Irish liqueur Potato Candy: a childhood treat grows up

While I admit I'm someone who indulges my sweet tooth year round, there are some treats which sadly only make a fleeting appearance on holidays (jelly beans, candy canes and conversation hearts all have their hay days) and comes St Patrick's Day my go-to confection has always been Irish potato candy

Ironically neither authentically Irish nor a potato (although some recipes call for them), this century old, rather humble looking spud-shaped candy originated not in the Emerald Isle but in my home city of Philadelphia, Pa. In the rush of "green everything" which appears March 17th, this brown quirky confection is a delightful blend of coconut, sugar and cream cheese, sprinkled with cinnamon to resemble Ireland's famous crops. This year I thought I'd revisit this classic childhood delight, trying a more a "grown up" version with a splash of liqueur, hint of coffee and dusting of dark cocoa. While there are many of these "spiked" versions online, some incorporating nuts, whiskey or mascarpone cheese (yum), I opted for this adaptation, tweaking it for a more adult palate. 

You'll Need

1/4 cup butter (softened)
7 oz. shredded coconut
(you can use sweetened or unsweetened according to taste)

4 oz.cream cheese (softened)

2 cups confectioners sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

4 teaspoons Irish liqueur
(Bailey's, Irish whiskey or other liqueur)

1/2- 1 teaspoon instant coffee2
 1tbsp Cocoa powder and 1 tbsp cinnamon (mixed)

Add instant coffee to liqueur and stir or warm in microwave ten seconds to dissolve and set aside.*the addition of coffee yields a slighter darker color 
than "normal" potato candy and can be omitted if desired
 Beat butter and cream cheese until blended
Add vanilla and liqueur mixture and then blend in sugar a bit at a time
stir in coconut
Chill 1 hour or more

Once chilled, mixture can be molded into potato shapes (this gets messy)
roll in cocoa mixture brushing off extra coating and chill again (about 1/2 hour)

For a fun way to serve or give, you can make your own tiny bushel baskets from clear plastic cups and Popsicle sticks.

If desired brush sticks with a quick wash of paint for a rustic look and trim with scissors to size. Hot glue around cup and let dry. Wrap a band of paper or ribbon around basket gluing in place. 

I created labels using images from olddesignshop.com

             Line with wax paper and fill with potatoes. Pop in a toothpick with label 

      Display on a moss lined tray and add Irish accents

Serve with Irish Coffee or an after dinner drink

Greens and an Irish flag add spirit

       Yeat's Country, card from gift shop at  drumcliffe tea house, 

      Kylemore Abbey, Connemara, Interior Kilronan Castle Hotel

Photos CPaul2011
celtic knots from Graphics Fairy 

For more St. Patrick's day ideas visit our past posts

Bailey's and berry Pavlova

a-taste-of-ireland-berry-and-baileys
or

Ireland in a Jar terrariums

the-emerald-isle


Slainte!