Irish Potato Candy Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is Irish potato candy made of? ›

The candies have a coconut cream inside (generally made from some blend of coconut, confectioner's sugar, vanilla, and cream or cream cheese) and are rolled in cinnamon on the outside, resulting in an appearance reminiscent of small potatoes.

White potatoes are tubers, while sweet potatoes are swollen storage roots. A major difference between the two is that tubers grow from eyes or buds that form from within the potato. If you slice off a piece of potato where an eye has formed, and plant it, a plant will grow from the eye.

Potato candy came to the U.S., somewhere around the turn of the century, reportedly from Germany.

Potato candy does not require baking and is instead refrigerated in order to fully harden the candy, though it can stay at room temperature following the refrigeration process. Most sources indicate that the potato candy has a shelf life of roughly one to two weeks.

The Roots of Irish Potato Candy:

Contrary to its name, Irish Potato Candy contains no potatoes. This sweet creation is more about clever confectionery than tubers. Its roots can be traced back to the late 19th century when Irish immigrants in Philadelphia sought to celebrate their heritage in the United States.

Why were potatoes so important to Ireland? The potato plant was hardy, nutritious, calorie-dense, and easy to grow in Irish soil. By the time of the famine, nearly half of Ireland's population relied almost exclusively on potatoes for their diet, and the other half ate potatoes frequently.

Which one is healthier? While both types of potatoes can be a healthy part of your diet, sweet potatoes are higher in nutrients like vitamin A that may offer extra benefits for your overall health. There are many similarities between potatoes and sweet potatoes.

In terms of micronutrients, boiled sweet potatoes come out on top in terms of vitamin C, magnesium, calcium, iron and phosphorus while the regular potato wins when it comes to potassium, Vitamin B1 and folic acid.

Potatoes were eaten at all levels of society, but in different guises. Irish people have traditionally preferred floury potatoes to waxy varieties.

How Irish Potato Candy Got Started in Philadelphia. Irish potato candy doesn't have roots in Ireland, but instead was created in Pennsylvania (more specifically in the Philadelphia area).

What is Idaho potato candy? ›

The bar was invented by Thomas "T.O." Smith, who founded the Idaho Candy Company in 1901. The potato- (spud) shaped bar consists of a chocolate and coconut flakes covered cocoa-flavored marshmallow center.

Recipe FAQs

The actual origin of potato candy is unknown, with lots of theories. Some say it hails from Ireland, others say Germany. However, it's believed to have originated in the South during the Great Depression. It would have been a tasty treat using the little number of ingredients available at the time.

Mashed potatoes must cool completely before adding sugar. Otherwise they will melt the sugar and you will end up with a very runny mess. I recommend allowing them to cool at room temperature rather than the fridge, as sometimes the condensation from the fridge can also make the mixture runny.

This potato candy is super easy to make with mashed potatoes, powdered sugar, and peanut butter for a sweet old-fashioned treat! This old-fashioned peanut butter potato candy recipe is sweet, nostalgic, and super easy to make.

Cooked sweet potatoes generally keep without spoiling for a few hours when stored at room temperature. They can last three to five days if stored in an airtight container and refrigerated. Frozen cooked sweet potatoes will keep well for up to six months.

Dietary Fiber: Roughly 2 grams. Vitamin C: Over 20% of the recommended daily intake. Vitamin B6: Around 10% of the recommended daily intake. Potassium: Nearly 20% of the recommended daily intake.

Mix together potatoes, butter or margarine, and milk. Add enough confectioners' sugar to make a stiff dough. Roll out on a flat surface sprinkled with powdered sugar. Spread on a layer of peanut butter and roll up.

If you never tried Taiwanese Deep Fried Sweet Potato Balls before, it is crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside. All you need is THREE simple ingredients, Yam, Sweet Potato Flour, and sugar; THAT'S IT! A Gluten-Free dessert that you need to try! What is this?

Irish immigrants might have invented them, possibly trying to jump on the opportunity Pennsylvania presented as a candy-making hub. They could've been an accident — a coconut cream Easter egg dropped in cinnamon, perhaps. They might have been intended to fill the candy sales gap between Valentine's Day and Easter.