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Irish Potatoes

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Irish potatoes may sound like a savory side dish but actually, there are no potatoes at all in this traditional Irish dessert! Potato candies are little bites of sweetened cream cheese and coconut, dusted with cinnamon. They are delicious and incredibly easy to make.

Irish Potato Candy in a dish

When I was in high school, I worked in a cute little ice cream shop that made Irish Potato Candy around St. Patrick’s Day. We would roll these treats for hours and sell out every day. People would start to ask us around the middle of February when we would start making Irish Potatoes.

Irish Potato Candy ingredients

Ingredients //

  • 2 oz. unsalted butter
  • 4 oz. cream cheese (full fat, light, or fat-free will all work fine)
  • 4 cups powdered sugar (also called confectioners’ sugar)
  • 2 1/2 cups sweetened shredded coconut flakes
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp ground cinnamon

How To // The Steps

Step 1: Using a hand mixer or electric stand mixer, beat together the butter and cream cheese.

Step 2: Next, slowly add the powdered sugar.

young boy at electric stand mixer, making homemade potato candy

Step 3: Add the vanilla extract and mix to combine

Step 4: Add the coconut and mix until combined.

ingredients in mixing bowl to make Irish potatoes

Step 5: Before rolling the Irish potatoes mixture into balls, you may want to chill it for at least 30 minutes. As a result, it will be easier to form the dough into little balls.

irish potato candy mixture in mixing bowl

You can use your hands to do this. However, I like to use a small ice cream scoop, like the one shown in the above photo. Keep in mind that Irish potato candies are really rich, so you want them to be small in size.

little girl with blonde hair making Irish candy

Step 6: Roll the mixture into small balls and then roll them through a bowl or plate of ground cinnamon.

little girl with blonde hair making Irish potatoes candy

Step 7: Place the Irish potatoes onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Philadelphia Irish Potatoes in cupcake liners

Variations //

If this is your first time making Irish Potatoes, I recommend sticking with the traditional recipe. If, however, you’ve made these before, you may want to change it up a bit. Here are some suggestions to do just that:

  • Chocolate Irish Potato Candy: Add cocoa powder to the mixture. Not enough chocolate? Roll the candy in cocoa powder for chocolate inside and out.
  • Peanut Butter Irish Potato Candy: Add peanut butter to the mixture. If you go with the crunchy variety, that will translate to crunchy Irish potatoes and make for an interesting texture. You could also combine this with the chocolate version for a “Reese’s” Irish potato.
  • Irish Potato Candy with Nuts: Add chopped nuts, such as pecans, almonds, or walnuts, to the mixture for added crunch and flavor.
  • Cinnamon Irish Potato Candy: Cinnamon is included in the recipe but if you wanted to make these for Valentine’s Day, add cinnamon to the mixture for a warm, spicy flavor. Then do as the recipe says and roll the balls in cinnamon sugar for an extra pop of flavor.
  • Mint Irish Potato Candy: This one is more in line with St. Patrick’s Day. Add peppermint extract to the mixture to create a refreshing mint-flavored candy. You can also roll the candy in crushed mints for texture flair.
  • Irish Potato Candy Truffles: A “classy” and decadent take on the treat. Instead of rolling the candy into potato shapes, roll it into small truffles and coat them in chocolate or cocoa powder. Similar to the choco one but, well… more sophisticated.
irish potato candies dusted with cocoa powder

How To Store Irish Potatoes //

Remember, there are dairy products (cream cheese and butter) in the candy. Because of this, Irish potatoes should be kept in a refrigerator. It is best to store them in an airtight container and don’t let the potatoes touch each other. If you need to stack them, lay a sheet of paper over the bottom layer. They should keep well for at least 7 to 10 days, and possibly up to two weeks. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months. Just take them out and let them come to room temperature before serving.

cute St. Patricks Day candy on a tray with shamrocks

Other St. Patrick’s Day Treats //

Irish potato candy is a fun and delicious treat for St. Patrick’s Day. This no-bake recipe is easy enough to make that even young kids can help you make them. Here are some other fun and easy treats to make for St. Patrick’s Day.

Irish potato candy in a dish

Irish Potatoes

bakedbree
If you grew up in the Philadelphia area, you know what Irish Potato Candy is. You eat these little cinnamon coated coconut cream treats on St. Patrick’s Day.
4.50 from 34 votes

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 stick of butter softened
  • 1/2 brick of cream cheese softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 4 cups confectioners sugar
  • 2 1/2 cups sweetened coconut
  • 2 Tablespoons cinnamon

Instructions
 

  • Beat together butter and cream cheese.
  • Slowly add the confectioners sugar.
  • Add the vanilla.
  • Add the coconut and mix until combined.
  • You may want to chill the coconut mixture a little before you roll them. I like to use a small ice cream scoop. These are really rich, so you want them to be small.
  • Roll the coconut mixture into a ball.
  • Roll the coconut mixture into the cinnamon and put on a parchment lined baking sheet.
  • Keep the Irish Potatoes in the fridge.

Video

Keyword How to make Irish Potatoes, Irish Potato candy, Irish Potatoes, Philadelphia Irish Potato Candy, Philadelphia Irish Potatoes, St. Patrick’s Day candy, St. Patrick’s Day crafts for kids, St. Patrick’s Day treats for parties
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Recipe Rating




Ching

Friday 13th of May 2022

it looks so great! I like it :))

網上課程

Friday 13th of May 2022

It looks so tasty!

Charlie

Saturday 9th of April 2022

My wife's Irish grandma makes this all the time - so delicious!

Jessica

Friday 25th of March 2022

Your kids look so adorable. This brought back memories of my childhood. My mom made these every St. Patrick’s Day.

C Albert

Wednesday 16th of March 2022

Don't know what went wrong but after 4 hrs waiting for the mixture to firm up in the fridge they still would not hold a shape. The blobs did not roll in the cinnamon, it just mixed in. A complete disaster for the party I was going to take them to tomorrow!