Irish potato candy

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Irish potato candy
By Cassie (Cassado)

Irish potato candy began as a way to help people remember and honor the Irish potato famine (1845-1852). It is estimated that one million people lost their lives during the famine due to starvation or other diseases. There is no documented history on Irish potato candy, but it is said that any information has been spread through word of mouth for generations. It is thought that Irish immigrants on the east coast of the United States began making them many years ago, and sold them for a penny a piece. As a result, they became a tradition in Philadelphia, much like a Philly cheese steak or a soft pretzel. Many families make Irish potato candy for Saint Patrick's day. This article is going to explain how to make them.

Ingredients needed:
1/4 cup of softened butter
1/2 cup of cream cheese
4 cups of confectioner's sugar (icing sugar)
2 1/2 cups of flaked coconut
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
Ground cinnamon (1 tablespoon for each potato)

Note: This recipe can make up to 60 potatoes, depending on the size you make them.

Step one: Consider leaving the butter out for a while to allow it to soften. You can microwave it if you feel that is necessary, but be careful not to melt the butter. Mix the butter and cream cheese together until the mixture is smooth.

Step two: Add the vanilla extract and sugar, then mix the ingredients again.

Step three: Add the coconut to your ingredients. Using your hands to mix it in makes it easier.

Step four: Put your bowl in the refrigerator so the ingredients are able to chill. Later, remove the bowl, and roll the mixture into tiny balls. Then, cover them in cinnamon to make them look like little potatoes. You can cover them in cinnamon before or after you chill them, but it is often easiest to do it afterwards. Keep them refrigerated.

Your finished product should look like this:



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