The Best Duchess Potatoes Recipe (2024)

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These duchess potatoes are a French classic of piped, pureed potatoes seasoned perfectly and baked until golden brown. A true dish of class & hospitality!

The Best Duchess Potatoes Recipe (1)

Every once in a while, there’s nothing like cooking a classy and classic dish. These duchess potatoes are just that and are perfect for everything from at-home soirees to Christmas dinner or your Thanksgiving feast. Creamy, full of flavor, and perfectly crispy on top, they are good to the last drop.

What are Duchess Potatoes?

Duchess potatoes, or pommes de terre duchesse, is a classic French potato dish of pureed mashed potatoes that are piped into pretty mounds and baked until golden brown. The standard ingredients for all great duchess potatoes include potatoes (of course!), heavy cream, unsalted butter, egg yolks, and salt. That said, some folks like to add a pinch of nutmeg or top them with fresh herbs like parsley, thyme, and rosemary.

How to Make French-Style Duchess Potatoes

Despite their fancy appearance, duchess potatoes are actually quite an easy side dish to pull together.

  • Prepare Your Potatoes: Clean, chop, and boil the potatoes in a large pot over medium heat until they are fork-tender.
  • Mash the Potatoes: Drain the potatoes and mash them in a bowl until smooth with a mixer, potato masher or potato ricer.
  • Season the Potatoes: Stir in the butter, kosher salt, and heavy whipping cream into the mashed potatoes. Optionally, add in a little freshly cracked black pepper.
  • Add in the Egg Yolks: Whisk the large egg yolks in slowly.
  • Pipe the Potatoes: Stuff the mashed potatoes into a piping bag and pipe the potatoes onto a lined baking, leaving space between each mound.
  • Melt the Butter: Melt a couple of tablespoons of butter and gently brush the tops of the potatoes.
  • Bake the Potatoes: Bake the potatoes at 425°F for 15-20 minutes or until the tops are golden brown. Enjoy!
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5 Tips for the Most Elegant Duchess Potatoes

Making duchess potatoes requires a little technique and know-how. To nail it on your first try, follow these 5 pointers and you’ll be golden.

  • Opt for Yukon gold potatoes. Yukon gold potatoes are the best for duchess potatoes. They are creamy, buttery, and naturally a little sweet! In a pinch, you can use russet potatoes, but the outcome will be a little more starchy.
  • Enlist the help of a potato ricer. A potato ricer will help you get perfect, lump-free mashed potatoes. If there are any lumps or pieces, they will get stuck as you are piping the potatoes, so make sure to mash well.
  • Don’t skip the egg yolks. The egg yolks bind the potatoes and help keep their pretty shape after you pipe them. Don’t omit the egg yolks or your piped potatoes will spread as they bake.
  • Avoid cooking the egg yolk. To avoid cooking egg yolk, give the potatoes a bit of time to cool down before adding them, and whisk them constantly as you add in egg yolks slowly.
  • Use a 3/4-inch large star tip for your piping bag. To get those perfectly pretty tops, use a 3/4-inch large star tip such as the Wilton 1M tip. It’s the best size and will give you such a nice presentation.
  • Pipe onto a lined baking sheet. To prevent the potatoes from sticking to the pan, pipe them onto a baking dish lined with parchment paper. This will also make clean-up so much easier!
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Serving Suggestions

A dish as fancy as duchess potatoes deserves a fancy main dish. Serve them alongside an elegant protein like leg of lamb, beef tenderloin, or roasted stuffed duck. When it comes to veggie side dishes, asparagus wrapped in prosciutto, sautéed mushrooms, and cheesy zucchini squash casserole immediately come to mind.

Storage Best Practices

While duchess potatoes are best eaten fresh out of the oven, you can store your leftovers a couple of different ways if need be.

  • Refrigerator: To keep the potatoes on hand for up to 3 days, store them in an airtight container in the fridge. This will keep them from turning stale and drying out in the cold air.
  • Freezer: You can also freeze your duchess potatoes for up to 3 months. To do so, allow them to cool down completely on the baking sheet. Once the baking sheet is no longer hot, pop the entire sheet into the freezer. When the potatoes are completely frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe plastic storage bag.

