Irish Potatoes, A Candy Recipe (2024)

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St. Patrick’s Day is coming soon and when I see that, I think green, Irish potatoes candy, and corned beef. There are a number of people in my circle whose ears perk up when they hear Irish Potatoes. Good thing because this recipe makes significantly more than what comes in those little white and green boxes.

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What are they?

Despite the name, Irish potatoes candy does not come from Ireland and they don’t have any potato in them. They get the name because the shape and color look a lot like potatoes – creamy white interior with a dirty brown exterior.

If they don’t have potatoes what’s in them?

They are a no bake, no cook confection that is traditionally made with sugar, cream cheese, butter, vanilla extract, and coconut. This mixture is then rolled into a lumpy “somewhat circle” and then rolled in ground cinnamon to give it the final coating.

If they aren’t traditionally from Ireland then where do they come from?

Irish potato candies are actually a staple St. Patrick’s Day treat that hales from Philadelphia, PA. The exact origins are a little unclear but they seem to have become popular in Irish neighborhoods and grown from there. The most popular brand is OhRyan’s, who reportedly sells over 80,000 pounds a year. You may also see Irish Potatoes with a See’s Candy label, but they are a different confection all together. We’re keeping it simple and original. You can buy them online*, but why do that when you can make them so inexpensively and easily at home?

How should I store them?

Because they are made with a mixture that includes cream cheese you should store them in the refrigerator. They can keep up to a couple weeks but I dare you to try keeping them that long. They are so good, they won’t last. Plus, they taste better fresh.

Can I half-size this recipe?

Yes. This is a super easy recipe to cut in half or double, or whatever you want to do. Note that you may not be able to cut the amount of cinnamon in half but you can easily start with less cinnamon and add more as needed.

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Irish Potatoes Candy

Irish Potatoes, A Candy Recipe (2)

Print Recipe

A sweet no bake candy that is easy to make and a staple St. Patrick’s Day treat that comes from Philadelphia, PA.

  • Author: Heather McCurdy
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 36 1x
  • Category: Dessert

Ingredients

Scale

  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 8 ounces softened cream cheese
  • 8 tablespoons butter
  • 5 cups sweetened flake coconut
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Cream together butter and cream cheese until well mixed.
  2. Mix in vanilla.
  3. Add powdered sugar, 1/2 at a time.
  4. Mix until forms a ball or is just mixed. Don’t keep creaming it after it is incorporated.
  5. Use a spoon of spatula and fold in coconut.
  6. Put cinnamon in small bowl.
  7. Shape coconut mixture into roughly shaped 1 inch balls.
  8. Roll in cinnamon.
  9. Place on parchment paper covered cookie sheet.
  10. Chill.
  11. Keep refrigerated.
  12. Makes approximately 24 Irish potatoes.

Originally published March 3, 2014Irish Potatoes, A Candy Recipe (3)

Heather McCurdy

Heather McCurdy writes at Real: The Kitchen and Beyond where she shows families how to slow down and savor life on any budget with tasty homemade recipes and family travel.

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  2. I love some potatoes, but I think I’d love these even more!

    Reply

    1. The ingredients mention nothing about cream cheese or butter… am I missing something? I’ve read through it 3 times.. but… only one cup of coffee today. :/

      Reply

      1. Oh my goodness. I don’t know what happened! It WAS there. It must have dropped out when I switched my recipes over to a new recipe system.. I will get that put back in there.

        Reply

    2. I’ve been making theses for 4 years now and I make them with only 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar and 10 people asked for the recipe. They all said they were not too sweet as most are

      Reply

      1. I’m glad to hear you found a recipe that works for you. How do you keep them from being too sticky and maintaining the right consistency so they stay together?

        Reply

  3. These ALWAYS remind me of my Grammy, they were her favorite. These ar so fun to make and even better to eat. Yours looks scrumptious!

    Reply

  4. Pingback: 6 St. Patrick's Day Recipes to Celebrate

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  6. Gorgeous and Yummy! One of my favorite treats:)

    Reply

    1. Thank you.

      Reply

  7. Pingback: Pinterest Foodie Link-up 29

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Irish Potatoes, A Candy Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is Irish potato candy made of? ›

The candies have a coconut cream inside (generally made from some blend of coconut, confectioner's sugar, vanilla, and cream or cream cheese) and are rolled in cinnamon on the outside, resulting in an appearance reminiscent of small potatoes.

