These Duchess Potatoes are a fancy mashed potatoes recipe that is secretly easy-to-make when you know a few tips and tricks! Simply boil potatoes, mix with milk and egg yolk, then pipe and bake in the oven for a crispy outside and fluffy inside. Make your holiday table for Thanksgiving or Christmas extra special this year by serving this impressive side dish!

A plate is used to serve these decadent duchess potatoes.

Secretly Easy Duchess Potatoes Recipe

Never have I ever seen potatoes so incredibly glamorous!

The first time my fork slid through a Duchess potato it was met with a crispy exterior and then a surprisingly soft and pillowy inside.

But the awe didn’t stop there. The flavor was rich, decadent, and even better than the BEST mashed potatoes I’d ever had.

With the increase in fascination, I soon set out to master the art of the Pommes Duchesse.

From culinary school cookbooks to online processes by the pros, the information was gathered, tweaked, and ultimately revamped until the PERFECT Duchess potato recipe was born. This is the best recipe to try your hand at French cuisine.

And with thorough step-by-step instructions, I feel confident in saying you too will be able to conquer this seemingly intimidating side dish the first go-around.

So much so, that I triple-dog dare you to make them for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. Because I promise, these beautiful individual servings are sure to be a hit!

Potatoes, milk, eggs, butter, and seasonings are the ingredients in this recipe.
Email this recipe!
Simply enter your email and get it sent to your inbox! You’ll also get the newest recipes from us every week!

Ingredients

  • Potatoes. Yukon gold are a must for their waxy texture. You can also choose red potatoes as they are another waxy potato variety. Avoid using russet potatoes since they will not have the same consistency.
  • Milk. Much like mashed potatoes, you’ll need a bit of milk to make it creamy. Regular milk, or even half and half work well. If you are dairy-free, unsweetened oat and cashew milk both are both great options.
  • Butter. Salted butter was tested in this recipe, but unsalted can be swapped out. Butter has the best taste but oil will work if you are dairy-free.
  • Eggs. This is the secret ingredient to making the Duchess potatoes hold their shape and also gives them tons of flavor. You need 2 yolks and 1 whole egg.
  • Seasonings. Salt and black pepper of course, but also a touch of garlic powder and a pinch of nutmeg. You can substitute regular minced garlic or even roasted garlic if preferred.
5 Secrets to Healthier Family Dinners
Tips & recipes for getting yummy — and healthy — meals on the table.

How to Make Duchess Potatoes

Please see the recipe card below for more detailed ingredient amounts.

Peel and Cube Potatoes

Remove the skin with a vegetable peeler and cut out any remaining eyes. Slice each potato in half and then into quarters.

While some people like some or all of the skins in their mashed potatoes, you don’t want them in this recipe. The potatoes won’t pipe evenly or as beautifully.

Cubed potatoes are set on the cutting board by a knife.

Boil Potatoes

Add the potatoes to a large pot, then cover with 1-inch of cold water and toss in a pinch or two of salt. Bring the pot to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, uncovered, for 10-12 minutes, or until they pierce easily with a fork.

Transfer the boiled potatoes to a colander and rinse under cold running water until they are cool to the touch.

A boiling pot of water is used to cook potatoes.

Rice Potatoes

For the best texture use a potato ricer to break up the potatoes into a large mixing bowl. (You can then use it again time to make this Potato Gnocchi!)

You can also do this with a fork, fine cheese grater, or a pastry cutter, but you have to be careful to not have any large pieces remaining. The clumps will get stuck in the piping tip. If you use a potato masher, be sure to really work the mixture until no large chunks of potatoes remain.

Additionally, you can pulse the potatoes in a food processor. Just do not purée as you will end up with runny potatoes that won’t work well for piping those decorative swirls!

Potatoes are riced with a potato ricer.

Mix with Eggs

Once the potatoes are riced, add 4 tablespoons of the melted butter along with milk, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and nutmeg. Mix until everything is well combined.

