The Bite: Irish Potato Candies
This month we are sharing a family recipe that has remained unwritten for years: Irish Potatoes. YUM!
A bit of history…
Irish Potatoes are an American invention. Although we don’t know who invented the candy, they are believed to have originated in Philadelphia in the late 19th or early 20th century. Around the same time there was a large influx of Irish Immigrants due to the Great Famine. In the early 1900s Philadelphia was considered the candy capitol of America with between 200-300 candy manufacturers calling this city home. Add it to our list of culinary accomplishments!
Until now this had been an “eyeball it” recipe that still came out perfect every time. There are many variations (most call for cream cheese as the base) but this ingredient list was passed down through generations. It’s tried and true. We finally worked out the measurements with directions to give you the perfect recipe. We hope you’ll love this sweet March treat as much as we do. Our families ode to Irish Potatoes!
Here’s what you’ll need:
2lb bag 10x (powdered) sugar
1 bag shredded sweetened coconut
1 can evaporated milk
ground cinnamon
Pour the entire bag of sugar and half the bag of coconut into a large mixing bowl. Mix together with hands until well blended. Slowly incorporate the evaporated milk, mixing thoroughly as you go. You will not use the entire can; aim for a crumbly yet moist consistency that can be rolled into a ball {see photos}. Splash in a little more milk if it’s too dry, if it becomes to wet add more sugar.Once all 3 ingredients are well mixed take a tablespoon of batter and roll into a ball, lay on parchment.
TIP: Put aside 1/2 cup of sugar before starting. Dusting your hands with a little powdered sugar before rolling will help if the batter is sticky.
Once all of your candies are rolled pour the ground cinnamon into a smaller bowl and roll each candy around to coat completely. That’s it!
If little hands are helping it is best to chill the candies for a few minutes in the fridge before rolling in the cinnamon so they don’t loose their shape.
No fancy kitchen equipment needed. Our family likes to get our hands right in there to mix up and find the perfect texture. This recipe yield about 60 candies depending on the size you roll them.
We hope you’ll try this kid-friendly recipe for yourself. When you do be sure to tag @revive.hairco and share how they turned out. Don’t forget to refrigerate the candies when complete. Sláinte!
*editors note: this recipe calls for evaporated milk. sweetened condensed milk will also work however you will need the whole can and the the candies will have a denser texture
Enjoy!