Does potato candy need to be refrigerated? ›

Potato candy does not require baking and is instead refrigerated in order to fully harden the candy, though it can stay at room temperature following the refrigeration process. Most sources indicate that the potato candy has a shelf life of roughly one to two weeks.

Why is this candy named after a potato? ›

Irish Potato Candy is neither Irish nor made of potato, however in recent years, some producers of this confection have added some boiled, mashed and cooled potato to the mix to make an honest promise of the name. It was mainly created because it looks like small potatoes and is mostly consumed around St.

What does Irish potato contain? ›

Dietary Fiber: Roughly 2 grams. Vitamin C: Over 20% of the recommended daily intake. Vitamin B6: Around 10% of the recommended daily intake. Potassium: Nearly 20% of the recommended daily intake.

What type of potato did the Irish eat? ›

Potatoes were eaten at all levels of society, but in different guises. Irish people have traditionally preferred floury potatoes to waxy varieties.

What is a potato called in Irish? ›

The Irish language is very descriptive the common word for potato in Irish is práta (pl. prátaí), hence the origin of Praties for Potatoes, There are literally 50 Irish words and descriptive phrases relating to the potato.

What country did potato candy originate? ›

Potato candy came to the U.S., somewhere around the turn of the century, reportedly from Germany.

Why is my potato candy runny? ›

Mashed potatoes must cool completely before adding sugar. Otherwise they will melt the sugar and you will end up with a very runny mess.

Who invented potato candy? ›

Irish immigrants might have invented them, possibly trying to jump on the opportunity Pennsylvania presented as a candy-making hub. They could've been an accident — a coconut cream Easter egg dropped in cinnamon, perhaps.

What candy is named after a cow? ›

Cow Tales® are chewy candy snack sticks made of caramel and filled with cream – Not made from real cows' tails. Original Caramel Cow Tales® come in the standard 1 oz. stick size as well as smaller Cow Tales®​ Minis.

Is Irish potato candy from Ireland? ›

How Irish Potato Candy Got Started in Philadelphia. Irish potato candy doesn't have roots in Ireland, but instead was created in Pennsylvania (more specifically in the Philadelphia area).

What candy is named after a horse? ›

Candy magnate Frank Mars named the Snickers bar after one of his horses. He raised horses on Milky Way Farm.

Is it OK to eat potatoes if you are diabetic? ›

Potatoes are a versatile and delicious vegetable that can be enjoyed by everyone, including people with diabetes. However, because of their high carb content, you should limit portion sizes, always eat the skin, and choose low GI varieties, such as Carisma and Nicola.

Is Irish potato good for high blood pressure? ›

According to Macrobiotic nutritionists and health practitioner Shilpa Arora says, "high potassium food items should be encouraged for high BP. Potatoes, beets, carrots, oranges and bananas are excellent food choices." Potassium negates ill effects of sodium, by eliminating sodium through your urine.

What is the Irish potato illness? ›

The proximate cause of the famine was the infection of potato crops by blight (Phytophthora infestans) throughout Europe during the 1840s. Blight infection caused 100,000 deaths outside Ireland and influenced much of the unrest that culminated in European Revolutions of 1848.

What are sweet potato balls made of? ›

If you never tried Taiwanese Deep Fried Sweet Potato Balls before, it is crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside. All you need is THREE simple ingredients, Yam, Sweet Potato Flour, and sugar; THAT'S IT! What is this? A Gluten-Free dessert that you need to try!

Why did the Irish only eat potatoes? ›

Why were potatoes so important to Ireland? The potato plant was hardy, nutritious, calorie-dense, and easy to grow in Irish soil. By the time of the famine, nearly half of Ireland's population relied almost exclusively on potatoes for their diet, and the other half ate potatoes frequently.

Is Irish potato sweet potato? ›

Irish potatoes and sweet potatoes are two different types of potatoes. In Nigerian meat pie, Irish potatoes are used as a filling ingredient, while sweet potatoes are not commonly used. Irish potatoes, also known as white potatoes, are starchy potatoes with a white-colored flesh.

Who invented the Irish potato candy? ›

Irish immigrants might have invented them, possibly trying to jump on the opportunity Pennsylvania presented as a candy-making hub. They could've been an accident — a coconut cream Easter egg dropped in cinnamon, perhaps. They might have been intended to fill the candy sales gap between Valentine's Day and Easter.

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