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Home » Quick and Easy

Fried Potato Cakes (Potato Patties)

Published: Jun 27, 2021 · Last Modified: Sep 13, 2022 by Anecia

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Potato cakes are the quintessential product of leftover mashed potatoes! So, before you toss those leftover mashed potatoes, make a batch of these delicious taters!

With only a few simple ingredients and and 4-minutes, you can have homemade fried potato cakes that are crispy and golden brown on the outside, and creamy and fluffy on the inside!

Serve these as a snack, appetizer, or side dish with or without a dipping sauce!

Fried potato cakes on decorative plate.

Potato cakes (or potato patties) have been around forever and just about every culture calls them something different.

The Irish call them "Boxty", and in Scotland they're known as "Tattle Scones." You'll find other interesting names such as potato fritters, potato patties, potato scallop, latkes, and potato pancakes.

But no matter what you call them, they're technically a fried mashed potato patty made with leftover mashed (or grated ) potatoes, a little egg, flour and seasonings.

Why this recipe works

This easy recipe for potato cakes comes together in no time!

  • Quick & easy: each batch takes 4-minutes total!
  • Simple ingredients: use leftover mashed potatoes, an egg, a little flour, salt & pepper
  • Inexpensive: spuds are relatively cheap, so this dish is a great way to stretch a buck!
  • Versatile: add your spin to these easy potato cakes - feel free to add herbs, cayenne pepper or paprika to give a little heat to your version

I like to serve these as a side to Stewed Okra and Tomatoes and also with Vegetable Soup or with a big bowl of Purple Hull Peas!

Here's what you need

Use leftover cold mashed potatoes, a large egg, green onions, flour, salt, pepper. You can use self-rising flour or all-purpose flour - either one works in this easy recipe!

The amount of ingredients (particularly, the frying oil, flour and egg) needed for a potato cake mixture will depend upon the amount of leftover spuds you have! 

This potato cake recipe uses 2 cups of leftover mashed taters. If you have more than 2 cups, you may have to add a little more all-purpose flour and/or another egg.

You want the consistency of the potato dough to be soft and somewhat "gummy", but not too mushy or they won't fry well.

Ingredients on countertop.

I used self-rising flour, but if you don't have any, all-purpose flour will work just as well.

How to make potato cakes

In a medium to large mixing bowl, beat a large egg; add cold leftover mashed potatoes, salt, pepper and green onions. Combine well (if you want, add a light sprinkle of onion powder and/or garlic powder - this is optional)

Egg and mashed potatoes in bowl.
Coat the cold, leftover mashed potatoes well with a slightly beaten egg.

Sprinkle a little flour into the potato mixture and gently combine; don't over work this part.

Mashed potatoes and egg in bowl.
Sprinkle in the flour and combine; don't overwork this step or the potato patties will be gummy.

Form the mixture into equal size balls, then flatten to ½ inch thick; you can form the potato cake balls as small or big as you like! 

Heat a heavy bottom skillet with vegetable oil or canola oil on medium to medium-high heat. Place the patty in hot oil and fry 2-minutes per side, or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

Recipe tips

  • Use cold leftover potatoes. If they're not cold, the batter won't stay together and you'll have a big mess in your frying pan 
  • Heat-tolerant oil: vegetable or canola; not olive oil. Olive oil does not have high-heat properties and you need a relatively high heat to fry these potato cakes
  • Use enough oil to cover half of the potato cake when it's placed in the pan; the amount of frying oil will vary depending upon the size of your pan and how many potato cakes you're making
  • Oil temperature: use a meat thermometer and when the oil gets to about 300ºF, test it by putting a little potato dough into the hot oil. If it doesn't sizzle, wait a few minutes and test again.
  • Add the flour last and do not overwork the flour into the mixture! If you overwork the flour into the mixture, gluten forms and that's what causes the potato cakes to be gummy
  • Too wet? Add a smidgen more flour
  • Too dry? Add 1-2 tablespoons of milk
  • Fried potato cakes will get crispier as they drain on a paper towel

How to prevent gummy potato cakes

When you add the flour, do not overmix it. If you mix it too much, gluten forms and that's what makes them gummy and mushy. Just a quick mix and then form the potato patties.

Variations

Use this easy potato cake recipe to make homemade tater tots! Just form the mashed potato mixture into bite size potato balls, place in a single layer in hot oil, turn the potato rounds a few times and drain on a paper towel!

You can also use this potato cake recipe for leftover mashed sweet potatoes

Storage and reheating

Store fried potato cakes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.When ready to reheat, place on an ungreased baking sheet, uncovered and bake @ 350ºF until warm throughout (usually about 15-minutes.) Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. When ready to reheat, bring to room temperature, place the cakes in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake at 300°-325°F until warm in the center.

Fried potato cakes on decorative plate.

This potato cake recipe is simple, yet delicious! These also make a greaat snack! Serve these plain or use a dipping sauce like ketchup, buttermilk dill dip or a zesty remolaude sauce!

Related recipes:

  • Southern Mustard Potato Salad
  • Scalloped Potatoes
  • Steakhouse Baked Potatoes
  • Easy Mashed Rutabaga Recipe
  • Colcannon Potatoes (Irish potatoes)
  • Buffalo Tater Tots

If you make this potato cake recipe, please scroll down and leave a rating and comment! I love to hear from you!

Fried potato cake patties on decorative plate.