Reheating Tip: To reheat your potatoes, pop them back in the oven or an air fryer if you have one. Watch them carefully so they don’t burn – you only want them to warm through!

FAQ

Why are they called duchess potatoes?

While no one knows exactly how or why duchess potatoes got their name, there is some folklore around the origin. Rumor has it that they were made when a British duchess visited France on a diplomatic trip and was served duchess potatoes as a show of hospitality. Thus, duchess potatoes were born.

Why do you add egg yolks to duchess potatoes?

You add egg yolks to duchess potatoes for a few reasons. The main reason is to help the piped potatoes keep their shape as they bake. Additionally, the eggs yolks add a wonderful creaminess to the potatoes and a rich, yellow color that makes for beautiful presentation.

How do you pipe duchess potatoes?

The best way to pipe duchess potatoes is with a typical piping bag. To get those perfect, scalloped tops, you’ll want to use a 3/4-inch piping tip.

Can you make duchess potatoes the day before?

It’s typically not a good idea to make duchess potatoes the day before. If you’d like to prep ahead, you can whip up the potato mixture the day before and pipe and bake them the next day. Part of their appeal is the crispy, fresh-out-of-oven crust that forms on top.

How do you keep your duchess potatoes from getting gummy?

You keep your duchess potatoes from getting gummy by avoiding overcooking the potatoes. The longer they boil in the water after they are fork-tender, the more gummy and gritty the potatoes get.

More Tasty Potato Recipes

  • Oven-Roasted Potatoes – 3-ingredient roasted potatoes
  • Garlic Mashed Potatoes – Mashed potatoes with a deluxe, garlicky twist
  • Parmesan Crusted Potatoes – The cheesy, crispy potato side dish your dinner needs
  • Ranch Roasted Potatoes – Zesty, 3-ingredient roasted potatoes
  • – Whole baby potatoes with dill and salty bacon
  • Creamy Mashed Potatoes – Classic mashed potatoes
  • Scalloped Potatoes – Cheesy, creamy perfection

Recipe

The Best Duchess Potatoes Recipe (7)

The Best Duchess Potatoes Recipe

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Servings

6 servings

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 50 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin

Looking for a side dish that’s just as fancy as your main? These duchess potatoes are so elegant, but most of all they are irresistibly tasty. Bon appetit!

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs potatoes Yukon gold
  • 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 tsp salt adjust to taste
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter brush the tops

US UnitsMetric

Instructions

  • Clean your potatoes and cut them into four pieces. Place them into a pot of boiling water and cook them until they are fork tender.

  • Drain the water from the potatoes. Mash them until they are perfectly smooth. Add butter, salt, and heavy whipping cream to the mashed potatoes. Mash to combine. Whisk the egg yolks. Add them slowly into the potatoes, stirring constantly until combined.

  • Place the mashed potatoes into a piping bag. Make sure there aren't any large pieces or lumps otherwise they will get stuck as you are piping. Pipe the potatoes onto a lined baking sheet, about 2-3 inches in size. Leave about an inch of space between each potato mound.

  • Melt 2 tablespoons of butter and gently brush the tops of the potatoes with it.

  • Bake the potatoes at 425°F for 15-20 minutes or until the tops are golden brown. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

The Best Duchess Potatoes Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 167 Calories from Fat 153

% Daily Value*

Fat 17g26%

Saturated Fat 10g50%

Trans Fat 0.4g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 5g

Cholesterol 170mg57%

Sodium 398mg17%

Potassium 29mg1%

Carbohydrates 1g0%

Sugar 0.5g1%

Protein 2g4%

Vitamin A 659IU13%

Vitamin C 0.1mg0%

Calcium 27mg3%

Iron 0.3mg2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

The Best Duchess Potatoes Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the distinctive ingredient used to make duchess potatoes? ›

Egg yolks — egg yolks are a key ingredient in duchess potatoes as they prevent them from collapsing. Save the egg whites to whip up some meringue cookies or a classic gin fizz cocktail!

What kind of potato is most often used for duchesse potatoes? ›

What Kind of Potato is Most Often Used for Duchess Potatoes? You want to use a starchy potato such as Yukon Gold or Russet. We prefer to use Russet potatoes. They not only taste great, but they also make a perfectly creamy mashed potato.

