Field Guide to Candy: How to Identify and Make Virtually Every Candy Imaginable (85 page)

4.
Combine peanut butter, confectioner’s sugar, and salt in a bowl. Spoon the mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a round tip.

5.
Pipe the peanut butter mixture into the cups, filling to just below the top of the cups.

6.
Cover the peanut butter mixture with the remaining tempered chocolate. Use an offset spatula to smooth the tops.

7.
Refrigerate
peanut-butter cups until set (about 1 hour) before removing them from molds.

Yield:

About 48 peanut-butter cups

Storage:

Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 1 week.

General Description:

This unusual candy features peanuts covered in a sweet, gooey, fudge-like mixture that is tinted red and formed into a disk
. Peanut patties are a regional favorite in Texas, where they are typically found wrapped in plastic and sold at local convenience stores. They are prized for their vivid red color and supremely sweet flavor. Sometimes they are called
peanut rounders
, but they can be formed into other shapes as well. Texan peanut patties are often shaped like the state.

History:

Peanut patties are found almost exclusively in the American South, especially Texas and Oklahoma, where peanuts are a common crop. One of the
best-known brands of peanut patties is Goodart’s, which started producing the candy in 1939.

Serving Suggestions:

These patties are typically tinted red or pink. Use greased cookie cutters to form the candy mixture into different shapes in step 6.

Candy-Making Notes:

The most common peanuts used in candy are Spanish peanuts, which have a rich, robust flavor. Like
fudge
, this candy needs to be beaten until it turns smooth and thick for a creamy, soft texture.

Recipe:

1.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

2.
Combine sugar, corn syrup, milk, and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat.

3.
Stir in peanuts. Continue cooking until the mixture reaches 248°F, soft ball stage.

4.
Remove from heat and add the butter. Stir until butter is fully incorporated. Stir in vanilla and food coloring.

5.
Beat the mixture vigorously with a wooden spoon until thick and creamy, about 5 minutes.