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This post is sponsored by my partners at the Idaho® Potato Commission. Thanks for supporting them.
A week from now, all you couch spuds will be settling in and getting comfortable in front of your screens for the big game.
Never ones to miss the chance for a party, we at Sunday Supper got to thinking and teamed up with our favorite Idaho® potato purveyors, the Idaho® Potato Commission, to offer the home couch spuds some actual spuds dishes, just in time to have a winning game day party.
Never fear, we have all your spud needs covered, with recipes that will have you smacking your lips. We have potatoes in bites and balls and bowls, stacks and salads and skins, pave and pizza. We have smashed spuds and sausage-y spuds, tater tartlets, wedges and wings. We tempura them, Cajun them, Buffalo them and flatbread them. I told you, we have you covered!
You know what would be fun? Make a selection of our recipes today and put out an all-potato buffet for your family and friends! Potatoes are the perfect ingredient for your game-day recipes.
And since I feel that no party is complete without dessert, I’m making Potato Football Candy, for the ultimate over-the-top treat.
Think about it. The hearty, delicious potato actually LOOKS like a little football, so we’re having some fun fooling the eye with this dessert.
See what I mean? Don’t these Idaho® potato fingerlings kinda, sorta, look like footballs?
The candies have potatoes in them, and they look like little footballs. What could be more fun than that? Well, they taste a little bit like fudge, once it has been exposed to the air a bit. Now that’s even more fun!
Why Idaho® potatoes?
Before we get into the actual recipe, though, let’s discuss the potato. Idaho® potatoes — recognized around the world as a premium potato — have a few things going for them. The state has ideal growing conditions — rich volcanic soil, a climate of warm days and cool nights, and mountain-fed irrigation among them. This results in a spud with superior taste and a higher content of solids (starch grains), so there is more spud and less H2O in them. Practically speaking, this means they cook up to a lighter, fluffier texture. That’s what we want, whether we’re making a baked potato or using them in a dessert – no mush, more fluff. Your fries will be
crisper and absorb less oil, your potato nachos or planks will crisp up nicely, and your tots and tarts will taste wonderful.
Let’s play some ball, shall we?
The ingredients for the footballs…
You want to mix it just until is is big damp crumbs. It should NOT be goopy or like batter.
Get in there with your hands to shape it.
Ingredients for the laces…
…which you will pipe on with your little bitty tip on your piping bag.
Classic Potato Candy is flavored with cocoa and shaped and decorated like footballs for a game-day dessert. Potato Football Candy will be the hit of your football-watching party!
Ingredients
- 4-5 ounces Idaho® potatoe fingerlings
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- Pinch salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2-2 teaspoons half and half
- .
- Icing Laces
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2- 2 1/2 teaspoons half and half
Directions
- Wash, dry and poke a hole in each potato with the top of a knife (so they don't explode). Microwave them in a covered container on high for about 4 minutes. Remove from microwave and set them aside until they are cool enough to handle. (I speed this up by putting them in a bowl in the freezer for 10 minutes, but you can let them cool on the counter.)
- While potatoes are cooking, put the powdered sugar, cocoa powder and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer. Mix to combine.
- When potatoes are cool, score the skin in a circle around the middle (at the equator), and slip the skins off with your fingers. Discard skins. Place potatoes in a wide, flat bowl and mash with a fork. Measure 1/3 cup.
- With the mixer running on low, add the mashed potatoes into the sugar. Add the vanilla extract and 1 teaspoon of half and half. Allow mixer to run on low; you will likely see the mixture begin to look damp. If it is still too dry and crumby, add 1/2 teaspoon additional half and half, and allow mixer to run another minute. Beware of adding too much liquid, because it can turn goopy in a second if you add too much. You are going for a texture of damp crumbs that will hold together. Stop the mixer and see if you can shape the crumbs into a ball with your hand. If you can, you're ready. If they are still too dry, add another 1/2 teaspoon half and half and allow to mix longer. Try again.
- Once you have the right texture, shape the mixture into small footballs, using your fingers. I like to squeeze each one into a rough oblong, and then push and pinch the ends a bit to get it wider in the middle and with the characteristic pointed ends of a football.
- It makes 25-30, depending on size you make.
- ICING LACES: In a small bowl, mix the powdered sugar and 2 teaspoons of half and half. Stir well. You want a firm icing so it will hold its shape, but not so firm it won't pipe out of an icing bag. Test in your icing bag to see if you can pipe it, and if you can't, add another 1/2 teaspoon half and half and mix until it is the right consistency.
- Using an icing bag, pipe the laces to decorate your footballs.
- Makes 25-30.
- Storage: Store in a container with a tight lid.
Notes
Recipe source: Dorothy Reinhold | Shockingly Delicious
If you like this recipe and want to save it, pin it to your Pinterest board using the image below. ↓
This week’s Sunday Supper recipes
Today
our Sunday Supper tastemakers have taken up a challenge from the Idaho® Potato Commission to present a collection of 20 creative, inspired, and best of all, easy Football Recipes featuring Idaho® potatoes. We shunned fussy things that would take too much time or keep you in the kitchen for days, in favor of easy dishes that will wow your family and friends with flavor and fun. Potatoes pair so well with cheese and/or bacon, they can be mashed, baked, fried or totted, and you can serve them as a snack, side dish, main dish or dessert. Take a look at our ideas, and if these aren’t enough for your party, there are even more recipes on the Potato Pinterest Board, so browse around for something spudtastic.
