How to Make the Best Mashed Potato Cakes from Scratch 

I saw this on pbs the other day my grandson was in the living room and he came and got me and said "maw maw you need to watch this so you can make it "❤

I didn't want to fry mine... so I baked them at 450 for 12 minutes and they were perfect!

I made these and can 100% say there amazingly delicious!!! I used green onions instead of chives , i can think of all kinds a ways to change them up to with chedder, bacon ect , !! They were definitely a hit and something ill be adding on to our family potatoe menu !!

In the south, my grandmother would make these quite like yours except thinner and we would pour syrup over them. Sometimes the syrup with made from cranberry jelly any other kind of jelly melted or just regular syrups. Really really good! When my grandmother did they would be for breakfast instead of pancakes. So she would serve bacon, eggs, and potato cakes.

When we were young, my brother would always ask our Mom to make too many mashed potatoes so we could have potato pancakes for breakfast the next day. Such a sweet memory.

Absolutely wonderful presentation,my wife is in long-term care for the rest of her life, without even trying these I know she will love these,you folks have made our day!!

My mom made potato pancakes with egg, flour, and parm (no onion or garlic). She'd form them by hand and bake them. We'd eat them with a drizzle of honey! Out of this world!!!

Roll the pre-made mixture out like pastry dough 3/8” thick. Cut into 3” squares with a rotary pizza cutter. Mix two eggs with a fork in a bowl, using dry instant potato flakes as a coating, place the squares in the egg, then the flakes and coat evenly just like she does. Using a cast iron skillet or griddle, melt some butter. Fry the potato cakes to your desired doneness. So many different ways but it’s all good!

I've been making potato pancakes for years - apparently an old dog can learn new tricks - thank you, this looks great!

It’s 9:50 P.M. and I’m getting out of bed to make these! Unfortunately, I don’t have any sour cream in the house but, I made Crème fraîche at 4:00 A.M this morning. I’m thinking that should work just fine!

I love that the presenters are not scrawny, food haters, but healthy, zaftig, mature ladies who obviously like to eat what they cook. More wonderful, ecumenical, cross-cultural and genuinely American representatives of our national cuisine could not be found. I love the recipes (and, I should add, I am a man), but I love the real-world, earthy, frank and, to be honest, alluring appeal of the hosts, whether male or female. This channel has a winning formula to communicate basic truths about a universal function: cooking. Well done. Keep up the good work. PJT

A quarter cup of bacon grease instead of the oil gives them alot more flavor

I made these last night and they were so easy and delicious. Had leftovers so put a poached egg on one this morning.

Oh my gosh I've been watching all your shows and I got the 19 year cookbook. You've all taught me so much and I've been cooking since I was little. And I'm 71 now. Thank you!

My mother was not an enthusiastic cook. She and a close friend loved Peg Bracken's I HATE TO COOK BOOK. They had such fun with her humor. Many years ago, I had occasion to interview Ms. Bracken on a local radio program. I told her about these two devotees, and how they always said that they didn't want anything to do with something that couldn't be baked, for an hour, at 350. Fortunately, that comment was off-the-air, because her response was: "I always say, 'if you can't fry it, ____ it.'" I laugh every time I hear Peg Bracken's name. She was really a delight.

I have never seen potato cakes that look like that in my life and I grew up on them my entire childhood. We did flour and seasoning mixture instead of the egg and panko. I haven't had one in a couple of years, but they are still one of my favorite things.

I'm from kentucky, waste nothing, if you have leftover mashed potatoes from a day or two ago, and they already have milk and butter in them, add this step, warm them on the stove with a couple tbs of flour in them and stir constantly for a few minutes to incorporate flour and cook out raw taste of flour. Do not add ingredients you have already added until you taste for seasoning. Cool in fridge and follow their recipe for frying the cakes. Add any other ingredients you probably did not have when made fresh, ie: cheese, egg, etc... the flour will help to take the moisture of milk,butter, out by absorbing it. It works.

I've been making potato pancakes my whole life as a jew and can tell you flavored sour cream is so incredible with them, can do chive/garlic, horseradish, veggies (pulsed onion, tomato, carrot, chive etc). it really adds to the potato!

I’m in my 60s and my mother always made these with mashed potatoes - yummy! My first thought upon seeing this video was “what’s the point of making them from scratch?” However, I can see how you’ve improved the concept. I can’t wait to try this! Thanks!

These look really delicious. My grandma's depression era recipe was much simpler but still delicious. She would add flour and milk to the leftover mashed potatoes, then fry the pancakes in onions. She was an old hillbilly girl from eastern Tennessee though. 😊

When I make potato cakes I like to put just a tad bit of cheese in the middle, everyone LOVES it.

I used this video to make Ham Potato Cakes for the 1st time today. They turned out great ! My sons loved them.

I just made these. Best potato cakes ever!! Though I used Gouda instead of Parmesan and doubled the amount of chives. I also used only egg whites; not the whole egg.

