Irish Potato Candy Recipe (2024)

Irish Potato Candy is a great treat for the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

Contrary to the name, these little bite sized sweet treats have no mashed potato in them.

That’s right! They get their name because they look like little potatoes.

What is Potato Candy?

They are actually a truffle like candy, that tastes a bit like mounds candy bars, minus the chocolate coating.

This potato candy is coated in cinnamon. It has a sweet and creamy center, that is made up of cream cheese and coconut.

Be sure to add these candies that look like small potatoes, to your St. Patrick’s Day menu this year.

They will be perfect next time you are celebrating St. Patrick with an authentic family meal.

Irish Potato Candy Ingredients

• Butter
• Cream cheese
• Salt
• Vanilla extract
• Powdered sugar
• Coconut flakes
• Cinnamon

How to Make Potato Candy

The full measurements for the ingredients are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

This is just a quick visual walk through on how to make this potato candy.

Step 1: Mix butter, Vanilla extract and cream cheese.

Step 2: Add in salt and then slowly add in 4 cups confectioners sugar, about a half a cup at a time.

Step 3: Mix in the flaked coconut.

Step 4: In a small bowl, combine cinnamon and one tablespoon powdered sugar.

Step 5: Use your hands to form teaspoon size balls or potato-shaped ovals and then roll the balls in the cinnamon mixture.

Step 6: Once rolled in cinnamon, place the cinnamon coated candy on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, and freeze for 1 hour to set.

Expert Tips

Some people like to add peanut butter to this recipe, and coat them in cocoa powder instead of cinnamon.

This will make a peanut butter chocolate version of potato candy.

This recipe makes about 24 potato candies.

How to Store Potato Candy

You’ll find that there are dairy products in this recipe, so you’ll want to make sure you keep them refrigerated.

Irish Potato Candy should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator to keep them fresh.

Irish Potato Candy Flavors

I look forward to celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with my family each year. It’s a simple holiday for Irish families to celebrate being family together.

This year my daughter is planning to host St. Patrick’s Day dinner for all of us.

I’m planning to make up a batch of these potato looking candies, and will make two varieties of candy this year to bring to dinner.

I’ll make a batch of this old-fashioned potato candy with coconut, butter and cream cheese, coated in cinnamon and another batch adding peanut butter and coating in cocoa powder instead.

This will give everyone a choice between the two different potato candy flavors.

Both flavors of potato candy will be good and go along with our traditional corned beef dinner.

These bite sized potato looking candies are technically not an authentic Irish recipe. They have their roots in Philadelphia of all places!

How do you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? Leave a comment below, I’d love to hear from you!!

More St. Patrick’s Day Recipes

Here are some more of our best recipes for St. Patrick’s Day:

• Original Irish Soda Bread– This authentic quick bread recipe is the best Irish Soda Bread you’ll serve at your kitchen table!
• Irish Beef Stew– Tender and juicy seasoned beef loaded with a rich and decadent sauce that surrounds the tender beef and all the vegetables.
• Homemade Shamrock Shakes– Delicious homemade green minty milkshake.
• Irish Potato Candy– Contrary to the name, these little bite sized sweet treats have no mashed potato in them. That’s right! They get their name because they look like little potatoes.
• Guinness Bread– This Guinness Bread is the perfect way to start your festivities this year.
• Green Velvet Cupcakes– If you are looking for a fun St. Patrick’s Day recipe, try these Green Velvet Cupcakes with Baileys Cream Cheese Frosting!
• Guinness Cupcakes with Bailey’s Buttercream– These are a delicious treat to add to your festivities.