Stir until chocolate has melted but mixture is still slightly thick. Keeping heat low to maintain melt, dip Needhams to coat. Place dipped squares on wax paper to cool. Needhams will keep very well for a long time refrigerated and will
• actually improve in flavor over a few weeks.

BEST NEEDHAMS

Steps:

• 1. Pare and cook potato to make 3/4 cup mashed. Add salt.
• 2. Use a double boiler to melt the margarine.
• 3. Add the potato, confectioner's sugar, coconut & vanilla.
• 4. Mix well, then turn onto a buttered jelly roll pan, spreading evenly.
• 5. Place in a cool place to harden. When hard, cut into small squares and dip in the following chocolate mixure.
• 6. In a double boiler, place paraffin on boiling water to melt.
• 7. Add both types of chocolate to the pan and melt. Stir well to mix.
• 8. Use a toothpick to dip the squares in the chocolate and put on waxed paper to harden.

NEEDHAMS

Steps:

• 1. Boil a couple of potatoes, let cool completely and mash, making sure there are no lumps. Add salt and coconut to cooled potato mixture along with the melted butter. Slowly add the confectionery sugar and vanilla next into the potato mixture. Spread mixture on cookie sheet that has been buttered.
• 2. Let set to firm up in cool dry place such as refrigerator or just outside in winter cold temperatures, covered. After needhams have completely cooled and set or firmed up (not frozen)have your 'Dipping Chocolate" ready in a double boiler.
• 3. Let ingredients melt in double boiler - probably will take over low heat about 2 hours. Use a candy dipping stick or a very large needle to dip each piece of candy after you have cut candy into 1 to 1 1/2 inch pieces. Put candy after dipping on wax paper until set. Keep candy in covered container in refrigerator or in gift giving boxes/containers. Keep refrigerated!

NEEDHAMS

Steps:

• Cook the potato in water.
• While the potato is still warm,mash it and stir in the sugar and vanilla.
• Mix well and then add the coconut.
• Press mixture into a buttered pan.
• Cool and cut into squares.
• Dip the squares into melted chocolate and place on waxed paper to set.

MAINE NEEDHAMS

Steps:

• Pare, cook, and mash potato to make three-quarters of a cup.
• Add salt.
• Using double boiler place butter in it and melt over boiling water.
• Add mashed potato, confectioners sugar, flaked coconut, and vanilla.
• Mix well and turn into a buttered jelly roll pan and spread evenly.
• Place in a cool place to harden.
• When hard, cut into small squares.
• For the dipping chocolate, again use a double boiler.
• Place paraffin in the top over boiling water to melt.
• Then add the two kinds of chocolate and allow to melt.
• Stir well to mix ingredients.
• Dip in the chocolate mixture (with a fork, toothpick, or cake tester--I use a fork and put the square on top of the tines and dip it, letting the excess chocolate drip off before I lay it on the waxed paper).
• Hold each square over the chocolate mixture after dipping so the square drains well (I usually will have to reheat the chocolate inbetween dippings so it is nice and thin and drips of easily).
• Place on waxed paper to harden.
• Should make about 66 good sized needhams.
• This halves easily.

NEEDHAMS (POTATO CANDY)

Steps:

• Put the confectioners' sugar in a large heatproof bowl; make a deep well in the middle (volcano-like). Add the mashed potatoes, butter, vanilla & salt into the well.
• Place the bowl over a saucepan of barely simmering water. Starting in the center of the well, stir the ingredients, gradually incorporating the sugar, until the sugar dissolves & the mixture forms a smooth paste, about 5 minutes. Remove the bowl from the heat & stir in the coconut. Transfer to the freezer & chill until firm, about 20 minutes.
• Roll Tbsp of the potato mixture into balls, then flatten each ball into a small square using your fingers (you should have about 40 squares). Put the squares on a large plate or baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap & freeze until firm, about 20 minutes.
• Line a baking sheet with foil, shiny side up. Put the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl & mircrowave in 30 second intervals, stirring, until the chocolate melts. Add the shortening & stir vigorously until glossy, about 2 minutes. Transfer 1/2 of the chocolate to a glass liquid measuring cup.
• One at a time, place each candy square on a fork & dip in the melted chocolate to coat; let the excess drip back into the cup. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining squares, refilling the cup with melted chocolate as needed. Let the candies harden at room temperature, about 1 hour.