Interested in the Irish potato candy recipe? Read on to find out how you can make this sweet treat at home…
Although the Irish potato candy sounds Irish it actually has nothing to do with Ireland. Do not be misled by the name of this delicacy as it has absolutely no Irish element in it except for its name. Another ironic fact about the Irish potato candy is the fact that it is not even a potato.
Basically the Irish potato candy is a delicious sweet treat made using coconut, cinnamon, vanilla, cream and confectioner’s sugar. This candy is the size of a large marble and it is perhaps due to its resemblance to the Irish potato in its form that it got its name. These treats are extremely popular around St. Patrick’s Day. You can get ready made Irish potato candies from candy stores and alternatively you can even make your own Irish potato candy.
There is another myth associated with the naming of the sweet treat. It is largely believed that the Irish Potato candy was named so after the Irish potato famine that swept the country at one point in time.
Irish potato candy recipe
If you are looking to make your own Irish potato candy you will need some soft butter and cream cheese which will form the base. Along with this you will also require some vanilla extract, flaked coconut, ground cinnamon and confectioner’s sugar.
You will start the process by making a nice thick mixture of the cheese and cream in a large sized bowl. Next up you will add the vanilla extract, confectioner’s sugar and the coconut one by one. Then you will have to use your hands to create small walnut sized balls of the contents. Next up you will roll the balls in cinnamon and keep them in the fridge until they become solid. It is important to use good quality cream cheese in order to get the right form and flavor for Irish potato candy.
Peanut butter Irish potato candy
If you are looking for a little bit of variety in your Irish potato candy then this recipe makes use of peanut butter to add some flavor to the sweet treat. This is a rather different Irish potato candy in regards to the fact that it actually makes use of potatoes.
You will need hot mashed potatoes, powdered sugar and crunchy peanut butter for this sweet treat. You will start off by mixing the sifted sugar into the mashed potatoes little by little. This will liquefy the potatoes until it gets a pastry like consistency.
On the side set out some wax paper and sprinkle it with powdered sugar. Next up take a ball of dough and roll it out much like it is done for a pastry. Then spread the peanut butter and roll then up to form a jelly roll type shape. You can use plastic wrapping to cover them. Slice them up into little bite sized pieces and refrigerate to chill.
