Irish Potatoes, A Candy Recipe (2024)

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Irish Potatoes is a traditional candy recipe from Philadelphia. This no-bake candy recipe has just 6 ingredients and is a super simple St. Patrick’s Day dessert.

Irish Potatoes, A Candy Recipe (1)

It makes significantly more than what you can order from specialty stores and tastes just the same (but fresher). Good thing, because there are a number of people in my circle whose ears perk up when they hear Irish Potatoes.

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Is there actually potato in this candy?

Despite the name, Irish potatoes candy do not traditionally come from Ireland and they don’t have any potato in them. They get their name from being shaped like a potato and their color – creamy white interior with a dirty brown exterior.

This no-bake, no-cook confection is traditionally made with powdered/confectioner’s sugar, cream cheese, butter, vanilla extract, and coconut. This mixture is then rolled into a lumpy “somewhat circle/somewhat oblong” potato shape and then rolled in ground cinnamon to coat them.

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

As I noted in the intro, 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 isOh Ryan’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.

Is there a trick to shaping them?

Shaping the Irish Potatoes can be a messy job. I shape a bunch of them using about a tablespoon of mixture for each one. Then wash and dry my hands.

Next, I shake them in a bowl of cinnamon one at a time. Then I drop them into a 16-ounce glass one at a time and shake them in the bottom of the glass to shake off excess cinnamon and smooth out their shape.

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Irish Potatoes Candy

Irish Potatoes is a traditional candy recipe from Philadelphia. This no-bake candy recipe has just 6 ingredients and is a super simple St. Patrick’s Day dessert.

  • Author: Heather McCurdy
  • Prep Time: 20 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 36 Irish potatoes.

Notes

A note on shaping the candy: I shape a bunch of them using about a tablespoon of mixture for each one. Then wash and dry my hands. Next, I shake them in a bowl of cinnamon one at a time. Then I drop them into a 16-ounce glass one at a time and shake them in the bottom of the glass to shake off excess cinnamon and smooth out their shape.

Keywords: irish potatoes, irish potato candy,

Irish Potatoes, A Candy Recipe (3)

Originally published March 3, 2014

Irish Potatoes, A Candy Recipe (4)

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.

  1. Pingback: Corned Beef and Cabbage Rolls

  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

  5. Pingback: Chocolate Mint Beer Float | Real: The Kitchen and Beyond

  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.

What does an Irish potato contain? ›

Irish potatoes are a good source of soluble fibre, which helps to reduce cholesterol levels thereby decreasing the risk of heart disease. Also, the potato's fibre, potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin B6 content, coupled with its lack of cholesterol, all support heart health.

What did the Irish eat with their potatoes? ›

Mashed Potato

A little bit of salt and a generous helping of creamy Irish butter. Boil the spuds. Mash it all up. Serve it with delicious Irish sausages or fresh fish and vegetables.

How long do Irish potatoes last? ›

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.

What is the origin of the Irish potato candy? ›

They were invented by Irish immigrants in Philadelphia—a candy-making capital in the early 20th century—likely in the 1800s or early 1900s, a time when the city was experiencing a huge influx of Irish immigrants.

Who made Irish potato candy? ›

There's no definitive account, but there's certainly lots of speculation. Sparknotes: They were probably invented in the 19th or early 20th century, when Philly became home to an increasingly large Irish immigrant population in the wake of the Great Potato Famine.

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.

Are Irish potatoes good for kidney patients? ›

Making main meal dishes kidney friendly: Reduce potato intake to reduce dietary potassium intake. Use rice, pasta, noodles, couscous or breads instead of potatoes with main meals. This will lower the overall potassium content of the dish.

Is Irish potato good for diabetics? ›

According to the diabetes association, starchy vegetables, like potatoes, are perfectly okay to include in a healthy diabetes diet. Being a complex carbohydrate, starch generally takes longer to break down in the body than simple sugars like sucrose.

What is the oldest Irish food? ›

Until the arrival of the potato in the 16th century, grains such as oats, wheat and barley, cooked either as porridge or bread, formed the staple of the Irish diet. The most common form of bread consisted of flatbread made from ground oats.

What do Irish people eat the most? ›

What do the Irish Eat?
  • Champ, Boxty, Mash... Potatoes! ...
  • Irish Stew. If you've ever visited the Emerald Isle you'll know that we're not always blessed with the warmest, or even driest, of climates. ...
  • Vegetable Soup. ...
  • Lamb. ...
  • Fish. ...
  • Soda, Wheaten, Potato...Bread! ...
  • Guinness, Jameson, Bushmills...

What did the Irish call potatoes? ›

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.

Why do Irish potatoes turn green? ›

When potatoes are exposed to light, they start undergoing photosynthesis and converting those nutrients into energy. Photosynthesis triggers the production of chlorophyll, and the potato turns green. Unfortunately, this process also creates solanine, a poison that can be dangerous if it's ingested in large quantities.

Do potatoes last longer in the fridge or on the counter? ›

Potatoes can last for up to several months in a cool pantry. If stored at room temperature, they are best if eaten within one to two weeks. Once cooked, keep them in the fridge for no more than three days.

Can I freeze potatoes? ›

You absolutely can freeze potatoes, and you should if you have an excess of spuds. But there's one important thing to remember: You should really only freeze cooked or partially cooked potatoes, as raw potatoes contain a lot of water. This water freezes and, when thawed, makes the potatoes mushy and grainy.

Is potato candy made from potatoes? ›

The potato candy pinwheel, sometimes shortened to just potato candy, is a rolled candy prepared by mixing mashed potatoes with large amounts of powdered sugar to create a dough-like consistency, and then adding a filling, traditionally peanut butter, and rolling the confectionery to produce a log-like product.

What is the most popular candy in Ireland? ›

Ireland's Top 5 Confectionery Brands
  • 1 Cadbury Dairy Milk. Cadbury has been making chocolate in Ireland since 1932, when the first Cadbury factory opened in Dublin, with Cadbury Dairy Milk production starting the following year, in 1933. ...
  • 2 Lindt. ...
  • 3 Kinder. ...
  • 4 Haribo. ...
  • 5 M&M's.
Feb 9, 2023

What did the Irish Lumper potato taste like? ›

It tastes mid-way between the waxy varieties such as Jersey Royals and the more floury potatoes like the King Edward.

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!

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