Irish potato candy facts for kids
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| Type | Candy |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Main ingredients | Cinnamon, sugar, coconut and cream cheese |
Irish potato candy is a sweet treat from Philadelphia, United States. Even though it's called "Irish potato," it doesn't come from Ireland. It also usually doesn't have any real potato in it!
These candies have a creamy coconut center. This center is often made from coconut, confectioner's sugar (powdered sugar), vanilla, and cream or cream cheese. The outside is rolled in cinnamon. This makes the candy look like small potatoes. These tasty treats are about the size of a large marble. They are very popular around St. Patrick's Day.
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Where to Find Irish Potato Candy
Many places make and sell Irish potato candy.
Big Candy Makers
Oh Ryan's is a company in Boothwyn, Pennsylvania. They say they are the biggest seller of Irish Potatoes. They ship about 80,000 pounds of these candies. Most go to stores in the Philadelphia area.
See's Candies also makes a version. This company is based in South San Francisco. Their candy has a creamy, nutty inside. It is made with a sweet mixture called divinity and English walnuts. They dust it with cocoa powder. They even add small pine nuts to look like potato "eyes."
Seasonal Treats
You can often find Irish potato candies in supermarkets. Stores like Wegmans sell them as a special treat. They are usually available around St. Patrick's Day.
Making Irish Potato Candy at Home
While most store-bought Irish potato candies use coconut cream, some recipes use real potatoes!
Potato-Based Recipes
In these recipes, you mash a cooked potato. You don't add any liquid to it. Then, you slowly mix in confectioner's sugar. Coconut and vanilla are added while the mix is still soft. This makes it easier to blend everything together.
You keep adding more powdered sugar. The mixture will get firm enough to roll into small balls. These balls are about the size of a bite.
Finishing Your Candy
After rolling, let the candy dry for a few hours. This stops the cinnamon from getting dark later. Then, roll the candy balls in cinnamon. This gives them the look of tiny potatoes.
Fun Flavor Ideas
These homemade recipes don't need any heat after cooking the potato. When you add sugar to the mashed potato, it first gets a bit runny. Then, it becomes firmer as you add more sugar.
You can use powdered cocoa instead of cinnamon. This makes a slightly darker candy. It also won't have the spicy "bite" of cinnamon. You can also leave out the coconut. Or, you can dip the candies in chocolate. The potato and sugar mix is a great base. You can try adding other flavors, like mint!
