Irish Potatoes, A Candy Recipe (2024)

Jump to Recipe

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.

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.

affiliate link below*

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.

Irish Potatoes Candy

Print Recipe

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

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

Originally published March 3, 2014

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.