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Southern Style Irish Potato Candy
This Southern Style Irish Potato Candy is delicious, simple and vegan! Made with real potatoes, sweet and flaky coconut and rich chocolate coating, this candy is a unique twist on a holiday classic!
For those of you wondering what in the world Irish Potato Candy is…ask anybody from Philadelphia. This sweet holiday treat is a Philly classic and is usually sold in grocery stores all spring long, or, if you’re lucky 
, homemade fresh for St. Patrick’s Day! The traditional version is basically a sweet cinnamon dusted cream cheese truffle packed with coconut and, plot twist, does not contain any actual potatoes. So why is it called Irish Potato Candy you ask? Simply because they look just like little potatoes! Being a Philly native I have seen these everywhere and they have been a staple at almost every spring gathering, so when I saw this recipe in mamaw’s cookbook, I knew it would be perfect for St. Patrick’s Day!
So remember what you just read about the tradition and cinnamon and the not actually containing any real potatoes? Well, as it turns out, that was not Mamaw’s version of Irish Potato Candy. Instead, this spin combines the classic old fashioned potato candy (which does actually contain potatoes) with the Philly classic coconut filled Irish Potato Candy.
While this may be a bit of a twist on the original, it is definitely soon to become a holiday favorite. The sweet coco-nutty center pairs so perfectly with the rich chocolatey coating, you wouldn’t even realize they were made with real potatoes!
Serving Suggestions and Adaptations
- Try it with cinnamon! – For a more traditional Philly version, feel free to swap out the chocolate dip for a classic cinnamon dusting!
- These were made for sharing! – These sweet little truffles are perfect for your next St. Paddy’s day gathering or for sharing with friends and family! Just double or triple the recipe to fit you needs (and prep for all your future requests)
- Toast the coconut to add depth and extra nuttiness.
- They’re vegan! – use vegan chocolate chips to make these the perfect sweet vegan treat!
To Save for Later…
Since they are coated in chocolate, these candies are best stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days!
Southern Style Irish Potato Candy
Ingredients
- 1 medium potato peeled and cubed
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 7 oz flaked coconut sweetened
- 2 pkgs semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
- Place potato cubes in a small saucepan and cover with 1-2 inches of water.
- Bring potatoes to a boil uncovered over medium high heat.
- Once potatoes have begun to boil reduce heat and let simmer for 5 to 10 minutes or until tender.
- Strain using a colander and mash until creamy.
- Add salt, vanilla, and coconut and blend well.
- Gradually add powdered sugar until combined to form a wet sticky mixture.
- Shape mixture into balls the size of a walnut and place on a lined baking sheet.
- Cover the baking sheet and refrigerate overnight or until firm.
- Once candy balls are firm, prepare chocolate dip by melting chocolate chips and coconut oil in a double boiler or microwave.
- Dip balls into melted chocolate and return to the baking sheet.
- Let set in the refrigerator overnight or until chocolate has hardened.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- The powdered sugar is dependent on the potato ratio. A “medium” potato is a subjective measure so you may need to adjust the powdered sugar less or more as needed to firm up the dough.
- The dough will be very sticky, so I found it can be easier to drop rounded spoonfuls on a tray and chill for 5 minutes before rolling into balls.
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3 Comments
I made these, then split the recipe and dipped half in dark and half in white chocolate. The reaction of my coworkers to mashed potatoes as an ingredient was priceless, but once they tasted them, they disappeared quickly! Now they want more for Easter…..your mamaw may be onto something here.
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! It’s similar to my favorite older version using real spuds so I’m so looking forward to making these.
Yes! The real spuds are the best part! So glad I could share it with you ☺️