Fingerling Potatoes
- Cajun Taters & Sausage by Cosmopolitan Cornbread
- Cheesy Bacon Potato Bite-Sized Snacks by Life Tastes Good
- Fingerling Potato Bacon Flatbread by Family Foodie
- Potato Football Candy by Shockingly Delicious
- Slow Cooker Buffalo Potato “Wings” by Food Done Light
Golden Potatoes
- Healthier Mashed Potato Bowls by Cooking Chat
- Persian Lamb Stuffed Potato Cakes by Caroline’s Cooking
- Potato Salad Tortilla Bowls by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Pulled Pork Potato Skins by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Steak and Potato Pizza by Grumpy’s Honeybunch
Red Potatoes
- Buffalo Smashed Potatoes by A Mind “Full” Mom
- Cheesy Sausage Stuffed Red Potatoes by Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch
- Cuban Garlic Mojo Potato Salad by Go Epicurista
- Tempura Cheesy Potato Balls by Cricket’s Confections
Russet Potatoes
- Best Potato Wedges by Moore or Less Cooking
- Buffalo Blue Cheese Potato Bites by Dizzy Busy and Hungry
- Loaded Curly Fries with Gouda Cheese Sauce by Casa de Crews
- Potato and Chive Mini Waffles by My Life Cookbook
- Potato Blue Cheese Tartlets by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Potato Nacho Stacks by The Wimpy Vegetarian
- Bacon Parmesan Potato Pavé Squares by Sunday Supper Movement
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by the Idaho® Potato Commission in conjunction with a social media campaign through Sunday Supper LLC. Please join me and connect with the Idaho® Potato Commission on their social media channels: website / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Instagram / Youtube. All writing, photography and opinions are my own.
Want more food footballs for your party?
Meat and Cheese Football
Cookie Football
Fruit Football
Welcome to my kitchen, where the oven is always on, and the fridge is packed with delectables! 
What a great idea for potatoes. I am sure this would be a hit at any game day party!
This is an interesting idea! I love it! These look great for game day!
Dorothy, I can honestly say I have never seen this before and that is hard among us food bloggers. Very creative and perfect for the big game!
This is super cute! I remember tasting potato candy for the first time at the Food Wine Conference and loving it. So creative to make it into footballs for the big game party! Also, I love the idea of an all-potato buffet with the Sunday Supper Easy Football Recipes. That sounds delicious!!
Marion,
Agreed! I would happily go to ANY party with an all-spud buffet!
who knew you could make candy with potatoes….LOVE this idea and they really are the perfect game day treat
What an amazing recipe. I never would’ve thought to use potatoes as a dessert candy sweet. Wow! And how cute these little footballs are! I love it.
I had no idea potato candy was even a thing! This looks like a super fun recipe to try and let my kids help make.
I’m still amazed that you made a candy out of potatoes! Brilliant!
this is super cute and creative. I’ve got to make them for game day
Food Hunter,
GREAT! I am so glad!
These are so cute! I cannot believe you used a potato!
You are a GENIUS.
Cheryl,
Awwwww…maybe, and maybe not. It’s based on an old Farmer’s Almanac recipe. Back in the day, people really put their potatoes to use!
What a fun idea!
Love these!! Perfect for this weekend! Also I LOVE the measuring spoons! I have a set like that from my grandmother!
Angie,
I adore those measuring spoons. They are aluminum and flimsy, but so what? They’re like antiques!
So intriguing! I totally want to try these!
I’ve never had potato candy… but it looks delicious!!
I’ve never made potato candy before, but I do love fingerling potatoes. This is a great idea for a big game treat.
Oh wow!! These are SUPER cute!!
Cute idea, I’d have a hard time resisting eating the whole batch!
This is actually the cutest thing ever! can’t wait to make them for my hubs!
It’s been SO long since I’ve had potato candy! Thanks for reminding me about it!
These little candies are so cute!! LOVE that you made them using potatoes!
These are seriously too cute for words!!
such a creative idea!
I love potato candy but never made chocolate ones. It’s time I did! Thanks for a recipe!
I’ve made potato candy before (we called them macaroons in Scotland, though they were dipped in chocolate and usually also coconut) but never as footballs – so cute!
I always learn so much from you and your wonderful blog. Potato candy is completely new to me!! And now I must try it!
Susan,
Awwwww….thank you! And you MUST!
These are so fun! Love the look of them!
My game day buffet must include sweets. Your adorable potato candy footballs will fit the bill perfectly!!
These are right up your sweet-tooth alley Liz!
I can’t wait to make these for my grand son, he is crazy about football!
Nettie,
They are pretty fun!
What a creative idea! I bet the texture is great and the presentation is adorable!
Thanks Denise! The texture and flavor is a bit like fudge, only not as wet.