• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Pudge Factor

A food blog with everyday recipes, step-by-step directions and photos, and detailed recipes.

  • Easter Recipes
  • Cinco de Mayo Recipes
  • Appetizers
  • All Recipes
  • Meet Chula and Pudge Factor®
  • Recipes by Category
  • Just Recipes
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Easter Recipes
  • Cinco de Mayo Recipes
  • Appetizers
  • All Recipes
  • Meet Chula and Pudge Factor®
  • Recipes by Category
  • Just Recipes
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Holiday Side Dishes

    Make Ahead Duchess Potatoes

    By Chula King · November 14, 2022 11 Comments

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Yummly
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Make Ahead Duchess Potatoes

    Duchess Potatoes are creamy and buttery on the inside and crispy on the outside. They are an impressive and elegant dish to serve at your holiday feast. Even though they look complicated, Duchess Potatoes are simple to make and can be made in advance. These Duchess Potatoes freeze beautifully for an impressive make-ahead side dish for your holiday or any time feast.

    Duchess Potatoes.
    Jump to:
    • Why You Should Make This Recipe
    • Ingredients: Here’s What You’ll Need 
    • Preparing the Potatoes
    • Steps in Making Duchess Potatoes
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Helpful Tips
    • Recipe

    Why You Should Make This Recipe

    Duchess Potatoes will definitely add a shine to your Thanksgiving or Christmas festivities.

    • They can be made in advance and refrigerated for up to a day or frozen for several months. All that is necessary prior to the meal is to brown the Duchess Potatoes in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes.
    • Duchess Potatoes are super simple to make but impressive to serve.
    • Duchess Potatoes make an awesome side dish for everything from a roast turkey or roast chicken, to grilled seafood or steaks, baked ham, and everything in between.
    • These potatoes are not only impressive to serve, but also amazingly delicious.

    Ingredients: Here’s What You’ll Need 

    Ingredients for Duchess Potatoes.
    • The Potatoes: My potato of choice for this recipe is the Russet potato.
    • The Liquid: Once the potatoes have been cooked, I add unsalted butter, egg yolks, and heavy cream to provide the proper piping consistency.
    • The Seasonings: To season the Duchess Potatoes, I add Kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, and a small amount of ground nutmeg.

    Preparing the Potatoes

    First, I pricked the potatoes all over with a fork. Then I microwaved them for 18 minutes on high, turning them over twice.

    Piercing potato with a fork.

    After 18 minutes, the potatoes were perfectly cooked. I let them sit for about 10 minutes to cool a bit before making the Duchess potatoes.

    Steps in Making Duchess Potatoes

    1. I started by scooping the potatoes into my potato ricer.
    Scooping potato into ricer.
    1. Next, I riced the potatoes in batches into a large bowl.
    Ricing potatoes into a bowl.
    1. After that, I added room-temperature butter to the hot potatoes. I stirred the potatoes and butter together with a wooden spoon until the butter was well incorporated.
    Adding room temperature butter to the riced potatoes in a bowl.
    1. Then, I added the salt, pepper, and nutmeg to the potato mixture and stirred everything together with a wooden spoon.
    Salt, pepper and nutmeg added to the potatoes.
    1. Next, I stirred the egg yolks, one at a time into the potato mixture.
    Adding egg yolks to the potato mixture,
    1. Finally, I added the cream to the potatoes and stirred the mixture until everything was well incorporated.
    Adding heavy cream to potato mixture,
    1. Once the Duchess Potato mixture was well mixed, I transferred it to a piping bag fitted with a large 1M star tip.

    I piped a 3-inch circle onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and built it upward to produce the classic shape of the Duchess Potatoes. I repeated this for the remaining mixture, ending up with 12 Duchess potatoes.

    Piping the Duchess Potatoes

    At this point, the Duchess Potatoes can be frozen for later use, or brushed with an egg wash and baked at 400°F for about 30 minutes, until they are lightly brown. I chose to freeze most of the Duchess Potatoes and use the rest for tonight’s dinner.

    Brushing egg wash on duchess potatoes.

    After 30 minutes, the Duchess Potatoes were lightly brown and absolutely delicious. From past experience, the frozen ones will be equally delicious. Yum!

    Make Ahead Duchess Potatoes

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can the egg yolks be omitted from this recipe?

    The egg yolks are an important addition to this recipe. They provide structure to the potatoes and allow the potatoes to retain their shape during baking.

    Can Yukon Gold potatoes be substituted for the Russet potatoes?

    This recipe is best made with Russet potatoes because of the high starch content.