I just made these for tea tonight on the side with crumbed fish and frozen cooked peas and corn . I steamed my potatoes then mashed them as directed . I added some dried garlic granules and dried Rosemary into the potato mixture . Yummy 😋 I didn’t have panko bread crumbs so just used multi grain dried breadcrumbs. Beautiful! (From Australia 🇦🇺 )

You ladies are my new heros!! My taste buds are whimpering as I am getting my ingredients together... Thank you SO much for this delectable recipe!

I have to admit something, America’s Test Kitchen has been my secret for only god knows how long 😊. I tell everyone that It’s all me 😂😇. I love you guys and I don’t know what I would do without you 💫 keep up the great work. #SubscriberForLife

I have already made this recipe, and I have to say that it came out super delicious. Excellent indeed. Thank you for sharing it with us.

I guess every culture has it's own version of this recipe. Appalachians would use a bit of flour, but the MOST important ingredient is to fry them in bacon grease, which of course adds a whole new dimension to this. I know, not super-healthy.... but oh so good! These would usually be served at breakfast made from the leftovers from the night-before. Nothing in the Appalachian kitchen is ever wasted.

That really sounds good, but my Grandma Heffley almost always added some precooked onions to the mashed potato mixture and then cooked the cakes in bacon drippings, they were so good! I know that isn't healthy sounding but that's the way they cooked way back then.😋 mmmmm

I love mash potatoes. I can't wait to try this. Love the chemistry they have on this show. I could work with them lol

Potato Latkiesis what we call them,you can use leftover mashed potatoes even with milk and butter just don't go crazy with the milk. I use two eggs and a small amount of dehydrated potato mix,salt pepper and what ever you like,we like to grate up an onion use it and the juice. Happy cooking!

I love it. My mom use to make all the time. You bring me very good memory. Thank you.

Oh my! My mother used to make these (just regular patties) almost once a week. Wonderful memories 💖 These look so very good. 👍 ✅

Omitting the milk is amazing especially since I’m lactose intolerant. Thank you for sharing this recipe because it brings back such beautiful memories of my grandma 👵.

I had a Peg Bracken cookbook when’s was first married in 1966! These mashed potato cakes look fabulous! I know my husband will love them! Yum!

I never thought of making potato cakes that way, but I’m going to try that recipe. I love your videos.

Mashed potatoes were one of my favorite meals as a kid. My mother made them, in what would currently be an interesting way, but probably reflected that she grew up during the depression and WWII. She would boil the potatoes, then pour out most of the water, put in dry powdered milk, and about a tablespoon of margarine. Our family could well afford milk and butter, but this is how she knew how to make them, and I thought they were delicious. One of my sister in laws thought it was strange to put powdered milk in, and I hadn’t thought about it until recently, watching some depression era foods. You used what was available. During the war, in the US, milk and butter were restricted, so powdered milk and margarine were more available and used as substitutes. She was German, so she always made potato pancakes with any left overs. She just added some (liquid) milk and put them in the cast iron skillet with a lot of oil and fried them up. Those were good too. I was surprised when I met my husband, and he had me over for a meal, that he made « holiday » mashed potatoes (meaning real milk and butter) and learning that’s how he always made them. Even more delicious! But either way, potatoes are so good. Thanks for the video…I’d still probably make potato pancakes the way my mother made them, but they’d be my husband’s left over « decadent potatoes » lol!

I made these last week and they were excellent! Super fluffy and creamy inside, and the panko held them together beautifully, yet added a nice crunch. You definitely need a second set of hands to bread them... I had to do it myself and I ended up washing my hands frequently, which doubled the time. If you make them to recipe size, one cake will be more than filling per person. Try them out, you won't be disappointed 👍😋

Ashley, loved your enthusiasm! Fun to watch.

I love it! Will prepare this yummy recepie for my lunch! Thank you chef!

This show is my favorite ! And fattening !! Every single time I watch I think. I gotta make that !!!

Those mashed potato cakes are looking so delicious and I wanted some after seeing them cooked.

Loved your guys chemistry! These look delicious!!!

I love this! In my city in the UK (Hull) we have the Patty/Patties in our Fish and Chip shops which are mashed potato with sage shaped and fried in batter. They're a local favourite 😍

They were delicious , my first time making them.

Thumbs up for Ashley👍🍻👏😁

These ladies are perfect in the kitchen. Amazing work with the potatoes.

Gonna try this. Looks so good.

OOOHHHHH I'm so glad you showed up in my suggestions!!! I watch you on PBS all the time.. Love your recipes and gadgets segment!!!

Mmm yummy! Mashed potatoes with half & half or milk & butter are great - as mashed potatoes. But they don't give that great, nice, fluffy potato cake that you have. This is a new 'must-eat'.

Those look scrumptious! I'm going to have to try them!!!

