Don't worry there are no potatoes in this candy. It's just made to look like the root vegetable. I decided to make these candies because I wanted to try something I've never made before on St. Patrick's Day and it's a no bake treat! I can't tell you how much I love no bake desserts. There's no worrying about undercooking or overcooking. I can make it at any time without worrying about what's cooking in the oven for dinner. It's easier for the kids to participate. No raw eggs to deal with. I could go on...but you get the point.
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Speaking of the kids participating, this is a perfect project for the kids because they can help with all of it! The little ones love shaping the candy and rolling it cinnamon and brown sugar. These treats could really be enjoyed any time of year, and I think I have an idea for some really brightly colored Easter egg shaped "potato" candies. (Of course, an adult always need to help with an electric beater.)
The traditional ingredients are:
1/2 block of cream cheese (softened)
1/2 stick of butter (softened)
4 cups of powdered sugar
2 1/2 cups of unsweetened shredded coconut
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
2 tablespoons of cinnamon
My add in: 2 tablespoons of brown sugar.
My adjustments:
I made a few adjustments. 4 cups sugar of sugar seemed like a lot to me, especially since I added brown sugar to the cinnamon. Plus, I like cream cheese and wanted to taste it. So, I only used about 3 cups of powdered sugar. Also, because that decreased the volume of the mixture, I only used 2 cups of coconut. And, as I said earlier, I added brown sugar to the cinnamon that you roll the candy in. I used about 2-3 tablespoons.
Directions:
Beat together softened butter and cream cheese. Add vanilla. Then slowly beat in powdered sugar.
Mix in coconut with a spoon.
(Optional) Chill. I put mine in the freezer about 10-15 minutes. 15-30 minutes in the refrigerator would work also. I personally think it's easier to shape when its cold but you could skip this step.
Make into potato shapes.
Chill. I put mine in the freezer for about 20- 30 minutes. 30 minutes to an hour in the refrigerator would be fine too.
Mix together cinnamon and brown sugar.
Roll potatoes in the cinnamon mixture.
ENJOY - These keep their shape best when cold so return any uneaten candies to the refrigerator.
As always, email me with any questions! And, look out for the Easter version coming soon!
Don't forget to pin for next year!
Dragon Mama
They were delicious.