Fried Potato Cakes

Use leftover mashed potatoes to make crispy, golden brown potato cakes with a fluffy, creamy mashed potato inside!
5 from 15 votes
Print Rate
Course: Appetizer, Breakfast, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine: American, English, Irish
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Total Yield: 6 potato cakes
Author: Anecia Hero
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients 

  • 2 cups mashed potatoes , leftover; cold
  • 1 whole egg , large; lightly beaten
  • ¼ cup flour , self-rising or all-purpose
  • 2 cups oil ( SEE RECIPE NOTES) , canola, vegetable (not olive oil)
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
  • ⅛ teaspoon onion powder (optional)
  • ¼ cup green onions , chopped

Instructions 

  • In a medium bowl, lightly beat one egg
    1 whole egg
  • Add cold mashed potatoes, salt, pepper and chopped green onions to egg; add onion and garlic powder if desired; combine well
    2 cups mashed potatoes, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, ⅛ teaspoon onion powder (optional), ¼ cup green onions, ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
  • Sprinkle in flour and lightly combine; do not overwork the flour into the mixture or they'll be gummy
    ¼ cup flour
  • Heat some of the oil in heavy bottom skillet (See Recipe Notes)
    2 cups oil ( SEE RECIPE NOTES)
  • Measure ⅓ cup of potato mixture in measuring cup; form ball, then flatten to about ¼ inch thick
  • Gently place 2-3 patties in oil; cook 2 minutes per side or until golden browl; drain on paper towel

Notes

  • Use COLD leftover mashed potatoes
  • Add the flour last
  • Don't over mix the flour into the potatoes. Overmixing causes them to be gummy
  • Make sure your oil is at least 315°F
Pan Size and Oil:
I use a 10" inch cast-iron skillet and about 2 cups of oil
The amount of oil you use depends upon the size of your pan and the thickness of your potato cakes, and how many potato cakes you're making.
(Ideally, you want about ½" inch of oil in the pan; this amount should reach the middle of the uncooked potato cake)
If the oil covers half of the cake, you only need to flip it once to get both sides nice and golden brown

Nutrition Estimate

Serving: 1cakeCalories: 752kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 2gFat: 75gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 21gMonounsaturated Fat: 47gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 216mgPotassium: 239mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 46IUVitamin C: 17mgCalcium: 10mgIron: 1mg
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cynthia Newcomb says

    March 05, 2023 at 4:21 pm

    I also added sour cream and chives as well as some Cajun seasoning

    Reply
  2. Sarah says

    January 02, 2023 at 11:16 am

    Super Excited to try these! Any recommendations for using a deep fryer or do you only recommend frying in a skillet?

    Reply
    • Anecia says

      January 03, 2023 at 11:01 am

      I've only made potato cakes in a skillet so I can't comment on cooking them in a deep fryer.

      Reply
  3. Holly Ray says

    December 07, 2022 at 1:57 pm

    5 stars
    Your recipe for potato pancakes is so simple yet so delicious & you go over & above on tips & variations that can be made with your recipes which is very thoughtful & helpful for the new cooks in the kitchen who don’t have many skills yet

    I love to add any leftover veggies from the night before in my potato pancakes such as pieces of cauliflower that have been cooked already & lots of scallions & onions I use garlic- onion- paprika- parsley - salt & white pepper as my spice medley and let me tell you there are never any leftovers after frying the potato pancakes nice & crispy on both sides. 😋

    Reply
    • Anecia says

      December 07, 2022 at 4:31 pm

      Oh what a great idea to add in cooked, chopped veggies to the fried potato cakes! I love it:) Thank you, Holly, for sharing this great idea! And yes, I do tend to get long-winded sometimes:) I can never assume one knows how to cook, so I try to be as thorough as possible and sometimes, it gets long and bores experienced cooks:) Thank you for your understanding!

      Reply
  4. Kate says

    December 07, 2022 at 8:24 am

    Does it have to be mashed potatoes?
    How about grated potatoes?

    Reply
    • Anecia says

      December 07, 2022 at 10:54 am

      You can make fried potato cakes with grated potatoes as well. I just never have had any "leftover" grated potatoes.

      Reply
  5. Mary says

    July 24, 2022 at 9:17 am

    5 stars
    Yummy! Made my morning!

    Reply
    • Anecia says

      July 24, 2022 at 9:47 am

      Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the fried potato cakes!

      Reply
  6. Mercedes Lewis says

    May 16, 2022 at 4:18 pm

    I'm out of eggs,is there something else that I can use as binder, such as mayo or milk?

    Reply
    • Anecia says

      May 17, 2022 at 1:59 pm

      Mercedes, you can use a little sour cream or mayonnaise -

      Reply
  7. Brenda says

    June 27, 2021 at 5:30 pm

    5 stars
    These are great!!!

    Reply
    • Anecia says

      June 27, 2021 at 7:15 pm

      Thank you very much! I'm glad you enjoyed them!

      Reply
      • Steve & Dee says

        January 01, 2023 at 1:36 pm

        5 stars
        Great cakes, quick and easy!
        Thanks!

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Anecia Hero, Food Blogger

About SmartyPantsKitchen

I'm Anecia, a native Texan, author, cook and photographer for SmartyPantsKitchen where I'm sharing Traditional and Contemporary Southern recipes for cooks of all levels. There's nothing fancy or gourmet about my recipes-just easy, simple, delicious and memorable! Take a tour and check out delicious recipes! 

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