Whisk the egg yolks and the whole egg in a small bowl and then add to the mashed potatoes. Stir with a rubber spatula until well incorporated.

Egg yolks are added to the potato dough.

Pipe Potatoes

Fit a large piping bag with a 1M tip and a coupler. A 1M tip is key. The large star tip is perfect for an impressive presentation. Any smaller than this and you’ll have a really hard time getting the potatoes through the tip.

Pipe the potatoes onto a large baking tray lined with parchment paper. Leave about ½-inch of space between each one. You should end up with 12 that are roughly 2 ½-inches in width.

A pastry bag is used to pipe the duchess potato form.

Brush and Bake

Lightly coat the potatoes with the remaining tablespoon of butter, being careful not to disrupt the edges.

Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges begin to turn golden brown. The baking time will vary based on how big the piped potatoes are. You want crispy edges that are not burned.

Duchess potatoes are brushed with butter.

What are Duchess potatoes? 

This fancy side dish is essentially mashed potatoes mixed with eggs and piped into individual portions and baked. The exterior is nice and crisp while the interior is light and fluffy. 

What type of potatoes do I use for Duchess potatoes? 

Waxy varieties like Yukon gold or red potatoes are best to use for the right texture in these Duchess potatoes. While you can use a starchier variety, they won’t hold their shape as well. 

FAQs

Why do you add an egg yolk to mashed potatoes? 

Mixing an egg yolk into mashed potatoes adds extra richness and creaminess. 

Should you boil potatoes in salt water? 

Yes, it is recommended to cook them in salt water since potatoes absorb a lot of flavor while boiling.

Recipe Tip

  • Waxy is best. Yukon gold potatoes have the perfect consistency for Duchess potatoes. 
  • Yolks and whole. Eggs are a must to stabilize the potatoes and help them hold their shape. 
  • Go for a 1M tip. If you choose too small of a piping tip it can be difficult to squeeze the potatoes through.
  • Make without cream. You won’t miss too much flavor, so keep it light with regular milk, oat milk, or cashew milk. 
  • Garnish with fresh herbs. Add some pizazz with fresh thyme, parsley, or rosemary for color and flavor.
Duchess potatoes are garnished with fresh herbs.

Other Holiday Side Dishes

When the holiday season rolls around, good food is always on the menu. Be sure to try these easy and flavorful side dish recipes this year.

Green Bean Casserole from Scratch and Sweet Potato Casserole.

Of course, you have to have Sausage StuffingWild Rice Stuffing with Cranberries, or Cajun Cornbread Dressing.

And don’t forget the Cranberry Orange Sauce or Fresh Cranberry Orange Relish.

More Potato Recipes

Whether you’re making a weeknight dinner, or entertaining for the holidays or a special occasion, these potato side dishes have you covered!

Homemade Scalloped Potatoes and Smashed Potatoes with Garlic are so full of flavor.

Loaded Hasselback Potatoes Recipe, Loaded Bacon Mashed Potatoes, and Garlic Parmesan Fries are super impressive.

Who doesn’t live some Parmesan Roasted Yukon Gold Potatoes or Instant Pot Mashed Red Potatoes?

Tap stars to rate!

5 from 3 votes

Easy Duchess Potatoes Recipe

These Duchess Potatoes are a fancy mashed potatoes recipe that is secretly easy-to-make when you know a few tips and tricks! Simply boil potatoes, mix with milk and egg yolk, then pipe and bake in the oven for a crispy outside and fluffy inside.
A plate is used to serve these decadent duchess potatoes.
Yield 12 servings
Prep 40 minutes
Cook 30 minutes
Total 1 hour 10 minutes
An image of an envelope sealed shut with the Evolving Table logo.

Email this recipe!

Enter your email and we’ll send it directly to you.

