These delightful Irish Potato candies are the perfect St. Patrick's Day treat! While they look like teeny tiny spuds, they are really creamy, coconut filled bites rolled with a coating of cinnamon for the perfect hint of spice and warmth. Best of all, these no-bake candies are easy to make and share with friends and family. Wether you're embracing your Irish roots, or just craving a easy sweet treat, these Irish Potatoes are sure to hit the spot!
These easy, homemade Irish potato candies are the perfect no-bake treat. They have a creamy inside filled with shredded coconut and are rolled in a coating of cinnamon. The flavor combination is out of this world delicious, plus they adorably resemble small potatoes!
Growing up in the greater Philadelphia area, Irish Potatoes were a staple treat around St. Patty's day. Every candy store has them around that time of year, and even some grocery and convenience stores sell them. I always remember my dad bringing me home a box and being so excited to dive in! Now being a recipe creator, I wanted to share my take on them! Plus they are so easy to whip up.
If you love coconut-flavored desserts, you have got to try my Raspberry Coconut Bars, they are fruity and flavorful. Looking for a quick recipe like these irish potatoes? These peanut butter oatmeal balls are one of my favs and so easy to make!
What even are Irish Potatoes?
Contrary to the name, Irish potatoes do not contain any sort of potato (confusing, I know)! They're also not from Ireland, they originated in Southeast Pennsylvania, specifically in Philadelphia. The name "Irish potato" comes from the way they look- like little potatoes!
There seems to be no record of who first made Irish potatoes, but there are many theories as to how these little St. Patty's Day treats came about. It is believed a candy maker decided to make candy for St. Patrick's Day since there is a lull between Valentine's Day and Easter, which is why they are made around that time of year.
If these aren't potatoes, what do they taste like?
Irish potatoes are a coconut cream candy, somewhat resembling a truffle with a creamy center and round shape (just without the chocolate). The inside of Irish potatoes reminds me of an Almond Joy or Mounds bar. It is a creamy, sweet center that is filled with sweetened coconut and has a little tang because of the cream cheese. The cinnamon outside gives it a little bite and is the perfect balance to the sweetness of the inside.
Homemade Irish Potatoes are typically made of butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and shredded coconut. Store-bought ones usually skip the cream cheese so they are more shelf-stable.
Ingredients You'll Be Needing
- Cream cheese- make sure to use brick-style cream cheese (not whipped). It's best to let it sit out for a little before using it so that it gets soft and easy to mix.
- Butter
- Vanilla
- Powdered sugar- 4 cups of powdered sugar seems aggressive but I promise it's just the right amount!
- Coconut- make sure to use shredded coconut for this recipe. You can use sweetened or unsweetened.
- Cinnamon
How to make
Making Irish potatoes is truly so easy, the first time I made them myself I was floored by how quick they take to make, but also how much BETTER they taste homemade! It's just a few simple steps:
- Mix the cream cheese and butter together until smooth, add in vanilla.
- Add in the powdered sugar, then mix in the coconut. The mixture will be very thick.
- Scoop out the mixture and roll it into balls. Set in the fridge for 30 minutes to firm up.
- Once chilled, roll the balls in the cinnamon until coated.
And that's it!! Couldn't be any easier!
Storing & Freezing
Since these have cream cheese in them, they will need to be refrigerated. I store them in an air-tight container and leave them in the fridge for 1-2 weeks. These can also be frozen for up to 4 months! To defrost, let them sit at room temperature.
Want to try more recipes?
If you made this recipe, I would love to know what you thought! Leave me a star rating and a comment below - I read them all! ⭐️ Your reviews not only help my business but other bakers as well!
Want an exclusive first look at all my recipes? Join my email newsletter which sends Bake & Bacon recipes straight to your inbox as soon as they go live, so you never miss a recipe!
Want to keep up with Bake & Bacon outside of the blog? Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Youtube. Tag me on any social media and use the hashtag #bakeandbacon so I can see what you are baking!
No-Bake Irish Potato Candy
Video
Ingredients
- ¼ cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 4 oz cream cheese at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 ⅓ cups shredded coconut sweetened or unsweetened
- 1½ tablespoon cinnamon
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, use a stand mixer or an electric hand mixer to cream the butter and cream cheese together until smooth, 1-2 minutes. Mix in the vanilla and pinch of salt.
- Add in the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, making sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Then mix in the coconut a little at a time until fully mixed together. The mixture will be very thick.
- Use a tablespoon measuring spoon to scoop out the mixture and roll it into balls. Place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet or a large plate and set in the fridge for 30 minutes to firm up.
- Once chilled, roll the balls in the cinnamon until coated. Tap off any excess cinnamon. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
- Take your butter and cream cheese out at least an hour before starting.
- Don't make your Irish potatoes too big, 1 tablespoon is big enough!
- After rolling the Irish potatoes, make sure to set them in the fridge before rolling them in cinnamon so they firm up a bit.
- Store in the fridge for 1-2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 4 months.
Nutrition
This post contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something off of one of those links I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting my blog!
Sapphire says
These Irish Potatoes were easy to make, and the best I have ever had. it made a large amount. I gave 3/4 of the batch I made to my daughter for her birthday. She shared them. Everyone loved them. As you stated, one tablespoon makes large Irish Potatoes and I did get at least 40.
Kelly Nash says
So happy to hear you loved these, Sapphire! They're truly one of my favorite seasonal treats and I love when others make them too 🥰
RobynNJ says
Made these for the first time to bring to work instead of paying $7 for a small box from the supermarket. They turned out so good. One coworker said they were better than the Irish potatoes she gets from a gourmet candy shop every year.
Kelly Hamilton says
So happy to hear you and your coworkers enjoyed these, Robyn! I always think they're better than the candy stores ones too!
Kaelyn says
Yum! So easy and different!
Kelly Hamilton says
Thanks for trying this recipe, Kaelyn!
Liza says
Made these for St. Paddy's day this year and they were a total hit! Everyone loved them!
Kelly Hamilton says
Happy to hear you love these, Liza!
cathy says
My Mom has made these for years and I'm gonna make a batch tomorrow to take to a St Patty's Day celebration on Saturday. I just wanted to say that, my husband is from Scotland and they also sell Irish Potatoes there in the sweet shops...They however smash them down into a flat circle and let them get really hard before eating...but there made with the same ingredients and have the same flavor..Just thought I'd share this little tid-bit with you.
Kelly Hamilton says
So interesting! I never knew that! Thanks for sharing, Cathy