Celebrating the holidays with your special education students is so much fun! I love bringing the magic of St. Patrick’s Day to my classroom each year by making Irish Potato Candy with my class! Read on for the super simple recipe that you can share with your kids this St. Patrick’s Day!
What is Irish Potato Candy?
You may be wondering what exactly Irish Potato Candy is. This sweet treat is a popular candy that can be found in bakeries and candy shops in the Philadelphia area around St. Patrick’s Day. No, they are not made with actual potatoes! Irish Potatoes are made with a mixture of cream cheese, coconut, and powdered sugar. The dough is formed into small balls and rolled in cinnamon to resemble tiny potatoes. These candies are absolutely delicious!
Ingredients and Supplies
To make Irish Potatoes, you need a few simple ingredients and tools.
First, you will need these ingredients:
1/2 block (or 4 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 stick (or 2 ounces ) butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
2 1/2 cups shredded cocount
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cinnamon (for rolling the candies)
Also, you will need a large mixing bowl, a sturdy wooden or plastic spoon for stirring, measuring cups and spoons, small bowls to hold the cinnamon, and a baking tray or plate to place the candies on. I also like to have small plastic cups on hand to place the finished candies in for serving and sharing.
Making Irish Potato Candy
Making Irish Potato Candy is super easy. Just combine all of the ingredients in a big mixing bowl and stir it up! A stiff dough will form. Remember to soften the butter and cream cheese to room temperature in order to make mixing easier. If the mixture is a little TOO hard to stir, I sometimes sprinkle in a little bit of water (no more than a tablespoon) to help things along.
Next, pour a generous amount of cinnamon into a small bowl. Take a small amount of the candy mixture (about a tablespoon) and roll it into a ball. Then, roll the ball in cinnamon. Ta da! It’s a tiny potato! Place your potatoes on a plate or baking sheet as you work. After they sit for a few minutes, the candies will set up a bit and taste better.
Sharing Your Candy
One batch of Irish Potatoes yields about 40 candies, depending on the size. Because the recipe calls for half a stick of butter and half a block of cream cheese, my class usually makes two batches so that we can use up the ingredients. Therefore, we always end up with a TON of candies!
Now, I will warn you: not all kids like Irish Potato Candy. Cream cheese, coconut, and cinnamon can be a bit of an “acquired taste.” However, the grown ups at your school will absolutely love them! So, every year after my students have a chance to sample a few candies we package up the rest of them to share with the staff! Admin, special area teachers, security guards, and office staff always look forward to their St. Patrick’s Day treat.
Making Irish Potato Candy is one of my favorite St. Patrick’s Day traditions! I hope that you will give it a try in your classroom! There are also a ton of other great March resources in the shop that you can use with your class. These free task boxes are one of my class’s favorites! What other ways do you celebrate the season with your class? Share your ideas below!
