Irish Potato Candy
Growing up, I always looked forward to seeing St. Patrick's Day decorations in the store because it meant my birthday was coming soon! But it also meant eating some favorite Irish foods like ham & cabbage, Irish soda bread, and these decadent Irish Potato Candies. For a few years in a row, our small church's youth group would raise money selling Irish soda bread and these "potatoes." They are incredibly easy to make, so get the kids involved! What a fun St. Patty's day activity for your family. The sweetness paired with the crunchy coconut and the powdery cinnamon coating... yum!
Growing up, I always looked forward to seeing St. Patrick's Day decorations in the store because it meant my birthday was coming soon! But it also meant eating some favorite Irish foods like ham & cabbage, Irish soda bread, and these decadent Irish Potato Candies. For a few years in a row, our small church's youth group would raise money selling Irish soda bread and these "potatoes." They are incredibly easy to make, so get the kids involved! What a fun St. Patty's day activity for your family. The sweetness paired with the crunchy coconut and the powdery cinnamon coating... yum!
- Carbohydrate 178.398236107519 g
- Cholesterol 246.750401795467 mg
- Fat 155.638832134406 g
- Fiber 21.3554994446535 g
- Protein 13.8583257387889 g
- Saturated Fat 113.568445526887 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Recipe (456g)
- Sodium 1214.13613068002 mg
- Sugar 157.042736662866 g
- Trans Fat 13.1198387981721 g
- Calories 2092 calories
Step-by-step
- Beat butter and cream cheese with an electric hand mixer.
- Add one cup powdered sugar and beat.
- Add vanilla extract and remaining one cup powdered sugar and continue beating until creamy.
- Stir in coconut.
- Pour cinnamon into a shallow bowl.
- Using a small cookie scoop, form one inch balls and roll in cinnamon.
- Place candies on a cookie sheet and refrigerate until firm.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Limited counter space and a single electric hand mixer are all that is required to produce a batch of these confections without heating the kitchen. Despite the geographical misnomer, this confection originates from Philadelphia rather than Ireland, utilizing a rich base of dairy and shredded coconut shaped to resemble tiny tubers. Thoroughly softening the dairy components prevents lumps from forming when incorporating the dry ingredients.
Adapting for Dairy-Free and Dietary Constraints
Modifying this sweet treat for different dietary needs requires careful substitution of the binding fats. Plant-based cream cheese alternatives and vegan butter blocks can replace the dairy fats at a direct one-to-one ratio, though high-fat versions yield the firmest texture once chilled. Coconut oil should be avoided as a direct substitute because it lacks the water content needed to bind the powdered sugar properly.
- Mixture is too sticky to roll: Chill the bowl in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to firm the fats before shaping.
- Coating becomes patchy: Ensure the candies are slightly tacky from the dairy base before rolling them through the ground cinnamon.
- Gritty texture: Sift the powdered sugar through a fine-mesh sieve prior to mixing to eliminate lumps.