    Why not beat the potato mixture with an electric mixer?

    Even though I use an electric mixer when I make mashed potatoes, I prefer to stir this potato mixture with a wooden spoon. The reason is that stirring minimizes gluten formation and results in a more tender Duchess Potato.

    Helpful Tips

    • I fitted a piping bag with a 1-M star tip and placed the bag into a tall glass. Then, using a large ice cream scoop, I added some of the mixture to the bag. This was a trick that I learned from Susan, and it makes it much easier to fill piping bags!
    • To freeze the Duchess Potatoes, pipe the mixture onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Place the baking sheet in the freezer until Duchess Potatoes are frozen. Transfer to Ziploc bag, seal, and place in freezer. To heat, place the frozen Duchess Potatoes on a baking sheet, brush with egg wash, and bake in a preheated 400°F oven for 35 minutes or until lightly browned. 
    • In the past when I made Duchess Potatoes, I peeled, sliced, and boiled the potatoes. However, doing it this way introduces a lot of water into the potatoes, impacting their final consistency. Therefore, I recommend either microwaving the potatoes or baking them. If the potatoes are microwaved, the skins are super easy to remove.

    If you’re looking for some more elegant, yet impressive potato side dishes, check out these delicious recipes:

    • Crispy Parmesan Roasted Potatoes.
      Easy Crispy Parmesan Roasted Potatoes
    • roasted potatoes with green onion tops.
      Easy Stove Top Roasted Potatoes
    • Pommes Anna
      Pommes Anna (a.k.a. Potatoes Anna)
    • Grated Potato Galettes a la Julia Child
      Grated Potato Galette à la Julia Child

    I hope you liked this recipe for Make Ahead Duchess Potatoes as much as I do. If so, please consider rating it and leaving a comment. Also, if you’d like to receive notifications of new posts by email, enter your email address in the Subscribe box.

    Thank you so much for visiting Pudge Factor. I hope you’ll come back!

    Recipe

    Make Ahead Duchess Potatoes.

    Make Ahead Duchess Potatoes

    Simple to make and elegant to serve, these Duchess Potatoes freeze beautifully for a make-ahead side dish for your holiday or any time feast.
    4.59 from 17 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 50 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
    Servings: 12 Duchess Potatoes
    Calories: 107kcal
    Author: Chula King

    Ingredients

    • 2 pounds Russet potatoes
    • ¼ cup (2 ounces, ½ stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
    • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
    • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
    • Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
    • 2 egg yolks
    • 1 Tablespoon heavy cream (See Tip 1)

    Instructions

    • Wash potatoes; prick all over with fork. Microwave for 18 minutes, turning twice, or until fully cooked. Let cool 10 minutes.
    • Cut potatoes in half; scoop pulp into potato ricer and process into a large bowl. Add butter and mix well with a wooden spoon until the butter is melted and well blended (do not use an electric mixer). Add salt, freshly ground pepper, and nutmeg; stir to combine. Correct the seasonings.
    • Add egg yolks, one at a time; mix well with a wooden spoon until well blended. Add cream; mix well with wooden spoon until well blended.
    • While still warm, place the mixture in a pastry bag with a 1M star tip. Pipe onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper or non-stick aluminum foil. May be made in advance up to this point and refrigerated or frozen. (See Tip 2)
    • Preheat oven to 400°F. Brush potatoes lightly with egg wash. Bake for 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Yield: 12 Duchess Potatoes.

    Chula’s Expert Tips

    1. You may need to add another tablespoon of cream to achieve the proper piping consistency of the potatoes.
    2. To freeze the Duchess Potatoes, I pipe them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Then, I put the piped Duchess Potatoes on the baking sheet in the freezer. Once they are frozen, I transfer the Duchess Potatoes to a Ziploc bag and place them in the freezer. To heat, I place the frozen Duchess Potatoes on a baking sheet and brush them with an egg wash. Then, I place them in a preheated 400°F oven for 35 minutes. If the Duchess Potatoes have thawed, then I bake them with the egg wash for 30 minutes in a preheated 400°F oven. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 107kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 200mg | Potassium: 318mg | Vitamin A: 180IU | Vitamin C: 4.3mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 0.7mg
    Tried this recipe?Please leave a comment below and/or give this recipe a rating. On Instagram? Take a picture and tag @pudgefactor or #pudgefactor.