Why do my duchess potatoes collapse? ›

I love butter and cream more than someone should, but if you add too much, your duchess potatoes will collapse, and lose their shape, with some of that fat separating and leaking out anyway. So, if you're craving Joël Robuchon's pommes purée, this might method may not be for you.

What is the best piping nozzle for duchess potatoes? ›

Add the mashed potatoes to a piping bag fitted with a wide star tip, a 1M tip is what I use. If you do not have a piping bag you could try adding the potatoes to a ziplock type bag and cut the corner off and try piping it out of that. Pipe onto the parchment lined sheet pan to make small swirly shapes.

What potatoes does Ina Garten use for mashed potatoes? ›

Garten's recipe uses a few simple ingredients, including Yukon Gold potatoes.

What potato makes the best? ›

Here's a quick reference on which types of potatoes are ideal for which type of cooking technique:
  • Baking: Russet, long white, Peruvian.
  • Boiled: New potatoes, round red, white.
  • Fried: Russets and white.
  • Roasted: New potatoes, russets, Peruvian, long whites.
  • Mashed: Russets, long white, yellow.
Feb 2, 2023

Why put a raw egg in mashed potatoes? ›

Adding egg yolks to a pot of mashed potatoes is an easy, dairy-free texture and taste upgrade that doesn't require any special techniques. The yolks harbor all the flavorful fats and emulsifying components and will thus effectively unify the fat and water in potatoes, translating to a smoother, uniformly creamy pot.

What potatoes do chefs use? ›

Round White AKA Chef Potatoes

B is the most common in foodservice.

Should I put an egg in my mashed potatoes? ›

Fortunately, you needn't worry about biting into a scrambled surprise. You'll also be relieved to know that adding an egg to your mashed potatoes won't change the flavor. Instead, when done correctly, cracking an egg into your bowl of potatoes will not only give them a creamier texture but also a bit more "body."

Where did duchess potatoes originate? ›

Originating from France, the first known recipe for duchess potatoes was published sometime in the mid 1700s. Interestingly, according to Simply Recipes, “around that time, potatoes were illegal in France, since they were believed to cause leprosy and death.

What to do when potato plants fall over? ›

Adjusting watering practices is crucial to prevent root issues that can cause potato leaves to topple. Overwatering can lead to waterlogged roots, a death sentence for your spuds. Conversely, underwatering stresses the plant, leaving it too weak to stand tall.

How do you make a piping bag for potatoes? ›

Steps for making a piping bag
  1. Unroll a length of baking paper and fold one corner up to make a triangle shape.
  2. Mark the crease and cut the paper into a square.
  3. Cut along the crease to make two triangles.
  4. The centre of the longest side is where the nozzle will sit.
Dec 23, 2020

What is the easiest piping nozzle? ›

5 Basic & Beautiful Piping Tips
  • Wilton 1M (large open star)
  • Wilton 8B (another large open star)
  • Ateco 849 (XL, wide closed star)
  • Wilton 12 (small, narrow round)
  • Ateco 808 (large, wide round)
Apr 5, 2022

What is a Russian piping nozzle? ›

What are Russian Piping Tips? These are jumbo tips that allow you to pipe complex shapes in one pass. There are many different types of tips that create roses, tulips, daisies, swirls, abstract shapes and large sets of petals among other things.

Where does duchess potatoes come from? ›

History. The first known recipe for the dish was published in La Nouvelle Cuisinière Bourgeoise in 1746. The phrase à la duchesse became an appellation in French cuisine for any dish incorporating a mashed potato/egg yolk mixture.

Where are duchess potatoes from? ›

Duchess potatoes are classic old-school French cuisine: riced boiled potatoes, mounted with egg yolks and butter, and seasoned with nutmeg.

Which of the following pieces of equipment is used to prepare duchess potatoes? ›

Using a piping bag with a large star point, pipe the potatoes onto a cookie sheet. Alternatively, you can just fill a casserole dish with the mashed potatoes, and use a fork to create lots of peaks on the surface.

What make are floury potatoes? ›

Popular varieties of floury potato include King Edward and Maris Piper.

References

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