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You are here: Home / Dessert / Irish Potato Candy

March 10, 2012 By Kaitlin 12 Comments

Irish Potato Candy

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I am Irish, on my father’s side. So, more appropriately, I’m Irish American (among other things). Even more specifically, I am Irish Philadelphian. (Yes, I may have made that phrase up. But there are a bunch of us so I think the phrase should exist.)

Irish Potatoes

Now I’m sure you were very interested in what my heritage is, but there is a reason I’m telling you this. Philadelphia has this… candy? dessert? … we will go with “treat”… called an Irish Potato Candy.

Irish Potatoes

Irish Potato Candy is a mixture of cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and coconut rolled into a little ball and coated in cinnamon. So it ends up looking kind of like a potato, hence the name.

A super cute potato, that is

A super cute potato, that is

I’m under the impression Irish Potato Candy is essentially a Philadelphia-only thing. Friends from New York and D.C. both look at me like I’m crazy when I bring these up. But they are delicious and an integral part of every St. Patrick’s Day for me, so I needed to share them!

Irish Potatoes

 

Ingredients:
  • 4 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 cups sweetened coconut, lightly packed
  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon cinnamon
To make the Irish Potato Candy, add the butter, cream cheese, and vanilla to a bowl and beat on medium until well combined.
Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time, mixing in between each additional cup.
Add the coconut and mix to combine.
Put the bowl in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes (or however long it takes you to clean up and clear your work space). Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Add the cocoa powder and cinnamon to a small bowl and mix to combine.
Take the coconut mixture out of the refrigerator and get ready to get very sticky. Form the coconut mixture into tiny balls, slightly bigger than a melon baller.
Roll the coconut balls in the cinnamon and place on the parchment paper.
Ta da!
Irish Potatoes
You want to make the balls really tiny, because these little guys are super sweet.
Irish Potatoes
I sized mine to (hopefully) fit in mini cupcake liners, which worked out pretty well.
Irish Potatoes
The cinnamon helps balance out the sweetness of the powdered sugar and coconut.
Irish Potatoes
The coconut flakes also add a great texture to the Irish Potato Candy.
Irish Potatoes
So, go and spread the delicious news that is the Irish Potato!
Irish Potatoes
Irish Potatoes

Irish Potato Candy

Kaitlin @ I Can Cook That
A Philadelphia confection usually found around St. Patrick's Day made of coconut cream rolled in cinnamon to resemble miniature potatoes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Servings 50 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 4 tablespoons butter softened
  • 4 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 cups sweetened coconut lightly packed
  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions
 

  • To make, add the butter, cream cheese, and vanilla to a bowl and beat on medium until well combined.
  • Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time, mixing in between each additional cup.
  • Add the coconut and mix to combine.
  • Put the bowl in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes (or however long it takes you to clean up and clear your work space).
  • Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Add the cocoa powder and cinnamon to a small bowl and mix to combine.
  • Take the coconut mixture out of the refrigerator and get ready to get very sticky. Form the coconut mixture into tiny balls, slightly bigger than a melon baller.
  • Roll the coconut balls in the cinnamon and place on the parchment paper.

Notes

If you make this recipe, share a photo on Instagram and tag me @icancookthat!
Keyword Cinnamon, Coconut, Cream Cheese Frosting, Dessert, Irish Potato Candy, Irish Potatoes, St. Patrick's Day

 

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Filed Under: Dessert, Gifts, Gluten Free, Make Ahead, North America, Quick Tagged With: Candy, Cinnamon, Cocoa Powder, Coconut, Cream Cheese, Dessert, I Can Cook That, Irish, Irish Potato, Irish Potatoes, Irish Potatoes Candy, No Bake, Philadelphia, Potatoes, Powdered Sugar, Quick, Recipe, St. Patrick's Day, Treat

Comments

  1. mike@the culinary lens says

    March 10, 2012 at 5:17 pm

    Cool little treat for St Patrick’s Day…. Irish Philadelphian is also cool.

    A little of topic but the Irish Famine memorial in Philadelphia is an amazing and moving thing. So I guess you Philadelphian have gotten a lot about being Irish right LOL

    Reply
  2. Choc Chip Uru says

    March 10, 2012 at 6:09 pm

    These look so cute and delicious – totally festive and never did potatoes looks so awesome 😀

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru
    Latest: Tropical Caramelised Baked German Pancake

    Reply
  3. Emily says

    March 10, 2012 at 7:31 pm

    I am so happy you posted this recipe. Years ago I worked in a bakery outside of Philly and we made these for St. Patty’s Day. I never actually made them nor paid any attention in to what went in them but I ate a ton. Since then I have searched for a recipe. These are a super good treat!

    Reply
  4. Kiri W. says

    March 11, 2012 at 6:46 pm

    Wow! I’ve been to Ireland, but I never saw these while I was there! Looks delicious, and very pretty!

    Reply
  5. S.V. says

    March 16, 2012 at 6:40 pm

    I’ve never heard of these but I totally want to eat one. Seems like a fantastic way to celebrate to me. 🙂

    Reply
  6. Anonymous says

    March 23, 2012 at 7:22 am

    Very nice! I’ll be making these at the weekend, thanks very much!!

    Reply
  7. Mae West says

    June 15, 2013 at 2:57 am

    The butter & vanilla do not have to be used (they make it too sticky & there’s no difference in taste). Also, TRUE Philadelphia Irish Potatoes don’t use the cocoa, just the cinnamon. (the ones sold in grocery stores contain raw egg!) I make these every year in honor of my mother.
    Mother Anne Fletcher’s recipe:

    — 1 block of cream cheese (8 oz)
    — 2 lbs powdered sugar
    — 1 sm bag of coconut
    Put a little cinnamon (just a few shakes) in a snack size zip lock bag. Shake 4-6 ‘potatoes’ at a time. When the cinnamon starts to look grainy, toss & use another bag of cinnamon.

    Reply
  8. Phyllis Syres says

    March 14, 2014 at 6:06 pm

    I grew up in Upper Darby, just outside Philadelphia; I had a recipe from the Inquirer and made them in ’76 but, later on , lost the recipe; I don’t remember using any cream cheese, for some reason, i thought the recipe had condensed milk just enough to bind things together and the confectioner’s sugar and coconut, but i could be wrong; anyway, that’s how i made it a few times later on; I’m happy to see other people who know about this great confection!
    Philadelphia’s great!

    Reply
    • Holly says

      March 8, 2017 at 4:48 am

      I saw a recipe for that a few years ago. You’re not wrong. 🙂 I’m from Pittsburgh and have had them since the 80s.

      Reply
  9. Vicki says

    February 22, 2017 at 7:54 pm

    I just made this recipe. It was super easy to make. I made mine and put them in the tiny candy paper cups. They are chilling now but I snitched a few little bites and they are going to be fantastic! Every year I buy them and they are expensive and don ‘t have this freshness..
    From Philly to you, go ahead and enjoy our special Irish Potatoes. Wonderful recipe!

    Reply
  10. Mary Cusick says

    March 15, 2018 at 3:10 pm

    I been making the irish potatoes for years with my kids now its been a great tradition that they are going to pass on to their kids and we made it the same way you have it’s a great way to keep the family together

    Reply

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