Ingredients 

  • 2 ½ lbs. Yukon gold potatoes or red potatoes
  • 5 Tbsp. butter melted
  • cup milk oat, cashew, or soy, divided
  • 2 egg yolks large
  • 1 egg large
  • 1 ½ tsp. salt
  • ¼ tsp. black pepper
  • ¼ tsp. garlic powder
  • tsp. nutmeg
  • Thyme or parsley optional

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • Prep the Potatoes. Peel potatoes with a vegetable peeler and remove any remaining eyes of skin. Cut each potato in half and then into quarters.
    2 ½ lbs. Yukon gold potatoes
  • Boil Potatoes. Add potatoes to a large pot, cover with 1 inch of cold water and add a pinch or two of salt. Bring the pot to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to a simmer and cook, uncovered, for 10-12 minutes, or until they pierce easily with a fork. Transfer boiled potatoes to a colander and rinse under cold running water until cool to the touch.
  • Mash and Season. Rice potatoes using a potato ricer into a large bowl. Add 4 tablespoons of melted butter, ⅓ cup milk, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and nutmeg. Mix until well combined. Whisk egg yolks and egg in a small bowl and then add to the mashed potatoes. Add additional milk until you get to the desired consistency. Stir with a spatula until well-mixed.
    2 ½ lbs. Yukon gold potatoes, 5 Tbsp. butter, ⅔ cup milk, 1 ½ tsp. salt, ¼ tsp. garlic powder, ⅛ tsp. nutmeg, ¼ tsp. black pepper
  • Pipe onto a Pan. Using a pastry bag fitted with a 1M star tip, pipe the potatoes onto a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Leave about ½-inch of space between each one. You should end up with 12 that are roughly 2 ½-inches in width. Lightly brush potatoes with the remaining tablespoon of butter, being careful not to disrupt the edges.
  • Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges begin to brown.
  • Serve the potatoes with thyme leaves or chopped fresh parsley. Enjoy!
    Thyme or parsley
Last step! If you make this, please leave a review letting us know how it was!

Tap stars to rate!

5 from 3 votes

Video

Notes

Meal Prep and Storage

  • To Prep-Ahead: Boil and rice the potatoes then combine them with the eggs and milk up to 24 hours in advance. Pull the mixture out of the fridge 30 minutes to an hour before piping so it can come to room temperature.
  • To Store: Arrange in a single layer in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-5 days. Use parchment paper between the layers if you need to stack them.
  • To Freeze: Pre-freeze the Duchess potatoes in a single layer on a baking sheet. Once they are firm, transfer to a freezer-safe airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.
  • To Reheat: Return to a 375°F oven for 10-15 minutes or until warm. You can also quickly heat them in a microwave or Air Fryer.

Dietary Modifications

The recipe you’ll find below is already vegetarian and gluten-free as written. Here are some adjustments and substitutions you can make to help it fit your other dietary requirements:
  • Dairy-Free: Swap out the butter for oil and select a dairy-free milk such as unsweetened oat or cashew milk.
  • Whole30: Use a plant-based milk and replace the butter with oil.

Nutrition

Calories: 135kcal, Carbohydrates: 17g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 59mg, Sodium: 313mg, Potassium: 410mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 219IU, Vitamin C: 19mg, Calcium: 36mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Made this recipe?Leave a comment below!
5 Secrets to Healthier Family Dinners
Tips & recipes for getting yummy — and healthy — meals on the table.

You May Also Like

Thanks for
Stopping By!

I’m London! Join me as we cook up nourishing meals for you and your loved ones and learn a few healthy cooking tips and tricks!

5 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

Leave a comment

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

Recipe Rating




Comments

    1. Hi Rebecca! The milk is added to your desired consistency. I’ll word it better in the instructions, though. Thank you!

    1. You can if you’d like, but the texture is best if served immediately. If you freeze them, thaw in the refrigerator for a day and then reheat in the oven! Can’t wait to hear what you think about the recipe, Terry!