🛒 What You’ll Need: Pantry Staples, Maximum Joy

Grab these cozy ingredients—you probably already have most:


3 cups chilled mashed potatoes (homemade or leftover!)

1 cup (120g) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

½ cup (50g) Parmesan cheese, grated (plus extra for rolling)

¼ cup fresh chives, chopped (or green onions in a pinch)

1 large egg (binder + richness)

¼ cup (30g) all-purpose flour (helps hold shape)

½ tsp garlic powder

Salt & black pepper to taste

Cooking spray or butter (for greasing the pan)

💡 Pro tip: Use slightly under-salted mashed potatoes—they’ll absorb seasoning better.


🔥 How to Make Them: Step-by-Step, Puff-by-Puff

Let’s cook this like we’re making edible confetti—one golden puff at a time.


Step 1: Preheat & Prep

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).

Generously grease a mini muffin tin with butter or non-stick spray.

👉 Don’t skip this—cheese sticks to everything!

Step 2: Mix the Dough

In a large bowl:


Combine mashed potatoes, cheddar, Parmesan, chives, flour, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

Crack in the egg and mix until smooth and fully combined.

👉 Batter should be thick but moldable.

Step 3: Shape & Coat

Scoop by teaspoon or small cookie scoop (~1 inch).

Roll gently into balls.

Roll each ball in extra grated Parmesan for a crispy, golden crust.

Step 4: Bake to Golden Perfection

Place each ball into a muffin cup.

Gently press down to flatten slightly—helps crisp edges.

Bake 15–20 minutes, until tops are golden and edges are crisp.

👉 Watch closely—edges brown fast!


Step 5: Cool & Serve

Let cool 5 minutes in the pan—this helps them set.

Pop out gently with a spoon or skewer.

Serve warm—with ranch, sour cream, or ketchup for dipping.

Bonus: Leftovers reheat beautifully in the air fryer (3 mins at 375°F).


💡 Pro Tips for Next-Level Success

🧀 Shred your own cheese —pre-shredded has anti-caking agents that don’t melt well

🥔 Chill the mash —cold potatoes hold shape better

🍳 No mini muffin tin? Shape into patties and pan-fry for cheesy potato cakes

🧊 Make ahead: Assemble unbaked, refrigerate overnight, bake before serving

🎄 Holiday-ready: Sprinkle with paprika or parsley for color

🧊 Freeze them: Freeze shaped puffs on tray, then bag. Bake from frozen (+3–5 mins)

🍽️ When to Serve These Golden Gems

🎉 Game day appetizers (they vanish!)

☕ Brunch with mimosas and fruit

🍲 Holiday dinners as a crowd-pleasing side

🫶 To someone who says, “I don’t eat apps” —watch them grab three

Because once they taste that crispy-cheesy, fluffy-potato magic?

They’ll be converted.


❤️ Final Thought: Great Food Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated

You don’t need 17 ingredients or a culinary degree to make something magical.

Sometimes, all it takes is:


Leftover mashed potatoes

A hunk of cheese

And the courage to roll it into a ball

And when your partner says, “Did you buy these?”

Or your kid asks for “one more” after finishing their plate…

You’ll know:

You didn’t just make an appetizer.

You made joy.


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