Anyone make Irish Potatoes or Potato Candy?

[piratesmate]

I really wanted to make Irish Potatoes with DD - they have off from school tomorrow. Unfortunately, she detests mint! Has anyone ever made them using another flavor? If so, what kind?

Thanks!

Deb

edited to add . . . . Maybe I'm calling it the wrong thing. We always used the terms 'Irish Potatoes' and 'Potato Candy' interchangably.

 

[Spinning]

MINT!??!?EWWWW! sorry but YUCK!
WE don't put mint in ours only takes 3 things
Block of cream cheese softened
coconut flakes as much as you like
blend it to gether
roll in cinamon!

 

[piratesmate]

Spinning, your recipe is different than mine. I was hoping to use ingredients I had here at the house & I don't have any coconut.

My recipe is:

Potato Candy

1 medium-sized potato
pinch salt
¼-½ tsp peppermint extract
10x sugar (confectioner's)
green food coloring
Baker's chocolate or cinnamon

Cook potatoes, then mash. Add pinch of salt. Let cool.
Add 10x sugar to cold mashed potato - a little at a time. (It will get runny.) Keep adding sugar until mixture reaches consistency you can handle with your hands. Before it gets too thick, add a few drops of green food coloring & peppermint extract to taste. Shape candy into small balls, place on waxed paper & flatten.
When candy is set (firm) dip half of each patty into melted chocolate. Work fast to avoid the heat from chocolate softening the candy. Place on waxed paper & cool. Or roll in cinnamon, instead of dipping in chocolate.

 

[Spinning]

oops forgot about the powdered sugar!
My mom use to make some type of potato candy but she never put mint in it. I think she added peanut butter. Not sure I will see if she can find it!

 

[Spinning]

ok here is all the right stuff to make Irish Potatoes
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups confectioners' sugar
2 1/2 cups flaked coconut
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon


Directions
1 In a medium bowl, beat the butter and cream cheese together until smooth. Add the vanilla and confectioners' sugar; beat until smooth. Using your hands if necessary, mix in the coconut. Roll into balls or potato shapes, and roll in the cinnamon. Place onto a cookie sheet and chill to set. If desired, roll potatoes in cinnamon again for darker color.

another version:
tablespoons mashed cooked potatoes
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon milk
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1 cup peanut butter


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

 

[piratesmate]

That sounds good! I'll have to try this one when I get some coconut. Tomorrow, though, DD has a friend coming over who is allergic to coconut.

I've always like the mint - sort of like a York Peppermint Patty, so I wasn't sure about another flavor. My original recipe says that peanut butter, chopped maraschino cherries or walnuts can be substituted. I have a bunch of PB & a few cherries - maybe I'll just split the batch & let them try both.

Thanks for the help!

Deb

 

[Wagamama]

do you boil the potatoes or bake them? i know this is probably a silly question...

 

[piratesmate]

Not silly at all, Wagamama! The last time I did these, it was years ago - before I ever heard that baked potatoes make the best mashed. . . . so I always boiled them. However, I'm sure that whatever is easiest would be fine. If I had any of the frozen ones, I'd have used those & skipped cooking altogether.

I think the most important thing is to make sure they're not lumpy. I always use my mixer & cook the be-jeebers out of them first. A masher doesn't give a smooth enough texture.

Deb

 

[MerryPoppins]

DS just tried this one the other day for an assignment for school. It tasted okay, but without measurements he had a little trouble with the recipe. It never seemed to make a "dough". He wasn't too upset. He still got an A. Here is the recipe he used.

IRISH POTATO CANDY
1 small potato
Confectioners' sugar
Peanut butter

Boil potato until tender. Peel off skin and mash. Add confectioners' sugar until a stiff dough is formed. Roll out on a sugared board until thin. Spread with peanut butter to cover the potato dough. Roll up like a jellyroll. Chill, then cut into thin slices.

 

[pas2]

MerryPoppins that is exactly how my mom used to make them! I haven't had potato candy in ages.