They look absolutely delicious 😋 I am definitely going to try these

my family and I grew up eating these and my oldest son 38 still loves when I make them..... BUT I've ALWAYS used my left over taters.... Then add an egg, sometimes cheese... run mine thru flour... we didnt grow up with Panko on hand... THESE look great... just saying how I've done mine all my life. I love green onions/ chives. yes that'd I'll be adding!

Yummy, I love potatoes and im going to do this delicious recipe tomorrow for lunch, thanks guys for the recipe. P.s. Bridgette made me laugh always 😁

Thanks for sharing. Loved your presentation.

This method looks easier and yummy! I'm going to try this recipe! Thanks!

Good old Peg Bracken. That's a name I haven't heard in a long, long time.

Mom been making these for over 50 years, always added ground beef.

WoW! Thank you so much for this awesome recipe! They look absolutely scrumptious!! Love from Calgary, Alberta!

Looks delicious...I am going to try this... thanks.

OMG they look yummy! But have you tried putting leftover ground beef in the middle? Here in S Fla is called a "papa rellena"

Oh Yeah! I would like to use a Smokey Cheddar, White Cheddar, or Pepper Jack. Definitely a recipe I could play around with. I am subscribed. Thank You!

Thank you for the resapea. Awesome.🍀🙏

I have struggled for more than a decade to conquer the illusive perfect potato pancake. How on earth did my mother do it?!!! Now I too can make the best potato pancakes of my life!!!!! Thanks so much ATK!!!!!!

I used turkey stuffing since I didn't have panko and they are delic!

Easy, few ingredients, and delicious? I'm making this! Looks like a perfect side dish. Manageable while I focus on the rest of the meal, but still quite impressive.

I made these the other day and the potato cakes were el perfecto. Thanks for the recipe.

Love, love this recipe! Makes a beautiful presentation (and lunch) with dollop of sour cream and a beautiful salad. You guys at ATK and Cooks Country Rock!

These look so delicious. I can hardly see anything to improve... I mean of course you could turn some crispy bacon into bits and add it to the mixture :D

This would make a great topping for a Fisherman's Shepard's pie by adding crabmeat, or lobster to the potato cakes.

One of my favorite shows. I will make this soon!

Love Cook's country. On any recipes. Thank you 😊

That looks yummy 😋 yummy yuuuuuumy

There’s enough cheese left over in the dialog to use some for the potatoes.

Looks yummy thanks for recipe

Looks delicious. I can't wait to try it.

we fry ours in bacon lard,,,,,,,,,,,,,,yum thank you for sharing.

Traditionally, Pablo or even bread crumbs are not used in grandmoms recipe and we added minced onion.

When I first started watching this show on PBS it would drive me crazy with all the different/extra steps that were used to create the food object. Now I have loosened up my rigid thinking and go with the food flow of how your show tends to make changes and improvements to the food being cooked. I enjoyed the simple yet different method of making the delicious looking potato pancakes. Thank you for this easy to follow recipe. Will give it a good try this week. Good job ladies. Tom in Minneapolis, 10/22/19 PS give a kiss to Dan Sousa for me, he is so dreamy.

Love the versicles and the music too!

"Until it disappears, or daddy does" LOL

Hey, I have all the ingredients needed to make these! Now I wish I hadn't already eaten.

I am definitely making these soon. Thank you.

Made these after watching and they are amazing

You folks have done it again! Those mashed potato cakes look so delicious. As a variation of this recipe, I would skip the cheese and add leftovers from a traditional boiled corned beef dinner (chopped to appropriate texture) -- corned beef, cabbage, root vegetables, etc. You may see it as a cross between the former and Irish colcannon ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colcannon ), in cake form.

Okay, Hungry here. Someone feed me these!

I watch this show every week on PBS. Great show.

Yummy! Thank you.

This is exactly how potato cutlets are made in India. Of course, there's a few more spices that go into it as with all Indian food!

Nice! Potato cakes are called “Aalu Tikki” in India and its street food..

My mom always used to make these when I was a kid and it was always my favorite.

I have never used a coating but now I'll try it. I like crunchy coatings. Thanks.

Whenever I make mashed potatoes a just make extra for the leftovers mashed potato cakes. Mine are crispy enough without having to use bread crumbs.

Can you sub in mashed cauliflower for a keto version?

Love you guys! Made these and my girlfriend and I loved them. Thank you so much!

The America's test kitchen is awesome, really enjoy the show and cast.👍👍

I wish my mom showed me how to make these, now I have to rely on a RU-vid video to help me

That's a lot of waste going on here, paper and oil too, use a sifter to strain the oil and re use it!! And use newspaper with a paper shopping bag for oil absorbent, cheap and I turn them into fire starters for the wood stove after they're used. Buy industrial bifold paper towels, so much cheaper than rolls. Then again I don't have their budget.

I love the practical and thorough job America’s Test Kitchen does, it feels like I’m getting another opportunity to take Home Economics which is where some of my jr. high school friends made their first cake while I was making a wooden plaque in Shop Class 😁

Love these videos. Thanks