    More Holiday Side Dishes

    • Easy make ahead Spinach Gratin being served.
      Easy Make-Ahead Spinach Gratin
    • Broccoli Rice casserole.
      Make-Ahead Broccoli Rice Casserole
    • Pumpkin-Shaped Dinner Rolls.
      Pumpkin-Shaped Dinner Rolls
    • Chicken Caesar salad Wonton Cups.
      Chicken Caesar Salad Cups

    Filed Under: Christmas, Holiday Side Dishes, Potatoes, Vegetables

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Holly Frohloff says

      October 03, 2017 at 4:01 pm

      Best way to reheat these?

    2. c2king says

      October 03, 2017 at 7:27 pm

      I put the frozen ones in a 400°F oven for about 35 minutes. If they’re not frozen, then I reheat them in a 400°F oven for about 30 minutes. They’re incredible!

    3. Carol says

      May 28, 2019 at 6:59 pm

      Must I thaw these before cooking?how how long would I cook them if not thawed?

    4. PudgeFactor says

      May 28, 2019 at 8:01 pm

      Carol, I never thaw the Duchess Potatoes before I cook them. I would reduce the cooking time by about 5 minutes to 30 minutes total if they are not frozen.

      Chula

    5. JJ says

      November 13, 2019 at 10:43 am

      I am VERY confused with the cooking time for these. The main bog says to cook at “400° F for about 30 minutes”. The instructions for freezing says to freeze them after piping (no cooking mentioned). Then in the comments it says to reheat at 350 for 15 mins if frrozen or 10 mins if not. So were we supposed to cook before freezing? Then a later comment says to reduce the cooking time to 25 mins if they are not frozen. If we want to freeze there do they cook before or after freezing? Once they are frozen what temp and how long do they go in the oven for? Thanks so much.

    6. PudgeFactor says

      November 13, 2019 at 11:39 am

      JJ, I’d be confused as well! Sorry. I’ve updated the post and the comments to reflect the correct procedure for cooking the Duchess Potatoes after they have been frozen. The Duchess Potatoes are frozen after they have been piped. When you’re ready to serve them, place the frozen Duchess Potatoes on a baking sheet, brush with egg wash, and bake at 400°F for 35 minutes or until they are lightly browned.

    7. JJ says

      November 14, 2019 at 10:58 am

      Thank you so much. I’m looking forward to making these over the holidays!

    8. PudgeFactor says

      November 14, 2019 at 4:10 pm

      They really make an elegant and delicious side dish! Happy holidays!

    9. Nicole Da Silva says

      July 13, 2020 at 9:22 am

      Hi, thanks for posting this. I am making my parents a 45th anniversary dinner and thought these potatoes would go great with beef wellington. I want to make them a day in advance, but I am terrified to freeze these. Are you sure they tast just as good from frozen? I want them to tast fresh, but don’t want to the stress of making everything on the day.

    10. Chula King says

      July 13, 2020 at 9:47 am

      Nicole,

      I have consistently had great results freezing the Duchess Potatoes. In fact, when I serve them at a dinner party, always I make the Duchess Potatoes ahead of time, pipe them into the desired shape and freeze them. Once they are frozen, I store the Duchess Potatoes in a freezer Ziploc bag.

      Chula

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Photo of Chula - PudgeFactor Blogger

    Chula King is an award-winning photographer and videographer behind Pudge Factor. She’s a professor by day and foodie by night, showcasing her favorite tried and true recipes.

    More about me →

    • YouTube
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Mail

    Delicious Easter Recipes

    • Easter Basket Cookies
      Easter Basket Cookies – Easy and Adorable
    • Make-Ahead loaded potato casserole.
      Easy Make-Ahead Loaded Potato Casserole
    • Old-Fashioned Ham Salad.
      Old-Fashioned Ham Salad – Quick and Easy
    • Classic Lemon Bars
      Classic Lemon Bars
    • Cheesy Mini Cornbread Waffles
      Cheesy Mini Cornbread Waffles
    • Easy potato waffles.
      Easy Potato Waffles
    • Make Ahead Breakfast Enchiladas
    • Easter Candy Cones.
      Easter Candy Cones

    See more Valentine Recipes→

    Sites Featured In

    Popular Recipes

    • Easy Peasy British Sausage Rolls
      Easy Peasy British Sausage Rolls
    • Chicken Schnitzel with Mustard Cream Sauce
      Chicken Schnitzel with Mustard Cream Sauce
    • Homemade Waffle Cones
      Homemade Waffle Cones
    • Twice Baked Potato Casserole
      Twice Baked Potato Casserole

    See more Recipes→

    Footer

    © 2012–2023 · Pudge Factor®, LLC · Privacy Policy · Disclaimer